12 Jul Why We Love the Beach. A look at what drives our passion for the Sun, Sand and Salt
What’s behind our love for the sun, sand and salt?
There is nothing like a day at the beach. We have all experienced it-the inner feeling of warmth, calmness, connection and relaxation that we receive from spending time on the coast.
”A little breeze, sand, sun, and salt, it doesn’t get any better”
Of all the salty activities I am fortunate enough to enjoy, there is a unique feeling that accompanies a visit to the beach. The combination of sensations, the sounds, sights and smells all come together to form a soul warming, sensory experience that brings about our love for the beach.
The reasons behind this is difficult to put into words, but being someone who has studied these things extensively I will give it a go. I’ll try not to geek out too much, but if I do I apologize in advance.
Your feet hit the sand, a gentle breeze strikes your skin, you feel the sun’s warmth, you take in a deep breath of the salty air. The gentle sound of waves breaking obscures all other sounds, you wade into the warm ocean water, then floating as you weightlessly bob up and down in the gentle surf, tasting the salt on your lips.
Here’s the (semi) science behind it all.
Your feet hit the sand and you feel its softness and warmth, it is both forgiving and supportive at the same time. The simple act of walking on sand stimulates the thousands of nerve endings in our feet. Most of us wear shoes and socks daily, and over time the nerve endings in our feet experience less and less sensory stimulation.
The individual grains of sand tend to evenly distribute body weight to the feet, and “wake up” the sensory neurons in the feet and increase the transmission of sensations to the brain. If you’d like to learn more here’s a great article by Emily Splichal on barefoot science https://www.otpbooks.com/emily-splichal-barefoot-science/.
Brian Mann Photo
The sun’s rays warm you and evoke a feeling of wellness and comfort. Sunshine is essential for the production of natural Vitamin D, appropriately nicknamed the sunshine vitamin.
Vitamin D provides many health benefits including strengthening the immune system, bone and teeth health, improving brain function and can have mood boosting qualities. Although there are benefits, exposure to sunlight can damage skin so always control sun exposure with sunscreen and sun blocking clothing.
The sound of the waves, is rhythmic, soothing, and eternal and is nature’s original white noise. The low, repetitive tone is drowsing and creates a relaxing, calming atmosphere. Our brains interpret the sound of ocean waves as non-threatening, allowing us to enter a tranquil state.
Floating on the waves, you enjoy the feeling of weightlessness as you rise and fall with the motion of the sea. Floating has many benefits, it takes the weight off of joints and limbs allowing the muscles to relax in a way that is difficult to achieve any other way. The effect of weightlessness also has a calming effect on the brain and can ease anxiety, increase circulation, and can lower blood pressure.
The healing benefits of saltwater is not a new concept, thalassotherapy, the use of seawater and the seaside climate as a form of therapy, has been around for hundreds of years. The term comes from the Greek word “thalassa” which means “sea”.
Thalassotherapy spas and resorts are plentiful, especially in Europe. Benefits of thalassotherapy are claimed to include improved circulation, elimination of toxins from the body, improved skin health, reduction in stress and inflammation.
A gentle breeze strikes your skin, cooling and working counter to the warmth of the sun’s rays. The nerve endings in the skin stay active sending signals to the brain that the body is at an agreeable temperature and all is well.
Sea air provides multiple benefits. Ocean breezes are loaded with negative ions, which are tiny molecules with an electrical charge. Crashing waves create these ions, and when we breathe them in, they react with our blood to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel calm and happy. Sea breezes also tend to have less pollen, dust, and other pollutants. Plus, they contain traces of salt, iodine, and magnesium, which are said to improve lung function.
Pleasant Sensory Overload (PSO).
You have probably been in a situation or place that is so full of enjoyable sights, sounds, and feelings that you are wholly consumed in the present. There are no thoughts in your mind other than what you are experiencing at that precise moment. For example, you approach a mountain overlook, a light wind is blowing a pine scent in your direction, the valley and distant mountains unveil themselves in front of you, the sound of trees rustling and birds chirping fills the air and you are completely enveloped in your surroundings. Your mind is free from the clutter and noise that is usually present. You think about nothing but your current surroundings, in awe of your immediate location. That is pleasant sensory overload. That is what the beach does to us.
Or could it be a case of Vacation Syndrome?
You are somewhere new and things are different-the weather, the landscape, the sounds, the sights, the food, maybe even the language. Your mind soaks it all in, and it can’t focus on your daily struggles and worries at the same time. You forget about your everyday worries of work, money, and relationships. You’re temporarily relieved from these day-to-day challenges, annoyances, and inconveniences. You come away feeling refreshed, optimistic, and accepting.
This is vacation syndrome and could explain our fondness for and attachment to the beach.
Conclusion
Why we are so enamored.
It’s a happy confluence of the natural world, physical factors and psychological aspects. It’s simultaneously magical and spiritual, docile and powerful, calming and exciting, healing and cleansing, complex and simple. But most of all the beach is enchanting, with the power to draw us back again and again.
“I followed my heart and it led me to the sea”
