Water & Well-being
BLUE SPACES
A five minute read on how just being near water is good for you
20/03/2024
Jenny Favell
The Cold Water Therapist
Loren Eiseley
Astonishing isn't it, the very sight of the sea, a waterfall, loch or river, has the ability to quiet the mind and comfort us almost instantly. It's something I have always felt, remembering the joy of paddling in the crystal-clear streams of the Yorkshire Dales as a child on holiday, to the present day, when an exploratory adventure brings me to yet another incredible waterfall. It can even be quite emotional at times.
Dr Wallace J Nichols looks at the science behind why our brains are naturally hard-wired to react positively to water, and that "being near it can calm us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what's broken".
In his inspirational book, BLUE MIND, he states "healthy water is crucial to our physiological and psychological well-being as well as our ecology and economy - we have a Blue Mind and it's perfectly tailored to make us happy in all sorts of ways..."
Wow - that resonates.
I'm the first to admit that I spent the first 40 years of my life with my eyes closed. I never really sensed that connection to natural spaces and the great outdoors. That is, of course, until the water liberated me during a time of crisis. I have come to appreciate its power and the roles it plays in both our ecosystem and our well-being. My personal connection with cold water now extends to a desire to share it's benefits with everyone.
Rachel Murdoch
So what is it about water? There would be no life without it - is there a sub-conscious aspiration to love and protect it? We have recently proven that dipping and swimming in cold waters increases our dopamine levels, amongst other possible benefits - has the current trend helped to spread the word with serene social media imagery? Research shows the rhythmic sounds of water have a profoundly soothing effect...
Rachel (a swim sister of mine) states she "has always loved being beside the water" finding "the sound of a running river or waves crashing has a calming effect". She goes on to say "since starting outdoor swimming 3 years ago, the water is now yielding benefits I could never have imagined. Feelings of pride and accomplishment".
It's the gift that keeps on giving.
I'm a bit geeky with the science - I love to understand the whys and the how's but, do we even need to know why it makes us happier? No, not really. Just embrace the feel good factor. Know that the power of blue spaces reaches us in many ways. Hearing it, seeing it, being in or on it - whether it's the gentle lapping of waves on the shore or the rush of a waterfall - it's all good.
If you want to delve further in to the science behind it check out my recommended reads.
For now, I'll leave you with something you may not have thought about - our impact as we swim wild. As I pledge to swim responsibly and promote good practice ethics, I've listed my top tips for respecting and protecting our precious waters. Share it with your swim buddy, group or anywhere fellow water users reside!
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