“Oh, look, there’s the sea!” Your shoulders immediately drop and the tension in your stomach starts to melt away. You inhale salty air and your chest expands — the sound of waves soothes your ears and calms your mind… you start feeling the healing power of the sea!
Why being by water is good for mind and body
After years of running yoga retreats, we have seen firsthand the restorative effects of what mindfulness can do for people. Being by the water became one of the top items in our list of tips for wellbeing. But we have also found that the addition of water — creating our yoga sailing holidays — brings a huge sense of wellbeing, especially in times of stress. Sailing holidays allow you to commune with tranquility in a way unlike any other.
This deep, instant sense of wellbeing has been thoroughly and scientifically investigated over the years. An extensive study on happiness in nature found marine and coastal environments to be the happiest locations of all. And according to Dr Mathew White, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter, the sea has the power of reducing negativity much more than green spaces can: ‘when you are sailing, surfing or swimming, you’re really in tune with natural forces there – you have to understand the motion of the wind, the movement of the water.’ And that’s just it… being in and around water is, literally and metaphorically, an immersive experience, allowing you to completely switch off.
Yoga sailing holidays to access to the healing power of the sea
Any water is better than none: even the presence of a small fountain or pool has been proven to be beneficial for our physical and mental health. More and more city-dwellers find refuge in blue spaces outdoors, seeking out local rivers and lakes when they feel tired, anxious, or overwhelmed — after all, this is where they can find a place for stress relief.
But nothing in the world compares to the profoundly restorative effect of immersing yourself in the peaceful expanse of the sea. Here are some tips for wellbeing and reasons why the sea has such a powerful healing effect:
- On the open sea the air is less polluted and contains mood-lifting ions
- You absorb much more sunlight, boosting your levels of vitamin D
- The ebb and flow of the tides is a natural white noise, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and helping you to feel relaxed and at ease
- The sight of the sea changes the frequency of your brain waves, leading you into a mild meditative state
- The colour blue stimulates feelings of peace and serenity and enhances creativity
Even if only for a few days, spending time in the blue acts as an intensive soothing therapy for the mind and body. And if these are the automatic benefits of simply being at the seaside, imagine what a mindful journey on the sea can do for you.
Finding happiness afloat with yoga sailing holidays
From May until September 2024 our yoga retreat will be sailing along the breathtaking Cote d’Azur, practising yoga, and all its restorative effects, on the sea. We’ll use this active holiday to reconnect with ourselves and with nature, immersed in the beauty of the French Riviera.
If you need a break from your hectic routine, this unique yoga retreat might be a precious opportunity for you to restore your energy, refresh your motivation, and replenish your spirit — all under the guidance of our expert yoga teacher and skilled skipper. We’d love to welcome you aboard!
Drop us a message to know more about our 2024 dates: click here.
