HOT TUBBING AND YOUR BRAIN
March 16, 2009
Last Friday night my husband and I went to a dinner party where the guest of honor was John Medina, author of “Brain Rules” . Dr. Medina has dual professorships at the University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University where he is involved with an institute on the brain and learning. I’ve been wanting to meet him since I read his book last year. He didn’t disappoint. What a fascinating evening. He is passionate about the brain and research into how the brain learns and functions at its best.
Turns out, he is an Olympic Hot Tub customer! He and his wife own a Vanguard model Hot Spring Spa-our #1 best-selling model. When we were introduced to him and told him that we owned a hot tub company, he said: I hope it’s Olympic, I’ve had such good service from them.” How great was that to hear!!
His book, “Brain Rules” outlines 12 rules for taking care of your brain. #3 is STRESS as in stress reduction! He documents the effects on the brain while under stress. Learning is far diminished and the brain can’t function at its normal rate. Did you know that stress damages cognition in every way that cognition can be measured? The human brain is designed to function when we’re walking 20 km a day and eating small bites along the way. That’s the opposite of what we do to ourselves in a sedentary world punctuated with big meals at long intervals. To survive, the brain needs increased blood flow..aerobic exercise is a key! And, soaking, yes, soaking in your hot tub will help, too. Hot tub soaking increases circulation!
I’m not suggesting that you give up aerobic activity in favor of sitting and soaking. But as you will see in the next few posts that when immersed in water, the volume of blood in your chest cavity and in your heart increases dramatically. This is due to the hydrostatic pressure on your body and the effects of being in a buoyant state: Your heart’s ability to pump blood goes up, while at the same time, your heart rate goes down. Your cardiovascular system becomes far more efficient, and that affects just about every function of the human body including the brain.
Stay tuned. More on this in the days to come as we celebrate BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK March 16-22.
SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health Through Water.