Swimming is Meditation in Motion
By Karen Creasey
Stress… Just the word makes me want to take a deep cleansing breath. It is the word used when we feel overwhelmed, burdened, or loaded. Most often we talk about stress in light of a challenge or a threat to our well-being. We interpret our stress levels by what we feel we can handle. I’ve known times, as I’m sure you have also, where the pressure of stress felt almost more than I could bear. It is in these times where my interactions, moods, and even health become negatively affected. But stress is not always negative. Some types of stress can be positive; it gets us going, keeps us moving, and keeps us striving, trying and succeeding.
Part of our response to challenges has a physiological element and affects our physical state. The way we respond to a challenge may in itself be a type of stress. Did you know there is a connection between exercise and stress relief? Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries. Endorphins are anxiety fighting super heroes. Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a stress reliever. If you’re not an athlete, or even if you’re downright out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management.
I am frequently asked what qualifies as the best stress relief exercise. That is impossible to answer without knowing you personally. But a great place to start is in the water. When submerged to the neck in water, 90 percent of a person’s body weight is reduced. Combine that with a warm water environment, flowing movements, and the valuable energy of physical activity; the body receives therapeutic benefits and the brain interprets the experience as positive.
The direct stress-busting benefits of water exercise are well documented. Water surrounds you during the entire exercise routine making resistance three-dimensional. Movement in one direction meets with equal resistance in the opposite direction and encourages muscle balance and parity. As well, it is a low-impact activity that takes the pressure off your bones, joints and muscles. It offers natural resistance, and helps you get strong. It is meditation in motion, and has the ability to improve your mood by boosting your endorphin super heroes. At the Palm Desert Aquatic Center we can help you make water part of your stress relief routine. Call us. 760-565-7467
