Everybody loves a beach vacation, a quiet retreat or even a simple day trip to the coast. Whether you’re a total water baby or you’re not quite familiar with the beach on an intimate level yet, there is so much to be said for the transformative power of the beach. The beach can be a serene, natural environment just as it can be a lively, social environment — it all depends on where you go and how you approach it. If you’re on the hunt for a deep, transformative experience, the beach could be the right place for you — and anyone you want to spend time with — to go. Here are just a few of the many reasons why the beach is a transformative place.
1. It’s Calming
While this may not be the case for all beaches — especially those with a bit more nightlife and social scenes — most beach environments at least have a few corners of calm. Especially if you find a more secluded beach environment, you can take theopportunity to soak in the calming sounds, the waves and the wind. It’s literally like your own personal meditation playlist, but in person.
2. The Sun Is Healing
Especially if you tend to be used to clouds and darker weather, spending some time in the sun can feel energizing and renewing. Of course, you should always make sure you’re wearing sunscreen and protecting yourself from sun damage, but overall, spending time outdoors where you can soak in the warmth and light of the sun above can reel extremely rejuvenating. Although it can sometimes be tiring to spend long periods of time in the sun, it can be a satisfying kind of tired.
3. You Can Connect With the Earth
The beach is, first and foremost, a place within nature that has been around for centuries, and has been utilized for calming and healing for people of all walks of life. Especially if you find a beach that’s more secluded and less commercialized, you can bask in the beauty of nature and truly appreciate the earth. Connecting with nature in general can be extremely transformative and healing, but the ability to feel your toes in the sand and breathe in the salty air can bring a sense of peace and relaxation that can kickstart so much healing.
4. Water Is Symbolic of Change
Maybe you aren’t looking for a lot of change in your life, but maybe you are. Regardless, water and being around water can be extremely transformative and cleansing for the mind and the spirit. Historically, water in all of its forms has indicated a sense of cleansing or new beginnings in a variety of spiritual and cultural practices, and spending time at the beach listening to the waves can bring that about for you. Even if you aren’t inclined towards one spiritual practice or tradition, the symbolism of water still carries through.
5. You Can Spend Time With Others There
Of course, there are so many transformative and enlightening experiences that happen when you spend time in solitude, but the beach can also be a place where you connect with others, either through intention or through serendipity. One of the best ways to spend time with others at the beach is to spend a beach day with friends or family, giving everyone a sense of freedom with their activities but still engaging in a sense of community. You can use your time at the beach to connect with those you love, while still enjoying everything the nature around you has to offer! Family Friendly villas in Ibiza are the perfect places to travel with your family.”
6. It’s a Great Place to Find Stillness
Stillness is something that everybody needs a little more of nowadays. Especially if you can find a more secluded beach with more of a natural feeling than a social feeling, you can likely find the stillness that you’re looking for to fuel your mental and spiritual health. Whether you’re a veteran meditation junkie or you’re looking to get started on your stillness journey with a venture into the waves, the beach is a fantastic place to find stillness.
7. It Lowers Stress
Going to the beach can actually lower your stress levels by lifting your mood and offering natural relaxation. Even on a purely physiological level, being at the beach can reduce stress hormone levels in the body and even lower blood pressure! If you want to relax and do something great for your health, a beach trip could be on the horizon for you!
The Beach and Its Transformative Power
Going to the beach can be a fun and carefree experience, but the relaxation you encounter there can be even more powerful than you might expect. From the healing power of the sun to the cleansing energy of the water, you can find a connection to both nature and yourself by heading to the beach and relaxing however you know how. Do you have a favorite beach you love to go to?
About The Author
Ava Roman (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Revivalist, a women’s lifestyle magazine that empowers women to live their most authentic life. When Ava is not writing you’ll find herin a yoga class, advocating for body positivity, whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, or smashing the patriarchy.