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The water pushes the body up. This thrust offsets the weight of the body in such a way that in the water it is as if it weighed 90% less: this discharge favors the mobility of the joints. Blood circulation and lymphatic system also benefit.
The advantage of being by the sea and not in a closed center is that we can breathe the sea air, loaded with negative ions. Ions are particles that make up the atom and whose electrical charge can be negative or positive. Negative ions are generated in natural environments with water currents: the sea, rivers, waterfalls, etc.
They have a very healthy effect on people, since they relax and promote the production of serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter necessary to sleep well and maintain a good mood. It has been proven that, just one hundred meters from the sea, the amount of negative ions is 50,000 per cubic meter, one hundred times more than in a polluted environment.
Marine air is loaded with oxygen but it is also rich in ozone and different mineral substances that we absorb through respiration.
OXYGENANT BREATHING EXERCISE ON THE BEACH
Good oxygenation helps to maintain emotional and mental balance, since it slows down the respiratory rate and favors the recovery of tissues. On the beach you can perform breathing exercises like the following, very simple:
You breathe in by filling your lungs while pulling your head back and bringing your scapulae together, opening your chest.
With full lungs, air is held for two to five seconds.
The head is lowered again and the shoulder blades are relaxed, while exhaling slowly to completely empty the lungs. The exhalation should last five to ten seconds.
20 breaths can be taken at least twice a day.
BLOOD RENEWAL
Thalassotherapy sessions have a positive effect on the blood. It has been shown that in long stays, after at least a couple of months, the blood composition improves and the red blood cells – the main oxygen carriers to the cells and tissues of the body – increase, which allows greater cellular nutrition and an improvement of the immune system.
For this reason, the sea has always been recommended to anemic people, who saw how, in addition to improving their blood composition, there was a strengthening of their immune system.
HOW TO TAKE A GOOD SEA BATH
The best way to enjoy the benefits of the sea is to follow some guidelines to make the most of your stay:
It is recommended to start the first days with very short baths. Ideally, you should not stay on the beach for more than four hours.
Before bathing, it is advisable to do some gentle exercise and also take some sun.
The entrance to the sea should be quick and decisive, not thinking about it with half a body inserted. Ideally, stride in and sink several times.
Duration of the bath. The colder and more rough the sea, the shorter the bath will be. In temperate waters, with sun and warm air, you can stay in the water for up to 15-20 minutes. And in the summer sessions, even more. In summer, one to three sea baths a day are enough to boost health.
When leaving the sea it is advisable to practice some exercise again, such as a walk or some vigorous movements. It is important to air dry. In this way, the mineral salts deposited on the skin in the form of small crystals are absorbed and stimulate the nervous system.
WALK IN THE WATER
In addition to swimming, exercises that activate almost all muscles can be performed in the water.
A common practice on our beaches is to walk for a long time along the seashore, letting the water break at the ankles. However, as a therapeutic treatment, it is best to do it in the sea, going into the water and then returning to the shore.
We can stay in until the water reaches the chest or even the neck, which will especially activate the abductor, abdominal and buttock muscles. You can walk in the water at that height, take small jumps when a wave hits and, in total, stay in the water for about 10 minutes. Then she goes out and sunbathes another 10 minutes. The walks can be repeated three times.
The joints and the venous system benefit from these walks, since the hydrostatic pressure of the water favors the venous return and combats the heaviness of the legs, something common in summer and in women. The sense of balance is also strengthened, the muscles of the feet and ankles are strengthened, and the sole is gently massaged. In addition, a pleasant sensation is experienced that favors the energy balance of the body.
A SKIN BALM
Thalassotherapy is helpful in reducing pain and improving a wide variety of conditions, but
or above all it is a preventive medicine. It is a resource of great value in fatigue problems due to its great contribution of magnesium, which increases the body’s defenses. Also, acne, lupus, eczema and, above all, psoriasis improve notably with sea baths.
They are highly indicated in people who suffer from stress, since the depletion of certain micronutrient reserves is responsible for an attitude of constant tension in life. And, above all, thalassotherapy is very valuable in osteoarthritis and arthritis, since it acts on the connective tissue.
THE EFFECT OF SAND
The sand on the beach is made up of particles with a diameter of less than 3 mm and is loaded with the chemical elements of sea water and even air, since it is highly porous.
The temperature that sand can reach as a result of the incidence of solar rays varies between 40 and 60 ºC. Covering the skin with sand (a layer of 12 to 16 inches) is considered a recommended therapy for rheumatic conditions and other ailments of the bones and joints.
TREATMENTS IN THALASSOTHERAPY CENTERS
In the centers specialized in thalassotherapy they have facilities to carry out specific and deeper treatments. Showers are an essential element.
The general sea water shower. If the shower is hot, between 38 and 40 ºC, the peripheral blood vessels dilate. Above 35 ºC it is soothing. When it is cold, it stimulates and tones. Alternating hot and cold showers are an energizing treatment.
Jets directed at specific areas. They are used to regulate circulation, decongest, calm and reduce pain. A hose is also used that releases the water at high pressure, recommended in the treatment of contractures and lack of muscle tone.
Underwater showers. They perform a massage that improves muscle tone and stimulates the assimilation of nutrients from food. For the underwater jet shower it is necessary to enter a pool. A high-pressure jet is focused and massages the muscles and joints intensively.
Bathrooms. They can be made with sea water heated to about 37-40 ºC, which improves circulation, favors the elimination of toxins through the skin and relieves rheumatism.
Seaweed applications. Powdered, they preserve all their active ingredients and allow wraps, baths and masks to take care of the facial skin and tone it. Seaweed is purifying, antioxidant and antiviral, and provides a large amount of iodine and trace elements. They are very suitable for skin problems (flaccidity, stretch marks, wrinkles and cellulite), as an exceptional natural cosmetic, since they regenerate tissues.
Coatings with silt or sea mud. It is a classic treatment in places like the Dead Sea and involves mixing sea water, algae and clay sediments and sand. With this mixture, a mud is very rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as other minerals. By covering the body with this mud, the penetration of these substances is very effective and a detoxifying effect of the body is achieved.