Blue Therapy
Blue Therapy - The delightful rewards of spending time in blue environments
Adelaide is graced with many rivers and a beautiful coastline. We are fortunate to have these blue environments close to us where we can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy the serenity of being by the water.
Numerous writers, poets, artists, and sailors have shared their experiences of the tranquility and well-being they feel when they are by or in the water.
“Whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.”
In the beginning of human evolution, we lived harmoniously with nature, often near the tranquil waters of lakes and rivers. As urban development accelerates, we find ourselves with fewer opportunities to experience the great outdoors. Increasing research shows that our mental and physical well-being is inticately connected to the natural world which includes rivers, lakes and oceans.
Introduced by biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols in his book "Blue Mind," Blue Mind Theory refers to the idea that being near water can lead us into a semi-meditative state, benefiting both our minds and bodies.
Research suggests that our brains are wired to respond positively to water, and proximity to it can foster a sense of peace, as noted by Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., a marine biologist and the author of Blue Mind. In his work, studies in brain imaging have revealed a strong connection between being near water and the release of feel-good hormones in your brain, such as dopamine and oxytocin.
Wallace Nichols describes the ocean as “a trigger telling your brain you’re in the right place” and notes that “our response to water and the oceans are deep.”
Research conducted by Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist says, “The color blue has been found by an overwhelming amount of people to be associated with feelings of calm and peace.”
The rhythmic sound of waves is known to help relax the mind by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows brain activity and encourages a relaxed state. Schuster describes this as a method of "de-stimulating our brains."
The concept of blue health emerged almost 10 years ago when researchers at the University of Sussex asked 20,000 people to record their feelings at random times. With over a million responses in hand, they found that people were significantly happier when they were in areas filled with blue.
Negative ions
For quite a while, scientists have noted that the atmosphere around water sources is enriched with increased levels of negatively charged ions. Negative ions are charged molecules that can be found floating in the air around us. Research has shown that these ions trigger the brain to produce serotonin, which boosts mood, while also decreasing blood lactate levels to help alleviate stress.
It's evident that being near water consistently boosts our mood and lowers stress levels, and what better way to enjoy this than by taking a boat ride. At River Zen, we find have notice that as soon as we start taking people out on the river cruisers, they start to relax. Then we take them into meditation and it’s like a double dose of relaxation. By the end of the hour they are literally and metaphorically floating away.
Blue therapy combined with meditation creates a unique, one of a kind of experience.