5 Benefits of Getting Out On the Water
The long weekend is coming up and what better way to celebrate BC Day than by reconnecting to the waters that help make us "Beautiful British Columbia”. Here are 5 reasons why getting out on the waters of BC has great benefits.
1) Explore BC
British Columbia is a beautiful oasis of green forests and extensive mountains. The selection of hikes are boundless and many end at a lovely lake. To list a few, Joffre Lake, Garibaldi Lake, Elfin Lake are all hikes with lakes that many choose to take a dip in.
Make sure to take a look at Swim Guide for more options of waterbodies!
2) Exercise
Being in the water has amazing health benefits, both physically and psychologically. Water sports such as swimming, kayaking or even taking long walks on the beach are a great way to get outdoors and off the living room couch. Swimming has incredible health benefits such as increasing flexibility, improving posture/ coordination and weight loss. If you’re looking for a full body cardio workout, this is perfect for you!
3) De-stress
As previously mentioned, there is a clear correlation between close proximity to a body of water and better psychological and overall health outcomes. Michael Depledge, chair of Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School has been researching the benefits of “blue environments”. Depledge has stated that being by the water slows down our heart rate and reduces stress hormones, boosting our mental health. We’re sold!
4) Socialize
Whether your activity of choice is swimming, boating, kayaking, or beachcombing they can often be done with the company others. Invite your family or friends to join you at your favourite beach for an afternoon on a boat, sharing snacks, and jumping into the water. Our waterbodies are a great location to connect with the people that mean the most to you. In addition, many water sports can be done in a team so if you’re looking to meet new people, join a local dragonboat team or open water swimming group!
5) Education
What better place to learn about or teach others about the water than in the magical place that this all happens. A great way to do this is by exploring tide pools along the coast to scope out some sea stars and anemones. There is a vast array of wildlife that reside in our waters and if you’re lucky, you’ll get an up close look at some of our coastal ecosystems!
