Mind, Body & Blue
The Flow TripA Quick Dive into the Blue Mind Theory and the benefits of being by the water
By Alli Hoffman
Dr. Wallace J. Nichols might seem like a random name to anyone reading this sentence. If we’re doing our jobs right, hopefully by the end of the next four pages you’ll have a bit of a better idea on why the late marine biologist should probably be a household name. Hint: It has a whole lot to do with water.
In his 2014 book, Blue Mind, Nichols explores the notion that the liquid stuff we know as our life source is the key to living a more peaceful existence. He called this the “Blue Mind Theory.” The theory and book find their footing on the idea that being in, on, under, or near a body of water naturally lulls our brains into a state of mild meditation. A state that anyone who’s had the chance to catch a wave is more than familiar with. Nichols does his job well, talking to everyone from scientists who study addiction to war veterans to surfers. He was particularly taken with that last group, noting that “surfers probably exhibit more Blue Mind than anyone. They are attuned to the water, used to watching it.”
Nichols’ conclusion is far from simple, but it comes close to something most humans seem to suspect and every surfer knows to be true: Water is more than just a beverage or the stuff that falls from the sky. It’s the stuff of vitality and contentment. The “why” behind those big, bold notions is a work in progress. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at what was going on in Wallace's brain.
The Blue Mind State
The name that Dr. Nichols came up with to describe the human-water connection; “A mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment.”
The Red Mind State
A state defined by Nichols in which we are constantly on alert, ready for anything to trigger a fight-or-flight stress response, like a life-threatening encounter with a wild animal or an angry email from a coworker. Our brains naturally tend to settle into this state due to a combination of evolution and the modern world that we live in. A Red Mind state can lead to overstimulation and feeling of anxiety. Chances are everyone here has felt a bit of red in their brains.
The Science: Why Water?
The answer is a little complex — it is the brain we’re talking about, after all. The human brain is tapped into an endless amount of stimuli (noises, smells, movement, etc.), whether we’re on a nature safari or sitting on the couch watching TV. Changes in our environments as a result of these stimuli are picked up by our brains before we even realize what’s happening ourselves, a talent that evolved thanks to millennia of fighting for survival and picking berries in the woods (or something like that). Part of that talent is recognizing patterns. The problem with this whole thing? We can’t just turn the survival mode off. That’s a key reason why we find ourselves having a hard time focusing when we’re sitting behind a desk or in an office. Nichols says it best in Blue Mind: “...we have been separated from the very stimuli we were built over hundreds and hundreds of thousands of years to perceive: the richness of the natural world.” Water, the superhero of this story, helps when we find ourselves in these situations, whether it’s the sound, sight, smell, or distance of it. Why? Because the flow of water provides us with a “two-in-one” of what our brains need in order to remain in a neutral state of calm: patterns that don’t always repeat themselves but still offer a sense of predictability (like the sound of the waves or the rush of a waterfall). This predictability keeps our brains engaged but doesn’t trigger that fight-or-flight response, leaving it just alert enough to remain curious yet relaxed. The perfect recipe for what Nichols calls the “restfulness of involuntary attention.”
Blue on the Brain: The Benefits
Hormone Regulation
Pumps up production of endorphins, the body’s natural opiates, and feel-good chemicals (dopamine oxytocin, and serotonin), creating the perfect biological cocktail of calm, happy, relaxed, and motivated. Puts the brakes on the stress-hormone cortisol responsible for fight-or-flight mode, making it easier for your mind to focus and your body to function the way it should.
Calms the Nervous System
According to a study by researchers at University of California, Davis, just looking at water for a little under two minutes can noticeably lower heart rate and blood pressure.
Inspires Creativity and Flowstate
The predictability of the water for our senses sets up a soothing background, making “perturbations,” or disturbances like a bird flying to the shore or a whale breaching that much more novel and exciting, aka involuntary attention. This type of attention can be highly restorative when experienced in nature, streamlining focus and making room for new ideas to form.
While scientists are still working to put all of the nuanced pieces of the puzzle together, Nichols’ theory still poses an interesting take on surfing in light of Blue Mind science. Think about it this way: Surfing literally immerses us in water. And not just in the act of riding a wave. Hearing crashing water on the shore. Cutting through the surface while paddling out. Watching the variety of waves come in with each set. Catching a wave over and over again. Each step of the way submerses every single sense in the water. Simply put, when it comes to eliminating overstimulation, inducing a meditative state of mind, and reducing anxiety, surfing makes sense.
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