Yes, I could venture to more remote, exotic or cultural destinations, yet my annual winter trek always involves spending time al mar or at the sea, immersed and surrounded by sea water and salty air. Is it because I am a Pices, or grew up surrounded by the great lakes, or was swimming in salt water at 9 months, or my DNA has strong ties with zebrafish or sea urchins in the evolutionary tree of life? Or perhaps I intuit the beneficial attributes of swimming in salt water. My MO is always carry a swim suit and towel in your pack.
There is a reason saltwater has been used for curative and healing purposes for centuries. Salt water is a natural exfoliant. As you swim, tiny salt crystals slough off dead skin cells, unclog pores, wash away impurities and excess oils, heal scrapes, cuts and sores and create a clean environment for your skin to thrive. In addition, the pressure of the water enhances the flow of lymphatic fluid.
Rich in minerals including magnesium, zinc, potassium and iodine which can be absorbed through the skin while swimming and has been shown to boost the immune system.
You feel ageless immersing yourself in saltwater. All joint, muscle aches and pains dissolve as the buoyancy of the water removes the pressures of gravity on the body. It’s like swimming with a Mae West vest, without the encumberment.
Add in the physical and mental benefits of swimming – a wonderful total body workout – and the calming attributes, the visual beauty, sounds of the sea, and the smell, taste and feel of salty air as you walk along la playa and you have a perfect recipe for enhanced physical, mental and emotional health.
My favorite swimming hole this winter in Zihuantanejo, Mexico is Playa Contramar, a small, serene cove that is accessed by a short, but steep trail to the rocky beach and perfect for snorkeling and swimming.
Playa La Ropa offers another option for ocean swimming and beach walking.
And then there is the serenity of Playa Larga, with its 10 miles of pristine walking beach, in Barra de Potosi. Early morning calm water allows for parallel shore swimming. Plus, the 80-degree water temperature makes entering and exiting the water a delight.
The message I am sending is always take your swimsuit with you and soak up the beneficial effects of Vitamin SEA.
