C‘It is an almost inexplicable magnetism in the water. That push to stop to observe the horizon, the feeling that The problems resize in the face of the immensity of the sea. For years we called it poetry, suggestion, escape. For some years, science has given her a name and an explanation. It is not a spell, but neurochemistry. Is called “Blue Mind” or “Blue Mench“, And it is the key to understanding why We not only like the proximity to water, but it does us deeply welltransforming itself into an unexpected and very powerful resource for our psychophysical well -being.
“Blue Mind”, the science behind that feeling of calm by observing the sea
To give a scientific frame to this feeling is the Marino biologist Wallace J. Nichols. In his essay Blue Mind. Mind and waterdefines this state Like slight meditation in which we enter when we are close to water. Our brain, constantly bombed by stimuli, relaxes. The sight of a vast horizon and a non -threatening color like blue reduces the overload of information. At the same time, The rhythmic and predictable sound of the waves acts as a natural “white noise”capable of calming our brain circuits and of promoting a state of quiet that few other experiences manage to match.
Studies on the benefits of water on mental well -being
More and more studies confirm what our instinct has always known: water is good for us. According to a research published on Health & Place, Live close to blue spaces – like the sea, lakes or rivers – It is associated with lower stress levels It is greater psychological well -being. Another study conducted by the University of Exeter he noted that too only walk along the coast improves mood significantly. The sound of the water also stimulates alpha brain waves, promoting a relaxed mental state. It is not magic: it is science. The Blue Mind exists, and our brain knows.
“Blue Mind”, a chemical cocktail that reduces stress
What happens, at a concrete level, in our body? The experience of the “Blue Mind” triggers one Cascade of beneficial neurochemical reactions. Cortisol levels, the notorious stress hormone, tend to decreaseloosening anxiety and tension. At the same time, the brain is encouraged to release neurotransmitters related to happiness and well -being, such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. It is, in all respects, a natural cocktail for good mood, a reset that helps us to feel more present, serene and even more creative.
Not only to the sea: how to activate the “blue mind”
The beauty of this mechanism is that It is not an exclusive of the summer holidays. If the sea is its most powerful activator, the benefits of the “Blue Mind” can be experienced with any type of water. A long walk the shore of a lake, the quiet of a river that flows in a woodthe sound of a fountain in a town square. Even a hot bath or a “mindful shower (ie a” conscious shower “)focusing on the sound and sensation of water on the skin, they can help us find a fraction of that peace. It is a tool of democratic well -being, accessible to everyone and at any time.
I woman © RESERVED REPRODUCTION