I’ve been suffering ever since they closed the apartment swimming pool for repairs more than two months ago. I went for morning walks, but really, swimming is what I like to do for exercise. The pool reopened a few days ago, but there were too many people swimming in it, this morning however, I went down and there wasn’t anyone around. Sat on the edge for a while dipping my legs into the water (icy cold, surprisingly) for a minute or two. Took a deep breath, and plunged in. And what a glorious feeling!
I could feel my serotonin and endorphin levels increasing. Experts have said that when you’re feeling depressed, try some exercise that you like. It boosts the levels of those two compounds in our bodies, giving us a feel-good sensation. Much better than taking a depression drug. Serotonin is a chemical that helps maintain a “happy feeling,” and seems to help keep our moods under control by helping with sleep, calming anxiety, and relieving depression.
With high endorphin levels, we feel less pain and fewer negative effects of stress. Endorphins have been suggested as modulators of the so-called “runner’s high” that athletes achieve with prolonged exercise. Thanks to medicinenet.com.
Yeah, it’s a fact, swimming makes me happy. I was intrigued by a quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus:
“You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.”
Hmm…yes, you can’t step into the same waters twice. But you can step into it once.
And that’s fine with me!
