The idea of being immersed in nature to improve health and well-being is not a new one, many years ago the Greeks evolved a healing therapy called the ‘water cure’. This was made up of a number of therapies, including hydrotherapy.
Immersion in nature plays an important role in therapy, from holistic perspective, literally being submerged in the ocean plays a particularly powerful role, it gives a sense of newness, freshness and the feeling of starting over.
While I have been here, I have been forming a connection with the sea through the power of visualisation with beach meditation and yoga, it seems to be the perfect way to relax the mind and reduce stress.
The ocean provides perspective in a way that nothing else in nature therapy can. It is constantly changing and shifting right before our eyes, which is engaging from both a physical and psychological perspective. It forces us to learn to quickly adapt and take in new information as the environment changes before us.
The ocean bombards us with multi-sensory stimulation, we feel the grains of sand, we taste and smell the salt, the wind rushes over our face and body, we hear the waves break and move and feel the water on our skin. It is complete sensory immersion leaving us with no choice but to remain in the present.
I hope this summer you can use the ocean to heal you (if you need it) or just to give you a sense of wellbeing. If you are not travelling this summer, we have beautiful beaches in Qatar that are now open to the public again.
*The author is a consultant and coach. Instagram handle: @miss_shefa, Website: missshefa.com
