Tropical Vacations are Good for the Soul

Saltwater can soothe your soul…it’s a proven fact. Anyone who has spent time by the sea already knows that it does something to your body, mind and soul. For some of us that connection to the sea is even stronger and we thrive even more the closer we are to it and feel lost when we’re away from it for long.

A trip to the beach awakens all our senses. Besides the soothing qualities of being close to the water, spending time in or near the ocean can also provide real health benefits. The salty sea air fills our lungs with pure, clean air. As we swim in the salt water, our skin is revived. Walking on a sandy beach barefoot is an overall rejuvenation and gives our feet a natural scrub. To smell the sea and to hear the waves while sitting on the warm sand is deeply cleansing to our soul.

Swimming in warm seawater activates the body’s healing mechanisms to fight conditions such as asthma, arthritis, bronchitis and inflammatory diseases, as well as common aches and pains. Magnesium-rich seawater supposedly can relax your muscles, reduce stress and help induce sleep. Our bodies can also absorb beneficial things from the seawater like vitamins, mineral salts and other trace elements. Even if you don’t swim, the sea spray alone can give your skin a dose of iodine and negative ions, which can strengthen the body’s immunological defense mechanisms.

Stress is a major cause of illness and the blue and green colors of the ocean are cool and relaxing. It’s said that certain shades of blue, especially light blues, can decrease our respiration and blood pressure. Listening and watching the waves can almost put you in a trance, an effortless form or meditation. A tropical vacation can truly be a healing experience that helps us relax and let go of the worries and pressures we feel in our every day lives…so when is your next trip to the beach?