A Case for Open Water Swimming in the Ocean

Fun fact – did you know Dr. Sandy Ziya, Ironman, triathlete and open water swimmer, is also still actively coaching athletes live and online?

There’s so many beautiful aspects of open water swimming (OWS), in particular in the ocean. I’d like to share a reason for you to consider swimming.

BRAIN HEALTH:

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to continuously change over the course of one’s lifetime.  Essentially, neuroplasticity means growing brain cells. How do we grow brain cells while we continue to age every day? One of the ways we do that is by stimulating the brain through aerobic exercise. Clearly swimming is an activity of aerobic exercise because we’re oxygenating the brain while we move it.

Additionally, it’s an activity which has contralateral in movement, meaning all four limbs are employed on opposite sides of the body. It is constantly stimulating and challenging the brain to move all four limbs at the same time in a coordinated pattern and rhythm that challenges the brain and stimulates the brain. Not many activities can boast the same; swimming is very unique.

When you swim in the ocean, you are getting all the health benefits of seawater. The negative ions of the saltwater soothes the body and mind. Numerous scientific reports and studies suggest that swimming in the ocean helps to create a calm state for the brain to function that supports our lymphatic pathway, which helps to clear toxins from the brain. So for those of us with hypercortisolism, high stress, high anxiety, or are struggling with depression, coming to the water in and of itself is very healing and calming. Not to mention that the minerals in seawater are great for smooth skin and muscle contraction. If you spend more than 30 minutes in the ocean it’s similar to an Epsom soak!

Further, the buoyancy water provides is so protective for every population. When you swim, around 90% of your body weight is supported by the water. The relatively weightless environment and support from the water helps to overcome painful movement in the joints that are affected by the condition. Swimming also helps to tone up the supporting muscles without the discomfort of other exercises.…in fact, the only population who should NOT be in the water are those with open/healing wounds. What that means for the rest of us: let’s get WET!

So am I an advocate for swimming? Yes. Do you have to swim an Ironman distance? No. Whatever your engagement or re-engagement point is, I encourage you to consider it and reconsider it. If you don’t know how to swim and don’t know how to get started, please reach out. As I continue to coach that today at any age, at any level, my approach to swimming is going to be in the open water, otherwise known as big blue in my parlance, where I take you out to the ocean to teach you all the beautiful things about the open water and the ocean.

Yes, before you ask, pool-based swim also confers health benefits, but you are missing out on the healing minerals and negative ions. Additionally, chlorine is yet another toxicant for the liver and kidneys to remove.  If you notice how you smell after being in the pool, you understand the effect on skin and hair!

This wraps up another longevity conversation here – hope you enjoyed it! Let’s get started. As your partner in healthcare and lifestyle, I’m always happy to help you.  Who’s ready to dive in?

Yours in Health ~
Dr. Sandy Ziya