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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Human nature
- Scientists have known for some time now that human health, both mental and physical, is intrinsically linked with nature.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Majority-urban species
- As a species, we evolved in grasslands and forests; since becoming a majority-urban species, there has been an increase in the rate of mental health disorders.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Change for the better
- Even just looking at natural scenery has been shown to trigger a number of positive changes in our bodies, both psychological and physiological.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Immune system
- Coming into contact with different microbes in outdoor environments reinforces the good microbial communities in our bodies and improves our immune systems.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Outdoor therapy
- For this reason, people struggling with their mental health are often advised to head outdoors and interact with nature.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Blue spaces
- And a growing body of research suggests there is one particular environment that bests the others when it comes to health benefits: blue spaces.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Introducing "blue therapy"
- In fact, spending time in a blue space, such as by a lake or river, is becoming so popular that the practice has become known as "blue therapy."
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
The concept - Blue health as a concept first emerged around a decade ago when researchers at the University of Sussex asked 20,000 study participants to record their feelings at random times.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
The study - The researchers collected over one million responses, and results showed that participants were by far the happiest when in blue spaces.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Further research
- More recently, researchers at the Glasgow Caledonian University found that spending time in blue spaces lowers the risk of stress, anxiety, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
How it works
- Spending time in blue spaces can benefit us in a number of ways. Firstly, it provides a distraction from the stresses and struggles of day-to-day life.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Distraction
- For lots of people, the sensations of a blue space, such as the crunching of sand between our toes, are enough to relax our bodies and tell our minds to switch off.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Natural predisposition
- It also may be the case that we have a natural predisposition towards water, as a natural environment that benefited us as an evolving species.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Natural predisposition
- According to health psychology researcher Kate Campbell, natural spaces that historically provided our species with food and safety may continue to offer a sense of comfort, even in today’s world.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
The sound of water
- Certain water sounds, such as the rush of river currents or the crashing of waves, have been shown to reduce stress, aid sleep, and improve memory.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
"Pink noise"
- These sounds fall into the category of "pink noise." Just like white noise, pink noise has all of the sound frequencies audible to the human ear, but a lower volume at the higher frequencies.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Immersion therapy
- According to some experts, actually entering the water provides a further level of healing.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Swimming and surfing
- Some argue that immersive activities, such as swimming or surfing, give us a sense of environmental attunement, i.e. feeling connected to or actually part of our environment.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Real-life example
- This is what the non-profit trust Mountains to Sea Wellington aims to offer young Māori people at the Taputeranga Marine Reserve in New Zealand.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Snorkeling experience - In this program, the children, many of whom have never seen the ocean before, are immersed in the Island Bay Snorkel Trail and given the opportunity to engage with their marine environment.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Connected with the environment
- According to Nicole Miller, chair of Friends of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve Charitable Trust, getting in the ocean in this way gives children feelings of accomplishment, as well as a sense of connection with their environment.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Urban environments
- In an attempt to make blue therapy available to a larger number of people, experts are turning their attention to the development of blue spaces in urban environments.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
The reality
- While it is true that 42% of the world’s population lives within 100 km (62 miles) of the sea, obstacles such as accessibility or pollution prevent many people from actually enjoying these spaces.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Blue urban research - In 2016, a European research initiative was founded with the aim of collecting evidence of the health benefits of blue infrastructure within urban spaces.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Small changes - It was found that even small changes, such as building a path to the river or a seating area alongside it, led to significant improvements in community mood.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Results
- Local residents reported more positive emotions and higher levels of life satisfaction after these small-scale changes were made.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Caveat
- Of course, whether or not an urban blue space is beneficial will largely depend on its quality. A highly polluted canal or river full of shopping carts probably won’t do the trick.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
All in all
- The research into blue spaces and their benefits for our health continues to emerge. So, why not make blue therapy part of your self-care routine? Sources: (BBC) (Lifestyle Asia) (Healing Waves) See also: The history of mental health treatments
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 29 Fotos
Human nature
- Scientists have known for some time now that human health, both mental and physical, is intrinsically linked with nature.
