The B Corp brand Red Equipment has released the results of its new 18-month citizen science study investigating blue health, the idea that being near a body of water can positively impact your mental and physical wellbeing.
The study, conducted in partnership with Blue Health Coach Lizzi Larbalestier at Going Coastal Blue, researched the experiences and attitudes of members from the Red community and outdoor enthusiasts over a period of a year and a half, with over 400 individual data sets, and over 150 people participating in the research.
All the study participants are paddleboarders, and more than 50% of them have been enjoying the sport for longer than 3 years. 36.1% of the participants are cold water swimmers, while 16.6% kayak. A further 9.5% enjoy surfing or handplaning, and 7.7% sail or windsurf. 5.3% of the study’s participants either scuba dive or free dive.
Red Equipment partnered with Blue Health Coach, Lizzi Larbalestier, to carry out the research
Physical health
48.5% of the study’s participants said that improving health or taking exercise was a key reason for them going out on the water and enjoying their chosen water-based activity. There were a number of noticeable specific health benefits for the study’s participants.
In 43.5% of survey responses, people said their nutritional choices got better as a result of getting out on the water. An even higher percentage, 47.6% of survey entries, showed that since participating in water-based activities, people’s quality of sleep had improved. More than half the survey entries at 53.1% of survey entries reported an improvement in their breathing.
The survey also asked participants about their strength and physical fitness. In 77.5% of survey responses, people said water-based activities had enhanced their core strength. Balance improved in 79.2% of responses to the surveys – and 76.6% of survey entries reported an improvement in physical stamina.
Mindfulness
The research showed that water-based activities also made people more mindful. Studies have suggested that mindfulness may have physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, better sleep and potentially easier pain management.
The shorter mood tracker surveys conducted as part of the research found that on average, 68% of people who participated in water-based activities found that their ability to be in the here and now increased.
64% felt more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and 41% felt that their ability to tolerate emotional discomfort increased by some amount.
The research found that these hobbies also made people feel happier, which may also have health benefits by reducing their stress levels. Getting out on the water also improved people’s sense of connection to nature, something that has been closely linked to mental health and wellbeing.
Robyn Dawson, Marketing and Communications Manager at Red Equipment, comments:
“This research really shows how life’s better by the water, in a number of ways. We found that spending time in or on the water made people happier and more mindful, improved their health and fitness, and made them feel more connected to nature. Whether you paddleboard, swim or simply spend more time along the shoreline, there are so many beautiful places around the UK where you can go to enjoy all these benefits.”
Feature image by Matthias Alder from Pixabay
