Water is the source of life…
…it’s life-sustaining. We already know that drinking more water is crucial to mind and body function, but what about the benefits of being in and around water for our health? Studies have shown time and again that simply living near a body of water significantly improves people’s well-being. Even the sound of running water can help to relax the mind and improve concentration. With the world’s current state, it’s important to nurture our own health, be it mental or physical.
Here are some of our favorite ways to utilize water and its healing properties for personal mental health:
Mindfulness Minute
Feeling anxious, stressed, or simply need a moment alone – take a “Mindfulness Minute” and simply listen (from the book Forest Therapy: Seasonal Ways to Embrace Nature for a Happier You):
“Sit by the sea [a body of water] and close your eyes. Relax each muscle and soften your face to the rhythmic swirl of the waves. In. Out. In. Out. Breathe the sea air deeply and fully. Rock on your haunches slowly, mimicking the push and pull of the tide. Now open your eyes and focus on the majesty of the body of water you are sitting beside — the depth, the color, the strength, the beauty, the sparkle — and imagine letting all those qualities wash over you.”
Float!
According to Float Nashville, floating in water helps to relieve stress, chronic pain and anxiety, aids in injury recovery and sleep, alleviates pain and stress during pregnancy, supports creativity and so much more.
Interested in learning more about Floatation Therapy? Check out Float Nashville!
Canoeing, Kayaking, or SUP!
Whichever you prefer, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding can each be peaceful and meditative or exhilarating. Check out this article from Above House for a thorough list of the physical and mental benefits!
Don’t have your own kayak or paddleboard? Check out Cumberland Kayak or Nashville Paddle Co for local rentals.
Take a Swim!
It’s been said that swimming releases endorphins, reduces stress, boosts brain health, and reduces anxiety/anxiousness. And as an added bonus, swimming is great for your physical health, too!
Sit and Listen
Get comfortable by any body of water – a pool, the ocean, a river, a pond… anywhere that feels acceptable to you – and listen. Simply watching water move has been linked to restorative qualities in the mind. Science can now even contemplate the familiar feeling of awe we get when standing by water, noting that it may even change our perception of time as well as influence how we feel about ourselves and others, as suggested by studies at Stanford University.