Water: More Than Just Something To Drink
Nova Health Club • April 18, 2019
You’ve heard over and over how important it is to stay hydrated and to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. But did you know that water has other positive effects on your health and wellbeing outside of drinking it? The last time you were at the beach, did you notice how you felt being by the water? Did you feel more content, calm and relaxed? This is because being in or near water helps you achieve what is recently being called a ‘Blue Mind’; a state of mental health associated with being happier, healthier and more connected to ourselves and the world. This is the opposite of the mental state most of us are finding ourselves in these days, one of being rushed, over stimulated and distracted in the modern world.
While traveling back to Nova Scotia in October 2017 I drove with my brothers to the ocean for a day hike. While driving I was feeling anxious about a variety of things and not able to feel excited about the day ahead as I should have been. Maybe it was the windy roads but anxiousness turned into a mild headache by the time we got to the ocean. We began hiking the path and I noticed how an underlying tension still existed in me. I was frustrated because I was not able to relax into a day that really should have had no stress at all.
About halfway into our hike, we came upon a sandy beach where I was able to walk up to and touch the water. I was surprised to feel how warm it was for that time of the year. Amazed by the warmer than usual North Atlantic ocean, I decided to take my clothes off and go in. With the sand under my feet, I ran in, out, back in, and dove and jumped in the waves for about five minutes. After I started hiking again I noticed I was not feeling anxious or tense anymore. In fact, I had total mental clarity and the only word that describes how I felt was Amazing!
I’ve always enjoyed being by the water but never before had I felt the therapeutic effects of water like this. I can not fully explain why water made me feel this way but I believe it is something primal within our DNA like how we feel watching a fire. Since that ocean swim I have noticed how water continues to make me feel great and I make it a point to walk to the lake, visit a river or jump in the ocean as often as I can.
Research outlined in the book Blue Mind, by Marine Biologist, Wallace J. Nichols Ph.D. shows how being near or in water can benefit our mind and body by neutralizing us from an often over-stimulating modern society. The therapeutic effects of water are felt when we achieve a Blue Mind, a state that will lower stress, anxiety, heart rate, slow down breathing and increase a sense of well-being, happiness, and creativity. Achieving a Blue Mind does not necessarily require a river, lake or ocean. It can be done at home with something as simple as a shower or bath, which we can all attest to the benefits of.
Next time you are near water take a moment to check in with how you feel before and after. You will be sure to notice the positive results after being close to water. Or if you are like me then you may even want to jump in for the full effect.
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Do Hard Things Now, So Life Becomes Easier Later Modern humans default to the easy way but it's not our fault... Throughout human history, we were wired to survive constant hardship - scarcity of food, threats from predators, harsh environments and manual labor for everything. Our DNA evolved for survival in these conditions, not for modern living. Imagine an early human stumbling across a fruit tree. It made sense to gorge - there was no telling when the next meal would come. The human who gorged had a higher chance of survival than the human who only ate a few pieces of fruit. Practicing self-control in an environment of scarcity would have been a death sentence. Likewise, if given a chance to rest instead of walking miles or hunting, rest was the obvious choice. The problem? Our genes haven’t caught up with modern life. Today, food is everywhere. We don’t have to fight to meet our basic needs. Technology does the heavy lifting, cars replace walking, entertainment is on-demand and calorie-dense foods are always within reach. Left unchecked, our instincts will always lean toward easy options like overeating unhealthy foods (that are so easily accessible) or driving to the store instead of walking. In other words, we’re still hardwired to take the path of least resistance. But here’s the catch: Choosing easy now often means a harder life later and choosing hard now often means an easier life later. Most modern humans are overweight, stressed, tired and dealing with chronic health problems because we’re following outdated survival programming that no longer serves us. It’s time to become aware of these defaults. To override them. To consciously choose the hard thing - because doing hard things is what actually makes life easier in the long run. Hard things like: Going to bed on time instead of watching another episode Preparing a healthy meal instead of grabbing fast food Moving your body instead of sitting all day Walking or biking to the store instead of driving Managing stress with deep breaths and fresh air instead of pouring a drink Looking at your habits instead of masking symptoms with medication It might feel uncomfortable because it goes against everything your biological programming is urging you to do. But that’s exactly why it matters. Don’t think of it as punishment or sacrifice. Think of it as an investment. Every time you take the stairs instead of the elevator, cook instead of order out, or put your phone down to truly rest, you’re building a life that’s easier, richer, and more fulfilling down the road. And remember: Do easy things, and you’ll have a hard life. Do hard things, and you’ll have an easy life. Most of the above information is probably not new to you. That’s because we live in the information age with the internet and now AI - we already know what it is we need to do. The problem however is implementation. This is where having a customized plan and accountability comes in. If you know the hard things you need to do more of but struggle with breaking past your ‘default mode’ then contact us for a complimentary consultation HERE .
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We are back with our second series of 'Pod Calls' available exclusively to our Nova Health Club members. Don't miss these unique sessions to help you level up your health and wellness game! What is a Pod Call? A Pod Call is a live online (webinar like)_ session with a Nova coach, offering support and insights on key health topics like fitness, nutrition, recovery and overall wellness. Why did we create Pod Calls? Our goal is your success and your health goals can not be built on fitness alone. After delivering thousands of personal training sessions, we noticed a disconnect between fitness sessions we were delivering and the other pillars of health (and lifestyle habits that happen outside of the gym). To get the most out of your health and your fitness sessions at Nova we need to link other pillars such as mindset, nutrition, stress and recovery. Training coaches who care about your results will agree that a couple hours of personal training each week is not enough time to workout AND learn everything you need to know about maximizing those workouts... Things like how to eat before or after workouts, what recovery habits should be practiced or the link between stress and working out are all subjects that you need to know on your health and fitness journey. Pod Calls are dedicated sessions where we teach you essential health and fitness insights that we can't often cover during your gym workouts. We hope you take advantage of these expert-led sessions that will enhance your workouts, teach you new concepts about health and bridge the gap between fitness and overall wellness. Upcoming Pod Calls (all times in EST) Mon Jun 2, 2025 (6:00pm) Topic: How To Eat Carbs For Better Energy, Muscle & Fat Loss Coach: Josh Allen Wed Jun 4, 2025 (2:00pm) Topic: Hip Mobility Using the 'CARS' (active session) Coach: Kim Vo Sat Jun 7, 2025 (12:00pm) Topic: Benefits of Single Leg & Arm Training for Overall Strength Coach: Matthew Nadler Tues Jun 10, 2025 (6pm) Topic: Releasing Neck Tension Coach: Zack Fernandez Wed Jun 18, 2025 (1:00pm) Topic: Training The Backside of The Core Coach: Colin Soltesz Thu June 19, 2025 (7:00pm): Topic: Ayurveda for Healthy Ageing Coach: Kayla Hutchinson These calls are free for Nova members and Zoom links for each call can be found in the Nova Mighty Networks platform. If you are not a Nova member and would like to attend any of these please email Info@NovaHealthClub.com for a seat. We look forward to seeing you then!
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