Salved by the sea
We’ve heard it said, we’ve felt it and now there’s ever-growing evidence to explain it: time by the sea can salve the stresses of life and supercharge fitness effects.
Most of us just know that getting out in nature is good for us. That’s a long-standing belief, but today the evidence is stacking up to explain it and increasingly suggests that spending time by the water might be the best thing you can do.
Known as the blue mind theory or blue space effect, the healing power of the water is fertile ground for academic research. Seeking to explain the Victorian doctors’ notion that beach strolls and sea dips could cure most ills – study after study is revealing a myriad of positive effects the sea can have on physical and mental health.
In his bestselling 2014 book, Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do, the U.S. writer, conservationist and researcher Wallace J. Nichols proposed a theory about how we all fundamentally feel better when we’re near the water. Water is an intrinsic element of our lives, he argues: we spend our first nine months of existence in it, and from the cytoplasm in our cells and to the blood in our veins, we’re made up of 60% water – so is it really so surprising we feel such an affinity for it?
The blue gym
Numerous studies have backed up Nichols’ theory, including the development of blue gym thinking. In 2016, a report by the Marine Biological Association showed people exercising by the sea seem to experience more health benefits than those exercising elsewhere, suggesting that if you choose an early morning surf or a jog by the coast, you might well be getting an extra health hit for the same amount of effort.
Cold water immersion is another area that’s been scrutinised by studies. This year, a team at the University of South Australia found that cold-water therapy lowers stress, improves sleep and reduces inflammation, one of many to show such findings. For maximum benefit, you need to take the plunge when the water is at its coldest.
(credit: Saunas by the Sea)
If the thought of the winter sea sends a chill through you, combining cold water with wood-fired heat could be the answer. Coastal saunas promise the dual benefits of cold water and purifying heat. Sauna time has been linked to improved metabolism, detoxification and a healthier heart.
Unforgettable summers
Do you harbour a fond, lingering memory of a summer holiday by a special stretch of sea – an unforgettable day in the surf or adventuring between rocky caves and pools? A study across 18 European countries found that children who spend time by the water when they’re young tend to grow up to be happier adults, with lower rates of depression and better mental health.
Some of the other lasting benefits of being by the sea could be the positive effects that have been recorded when people look at fractal patterns – found in the waves, sand and seashells – or by absorbing the increased oxygen and higher light levels found along the coast.
Increasingly, we can benefit from the ‘attention restoration’ that happens at the coast. This idea of a brain reset to a more natural, stress-free state was first proposed by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in the 1980s. In our hyper-connected, highly-pressured, over-digitalised world, setting out to the shoreline could be the best way to escape the screens.
Curate your blue space
Staying footsteps from the sea creates the freedom to experience the blue health effects as you want to. All Beach Retreats properties are walking distance to the sea, giving you the freedom to choose your beach and the place that’s right.
Think iconic settings with saunas and hot tubs for indulgent and remarkable retreats through to a tantalising list of wave-seeker spots perfectly positioned 400m or less to where the waves break.
Or curate your stay from the Space + Style Blend, where open beach-side inspired interiors offer the space for up to nine guests. For a big, unforgettable break with everyone, the Celebration Series offers terraces for outdoor cook-ups, pool-side sunbathing and morning gym sessions. If it’s a last minute sea fix that’s needed, look to the Boundless Selection, smaller, potential-packed stays minutes from the beach.
Whatever life throws your way, look to the sea for a salve. Find your place, by the sea.
