Mental Health & Swimming
Mental Health & Swimming
By Karen Stadtmueller
May 18, 2020
Happy May! May is National Water Safety Month and I’m excited to teach you blog-readers all the safety tips I know. This month, Pinnacle will be releasing videos, games, home activities that will teach you about water safety. But I have to ask myself, is it a coincidence that May is also National Mental Health Awareness Month? Both topics celebrate knowledge, personal well-being, and swimming always boosts my mood. How else am I improving my mental health when I hop in the pool?
In the simplest of terms, swimming promotes better sleep. When a person exercises regularly, sleep patterns improve, as well as improved self-esteem and overall mood. In fact, many of the mental benefits of exercise are related to the release of endorphins, that enhance the feeling of well-being and boost mood. Due to these endorphins, fitness can lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety. Competitive swimmers report that lower feelings of stress and anxiety occur both during, and a swim. I’m sure casual swimmers can agree, a great way to take your mind off things that stress you is to go for a swim. Many times, our problems feel more manageable after taking an exercise break.
Marine Biologist, Conservationist, and best-selling author Dr. Wallace “J” Nichols discusses his concept of The Blue Mind in his aptly titled book “Blue Mind” which discusses the “remarkable effects of water in all of its shapes and forms on our health and well-being” (Nichols PhD). Blue Mind discusses in detail our brains are put in a “mildly meditative” state when our bodies are exposed to water. Nichols continues that an individual’s connection to water is deeply personal, as well as in our body’s chemistry, biology, and physiology. Nicholas even joined teams with neurologists and psychologists to conduct brain images that show mere proximity to water will increase levels of serotonin and decrease cortisol (distress hormone) levels.
If just being near water has this many benefits what is everyone waiting for? Pick up a paddle and go canoeing! Swim laps when pools open, or just listening to the soothing sounds of a babbling brook. It will do more good than you think! Another aquatic exercise that doubles as self-care is breathing. Swimming promotes breathing regulation and boosts blood flow. Practicing mindful breathing techniques proves beneficial in and out of the water.
For more information on the tie between swimming and mental health, and to watch Dr. Wallace on CBS news talking about his research, check out the links below.
Dr. Wallace CBS Interview Video
Feeling Blue? Go for a Swim for These 6 Mental Health Benefits