2020

NYS

Immigrant Action

Tips to Help Immigrants Use Water to Relax & Stay Healthy

by | Immigrant Voices

Immigrants are often subjected to stressful situations. Despite the challenges that immigrants experience, they need to learn to keep fit and stay healthy.

Even with basic things like water, immigrants can easily learn to relax and live healthy lifestyles. Water is calming and induces creativity. According to the Huffington Post, there’s something special about water even though it’s unknown.

A summer lake trip, beachside walks, or afloat in sensory deprivation pods filled with water indicate the power of water in making people calm and relaxed. However, the exact reason water does that isn’t known.

But…

Various studies have linked water to stress reduction. Your body, including all its organs, needs water to function well. If you become dehydrated, your body fails to perform properly, leading to stress.

Immigrants can use water to unwind from stress and relax as a way of living a happier and healthier life. Here’re a few ways you can use water to unwind and relax:

5 Ways You Can Use Water to Unwind and Relax

Drink water to keep your body hydrated

Dehydration triggers the release of cortisol hormones into your bloodstream. The stress hormones cause anxiety and stress.

Drink a glass of water to keep your body hydrated and cortisol levels down. Although you have to deal with the problems in your life to stay completely stress-free, hydration keeps the stress hormones from building up in your system.

Heavy breathing and a faster heart rate due to stress results in your body losing fluids. You’re also more likely to forget to drink water and eat well when stressed.

Drink enough water to ensure that your body is constantly hydrated.

Look at the water to relax

Biologically, science explains why it feels good and relaxing when you’re near water or looking at it. Looking at the soothing nature of moving water triggers the brain to release neurochemicals into your bloodstream.

As a result, more blood flows into your heart and brain, inducing relaxation. According to a recent study, people living near water bodies feel less stressed and enjoy better health than those who live far from the oceans.

What makes water have relaxing and calming effects is a mystery.
However, Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist and author of the “Blue Mind” book, together with his colleagues, has tried to explain the science behind the calming effects of water. They’ve linked water to the mental state of humans.

According to Wallace in his book, water has the “Blue Mind” effect. Water has the power to heal and make those in, near, under, or on it to live healthier, happier, more connected, and better lives, even at what you do.

He explains that being near water or looking at it is beneficial as follows:

  • Increases happiness
  • Reduces anxiety and stress
  • Lowers heart rate, etc.

Wallace links the “blue mind” effect of water to a psychological link to your ancestors. They were always in search of new water sources and it’s likely their brains triggered a calming response when they found something.

He also links the calming effects of water to the fact that it’s a source or representation of life. Water covers over 70% of the earth’s surface, takes up about 70% of your body and over 70% of important organs such as your heart and brain.

Go fishing or for boat rides, relax on a beach, or do anything you love near water to experience its powerful calming effects.

 

Listen to the sound of water to relax

Just like looking at water, hearing the sounds of water also has calming effects.
Anything from soft tapping sounds of raindrops to loud crashing sounds of oceanic waves hitting the shorelines can have a calming effect on you. This has been attributed to how the brain interprets noises, connecting water sounds to non-threatening images.

The brain also links the sounds of water with calming images in your memory. This triggers personal memories or those you obtained from various media such as TV.

 

Swim in water

Dip your body in water to benefit your general wellbeing. Submerging your body in a lake or beach invigorates it. The natural water chills soothe your body and calm it, physically and mentally. It also calms the nervous system.

Warm waters in summer can also ease and relax tensed muscles when you go swimming.

Take a shower

If you can’t access a natural water body, take a shower to clear your mind. It enhances your brain capacity, gives you mental clarity, and immediately makes you happier.

Make sure your shower is connected to a water softening system to enjoy the benefits of soft water. Make sure it’s also designed to reduce waste. Look for a hot water recirculating pump that provide resistance to flow to enjoy hot showers and the calming effects of water.

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