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Majority-urban species
- As a species, we evolved in grasslands and forests; since becoming a majority-urban species, there has been an increase in the rate of mental health disorders.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
Change for the better
- Even just looking at natural scenery has been shown to trigger a number of positive changes in our bodies, both psychological and physiological.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Immune system
- Coming into contact with different microbes in outdoor environments reinforces the good microbial communities in our bodies and improves our immune systems.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Outdoor therapy
- For this reason, people struggling with their mental health are often advised to head outdoors and interact with nature.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Blue spaces
- And a growing body of research suggests there is one particular environment that bests the others when it comes to health benefits: blue spaces.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Introducing "blue therapy"
- In fact, spending time in a blue space, such as by a lake or river, is becoming so popular that the practice has become known as "blue therapy."
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
The concept - Blue health as a concept first emerged around a decade ago when researchers at the University of Sussex asked 20,000 study participants to record their feelings at random times.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
The study - The researchers collected over one million responses, and results showed that participants were by far the happiest when in blue spaces.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Further research
- More recently, researchers at the Glasgow Caledonian University found that spending time in blue spaces lowers the risk of stress, anxiety, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
How it works
- Spending time in blue spaces can benefit us in a number of ways. Firstly, it provides a distraction from the stresses and struggles of day-to-day life.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Distraction
- For lots of people, the sensations of a blue space, such as the crunching of sand between our toes, are enough to relax our bodies and tell our minds to switch off.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
Natural predisposition
- It also may be the case that we have a natural predisposition towards water, as a natural environment that benefited us as an evolving species.
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Natural predisposition
- According to health psychology researcher Kate Campbell, natural spaces that historically provided our species with food and safety may continue to offer a sense of comfort, even in today’s world.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
The sound of water
- Certain water sounds, such as the rush of river currents or the crashing of waves, have been shown to reduce stress, aid sleep, and improve memory.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
"Pink noise"
- These sounds fall into the category of "pink noise." Just like white noise, pink noise has all of the sound frequencies audible to the human ear, but a lower volume at the higher frequencies.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Immersion therapy
- According to some experts, actually entering the water provides a further level of healing.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Swimming and surfing
- Some argue that immersive activities, such as swimming or surfing, give us a sense of environmental attunement, i.e. feeling connected to or actually part of our environment.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
Real-life example
- This is what the non-profit trust Mountains to Sea Wellington aims to offer young Māori people at the Taputeranga Marine Reserve in New Zealand.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Snorkeling experience - In this program, the children, many of whom have never seen the ocean before, are immersed in the Island Bay Snorkel Trail and given the opportunity to engage with their marine environment.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Connected with the environment
- According to Nicole Miller, chair of Friends of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve Charitable Trust, getting in the ocean in this way gives children feelings of accomplishment, as well as a sense of connection with their environment.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Urban environments
- In an attempt to make blue therapy available to a larger number of people, experts are turning their attention to the development of blue spaces in urban environments.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
The reality
- While it is true that 42% of the world’s population lives within 100 km (62 miles) of the sea, obstacles such as accessibility or pollution prevent many people from actually enjoying these spaces.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Blue urban research - In 2016, a European research initiative was founded with the aim of collecting evidence of the health benefits of blue infrastructure within urban spaces.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Small changes - It was found that even small changes, such as building a path to the river or a seating area alongside it, led to significant improvements in community mood.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
Results
- Local residents reported more positive emotions and higher levels of life satisfaction after these small-scale changes were made.
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
Caveat
- Of course, whether or not an urban blue space is beneficial will largely depend on its quality. A highly polluted canal or river full of shopping carts probably won’t do the trick.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
All in all
- The research into blue spaces and their benefits for our health continues to emerge. So, why not make blue therapy part of your self-care routine? Sources: (BBC) (Lifestyle Asia) (Healing Waves) See also: The history of mental health treatments
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
What is blue therapy, and how can it impact your mental health?
Learn why this new therapy is all the rage!
© Shutterstock
We have long since known that spending time outside is good for us. "Why not go out for a walk?" is often the first advice we hear when we tell someone we're feeling a bit down. Traditionally, it was green spaces, such as forests or countryside landscapes, that received all the credit for lifting our mood. Increasingly, however, the focus is on the benefits that spending time by the water (so-called "blue therapy") can have for our mental and physical health.
Curious? Check out this gallery to learn all about blue therapy.
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