If you watched my video with Dr. Agatep, then you already know why it’s important to keep your body hydrated. (Didn’t catch it yet? No worries! Click here to watch our chat.)
While it’s great to guzzle water throughout your day, water can also be a way to get in extra movement, as well as to help with recovery.
Let’s take a look at some ways water can help your mind, body, and spirit.
Beginning with the obvious one, swimming offers a whole lot of benefits. It’s a great way to get some low-impact cardio, and we like that. I’m not a huge fan of over-taxing our joints, and swimming will help you boost your cardiovascular system without the higher impact of other activities like running or lifting weights.
Swimming also tones the whole body, builds stamina, and burns calories. And it can be relaxing and even therapeutic if you have back pain or you’re recovering from an injury such as torn ligaments or rehabbing from surgery. Just be sure your doc gives the okay if you’re planning on swimming as a way to rehab.
By alternating your stroke types and slowly swimming laps, you keep your muscles happy and flexible. Total win there. It also helps you cool down, which is great in the summertime when you want to exercise but don’t want to overheat.
One note: when you’re swimming, you don’t feel your bod sweating as you would if you were, say, jogging or hiking. But just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your swim so you remain properly hydrated.
Another nice option for water therapy is Epsom salt soaks. Epsom salts are made of magnesium and sulfate, combined together into a kind of rock form. Soaking in a tub with about 1 ¼ cup of Epsom salts can help with cranky muscles, mental stress, and even migraines. Some experts say it also helps with inflammation.
When using Epsom salts, be sure it’s 100% magnesium sulfate. Keep the extra chemicals out of the mix. Pour them into a warm bath and soak for 15 minutes. Just don’t use them in a tub with jets or you’ll be sad down the road.
If you have access to the ocean, it, too, can be a great form of water therapy. If you swim in it, you get the benefits of the physical action of swimming as well as just being out in nature. Not a fan of swimming with sea life? No prob. Even just wading at the shoreline is calming, as is listening to the waves come in.
Other bodies of water can have a similar effect. Things like spending time in a natural creek, pond, or stream will do your body good.
And let’s not forget about rain! (It can be easy to forget if you live in a place like So Cal that doesn’t get much of it these days.) When is the last time you went out and played in the rain? I’m a huge fan and do it every chance I get.
If you’re not one to frolic in the raindrops, what if you just go outside and stand in it while it’s coming down? Also, just walking on wet grass in the morning has a healing effect, especially in the summertime (when you can find some dew, that is).
While drinking water is super important for good health, so is spending time in it in some way, shape, or form. Now go out there and have fun making some splashes!