Imagine the warm sand between your toes, salt water in your hair, sun shining on your skin, and the breezy sound of the ocean waves. You take a deep breath, and your stress fades away. Maybe you’ve traveled far to get here or maybe it’s only minutes from your home. Either way, something about stepping foot on the beach makes you feel better. Curious to know what it is about the beach that creates this mental sanctuary, I wanted to explore the reasoning behind it. Keep reading to learn why and how there is healing power within the beach.
The Ocean’s Healing Power
Have you ever taken a shower to decompress and felt better energy after? The movement of the water in your shower actually releases charged particles called negative ions. When you are on the beach, negative ions are abundant in the vast ocean and waves crashing on the shore. Studies have shown that being exposed to negative ions can enhance your mood, reduce stress, and even alleviate symptoms of depression. Additionally, exposure to negative ions has been shown to increase your body’s oxygen levels and decrease inflammation. This means that just by being near the ocean, you can experience greater and happier energy levels!
The Meditative Environment
The beach is also an environment that is naturally conducive to meditation. Whether you focus on the rhythm of the ocean waves, feeling the sand or the wind, or smelling the salty air, it can become easy to drift into a meditative state at the beach. Through focusing on the sensations of your body and your surroundings, you can take your mind to the present moment and away from stressors. Without even realizing it, you can be actively practicing meditation just by enjoying the beach. This can lower your stress levels, promote relaxation, and create a sense of feeling grounded.
The Sunlight
And of course, Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, is plentiful during sunny days on the beach! Vitamin D can play a role in regulating mood and supporting your mental health. Low levels of vitamin D have even been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. So when you spend extra time in the sunshine at the beach, you are increasing your body’s intake of Vitamin D and supporting your mental wellbeing. Just make sure you remember to wear sunscreen!