YOUR NEW YEAR’S DETOX IS CALLING… THROUGH A CONCH SHELL
White office versus white sand – tough call. Your office might be all white in that trendy minimalist way where you sit at a glass desk and you actually really enjoy it. We don’t know where you work, but white office lighting wouldn’t exactly make us to throw down our towels and catch some fluorescent rays. It does us all good to get outside, and the beach in particular offers so much more than a change of scenery. In southern California, we try to sink our toes in the sand as much as possible, and not just because living here comes with the expectation of maintaining a year round tan! The real reason we go to the beach is because it actually makes us feel better. The beach can actually improve our mental and physical health. Here’s why:
Cancel your next juice cleanse. Seawater is rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iodine, which help detoxify and replenish our skin. Magnesium hydrates skin and improves its appearance. Salt acts as a natural exfoliator, removing toxins and dead cells from the skin, helping produce new skin cells and reduce skin irritation. Sand is another amazing exfoliant, whether you’re swimming in the surf, walking on the sand, or using it all over to purify skin like beauty and lifestyle blogger Sarah Sayers shows us here! So throw away your loofah and get Sandee.
Recharge.
Charged with negative ions, sea air actually helps us absorb oxygen. These ions also help balance our bodies’ serotonin levels, boosting our mood, lowering stress levels and improving sleep.
Be a Super Soaker.
Soaking up some sun actually makes us happier because natural light boosts serotonin levels. Sun is also our most effective source of Vitamin D, which helps build bone strength and increase calcium absorption. Vitamin D deficiencies are becoming more and more common because people are spending less time outside. Sun exposure is crucial to our health, as there are few other natural sources of Vitamin D. But don’t forget to apply (and reapply) sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UV rays! (Check out this list of top-rated sunscreens of 2016.
Skip the gym.
No, really. Hit the sand instead! It’s important to have variety in your workout routine, and that’s where the beach comes in. Consider these seaside workouts…
Step it up! You’ll use double the energy walking or running on sand rather than a flat surface, like pavement or a treadmill, so you’re challenging your body at any pace. If you’re not crazy about running, walking will still boost heart health and actually increase fat burning within our body. The sand is also a great relaxing stimulus for all the many nerve endings and muscles we have in our feet, which help us calibrate our body functions.
Paddle out! Learning to surf can be tough (take it from us), but just paddling over waves is a cardio workout, plus it works the muscles in your shoulders and back. If you’re already a pro, you know that surfing is a full body workout once you’re riding the waves. If that’s not your thing but you’re still feeling a pull to the water, swimming in the cool water is a rejuvenating aerobic alternative to running or walking that puts less strain on your joints.
If you’re like, “Nahhmastae on my towel…” Yoga on the beach is a great challenge for yogis (even beginners). Moving on the sand is easier on your joints than practicing on a hard floor in a studio, and forces you to constantly make small adjustments, which strengthens secondary muscles and improves balance. Plus, the full breathing that is essential to any yoga practice is enhanced by the relaxing, fresh ocean air.
Reflect.
Not every trip to the beach needs to involve a volleyball game, boogie boarding, or your kids. Beachin’ it by yourself can be very restorative. Finding a spot alone can silence your thoughts and the world around you, allows you to just focus on the embrace of the sun, ebb and flow of the tide, crashing of the waves, prickle of the breeze... (maybe you can tell where I’d rather be right now!). Sometimes it can feel like we’re watching our own fast-paced lives from the outside looking in, so it’s important we take the time to be present, to relax, and reflect. Being outdoors actually improves your creative thinking, and the blue color of the ocean tends to have a calming effect. So, if you have a lot on your mind or just need to decompress, the beach is your go-to getaway.