What if you could get many of the health benefits of
swimming, without having to swim? It turns out that simply floating in the
water can be incredibly good for you.
Benefits of floating
Floating in water, in a pool, a lake or calm ocean, can
bring numerous physical and mental health benefits.
- Less “doing” more “being”
To float, you need to move as little as possible – just a
tip of the hips, or slow swing of your wrists. This slow movement can help you
get out of your head and into your body, and into the present moment.
Floating, once you trust the process, can be an immensely
meditative act, where you can focus on your breathing, or the feel of the
water, or the clouds above, without need to achieve.
“Aquatic immersion” is the fancy term for being in water.
Floating brings many of the benefits of playing or swimming in water, without
the need for rigorous exercise.
Aquatic immersion is shown to increase blood flow to the
brain and arteries.
- It is (a bit like) cold water
therapy
You do not have to subject yourself to an ice bath to gain
benefits of cold water immersion. Just being in a cold swimming pool or natural
lake or ocean can help.
Officially,
cold water therapy or cold hydrotherapy is the practice of using water that is
around 15 degree Celsius for health benefits.
Research is limited, as most studies used only small groups
of people, but overall evidence is positive especially in terms of benefits to
your immune system and mental health.
So next time you are in water, take a break from swimming,
roll onto your back, and float it all away.
How to float
- Lie on your back on top of the
water - Pull your shoulders back – this
helps lift your chest, abdomen and legs - Breathe normally – holding your
breath affects your buoyancy - Keep your body flat and straight,
but you can spread your legs and arms like a starfish - Push your chin and pelvis (hips)
up. If you lift your chin up, your legs will follow and come up to the surface - RELAX! You cannot flat with tense
muscles
