Healing | Inspiration
Why I Am Spending This Month Mostly Beside the Ocean and Plunging My Body Into Its Freezing Water
I am either a crazy-ass bitch or totally on track to an awesome life
It’s still winter in the UK. Yet, here in the southwest, where I live, the weather tends to be milder than in the rest of the country.
In February, the light is already much stronger and sunny days can actually feel spring-like. And, while I like to visit the beach anytime throughout the year, the light now is visibly different from the low light of January.
As a result, while a visit to the beach is always going to be soothing, there is a remarkably greater sense of healing energy when I take myself to the beach during the month of February. And, for this reason, I have started taking myself on regular beach visits.
Of course, it may still be necessary to walk on the beach wearing a hat, scarf, and a down jacket because the winds can be bitter. But, find a sheltered spot on a sunny day and you can peel off your shoes and socks and get your feet in the sand. Or, even the water.
And, call me crazy, but I will often even strip down to some swimwear and dunk myself right into the water. Not for long, mind, but long enough to feel completely energised within, and feel the healing seawater soak through my skin’s pores.
Why the heck do I love it so much?
The sea is a remarkably healing place
There are many, many benefits to being next to, or in the sea. However, I am just going to focus right now on the two aspects that are most prominent in my own life — the emotionally-soothing qualities, and the physical and mental health benefits of bathing in the cold seawater.
Visually, the beach has a powerful effect
Research into colour psychology has found that the prominent colours present at the beach — yellow and blue — have a combined effect to energise and calm at the same time.
A study that looked at colours in detail found that, while yellow instilled an energising, vibrant and happy feeling in people, blue created a sense of serenity, calm and healing. Interestingly, it is also associated with being a colour that inspires productivity.
Simply being surrounded by these colours can have a profound effect on the human mind and emotional body.
The sound of the waves can soothe an over-active mind
The sound of waves crashing is one of the repetitive and constant sounds that people associate with “white noise”.
White noise is the kind of noise that blocks out other, more disruptive sounds. It can be anything from the constant sound of cars driving past to the sound of running water. The one thing that ties these types of noise together is the continuous “flowing” or repetitive qualities that override other noises. Or subdue them to our brain receptors, at the very least.
This helps to create a deep sense of calm and is extremely soothing.
Our brain waves are changed by both sound and vision
It also needs to be noted that our brain waves adapt to match the frequency of the sound of the waves, stimulating them in a calm and positive way.
Similarly, gazing at the ocean or, as I have found, staring down into the deep sea from an elevated place, such as a boat or a paddleboard, has a profound effect on our sense of peace, joy and well-being.
According to Clinical Psychologist, Richard Shuster PsyD:
“Staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.
The rhythmic sound of the crashing waves kind of de-stimulates our brains. The noises combined with the visuals, activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowing us down and allowing us to relax and feel more engaged.”
Physical immersion in the water is remarkable for the mind and body
Immersing ourselves in cold water has become popular in recent years.
You may have heard of Wim Hof, also known as The Ice Man, who has spent decades exploring the health benefits of cold exposure. While the “Wim Hof Method” is quite complex and would take a great deal of time to explain the vast amount of research and findings on the benefits of cold exposure, the most common practice that the Wim Hof Method has popularised is starting your day with an ice-cold shower.
In short, some of the physical health benefits of cold exposure are:
- Better metabolism
- Improved physical performance
- Better resistance to illness
- Improved breath control
- Better muscle tone
- Increased metabolism, and more.
Clearly, the sea is the perfect natural cold water to experience all the benefits that Wim Hof discovered. In addition, the sea itself provides additional benefits.
A researcher from the University of Portsmouth, UK, Mike Tipton, has been studying the benefits of sea-swimming on mental health. He has documented several case studies of individuals suffering from depression and has universally found highly impressive results.
Subjects in the study were found to experience improved mood and reduced dependency on medication, even to the point of no longer requiring it at all. Physiologically, it was found to increase dopamine levels and release more endorphins, raising the levels of happiness the subjects experienced.
Groups grew across the UK to widen the work that Tipton was doing and it has now become much more popular. Especially since 2020 when swimming pools remained closed for much of the year and people were forced to find alternative ways of partaking in activities they enjoyed.
Other benefits have included:
- Increased mindfulness through the connection between mind and body that one experiences in extreme conditions.
- Greater connection with nature.
- Elevated joy from experiencing the freedom that comes from being in the great expanse of the sea.
- Reduced anxiety.
In addition to that, the sea water contains minerals that are nourishing for the skin, and healing for wounds and skin conditions.
All in all, even a dunk can be incredibly satisfying, energising, and gratifying.
Still think I am crazy?
If so, I challenge you to go and spend some hours beside the ocean, even on a cold February day.
Take your shoes and socks off and wiggle your toes in the sand. Let the sand massage the soles of your feet naturally.
Then, remove some layers and wade into the sea until you are waist-deep, and then dunk yourself right in. Do it a second time, and then a third if you can handle it.
And then tell me if you think I am crazy!
The benefits of trusting the cold, trusting nature, and being crazy, outweigh staying home with the central heating any day!
Thanks for reading! To read another side of self care, check out this brilliant article by Krystyna Waterhouse:
And here’s another you might enjoy, by yours truly!
