It is well-known that the natural environment plays an important role in promoting human health. Recently, forest therapy attracts widespread attention and gradually emerges in Japan and Korea. In addition to the forest environment, the waterfall environment has also been found to have a variety of beneficial health effects. The repetitive nature of things like flowing water can induce a type of light hypnosis or deep relaxation, instantly taking people to their “happy place”. Allowing your body to fall deep into this type of relaxation will benefit your mind, body, and soul.
Waterfall therapy provides an opportunity to disconnect from the demands of daily life and find peace amidst the serene beauty of nature, reducing stress and tension. Studies have found that exposure to negative ions can have several positive effects on our health:
- Improved mood
- Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Increased energy levels and productivity
- Enhanced immune system function
- Relief from stress and tension.
Collectively, the WF had a positive effect on immune enhancement and physical and psychological health in patients with chronic fatigue and might inhibit chronic stress by regulating the NOX4/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway.
WATERFALL MEDITATION
The Waterfall Meditation is a guided visualization practice to help you release resentment, anger, and any unwanted emotions by connection with the power of nature.
Takigyo (pronounced takiguio) is a form of meditation, but instead of sitting in a temple, you are under a waterfall where water, usually very cold, falls on you. This practice is used to test your limits, your mental and physical strength, and to rediscover yourself in extreme conditions.
Takigyo is an ancient practice. For a long time, it was reserved for ascetics, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests or Yamabushi (mountain monks). The objective of Takigyo is to cleanse one's mind, body and soul through a Buddhism purification ritual. To make things hard yet rewarding, the “cleansing” happens under the rough waters of a waterfall at approximately 15 degrees Celsius.
Recent research suggests that being near waterfalls can indeed have a calming effect on the mind and body. Science suggests that the sound of running water can affect the rhythm of the neuronal “waves” in our brain, encouraging a more peaceful pace of thought. Takigyo is the name in Japanese for the waterfall meditation, a practice widely spread throughout the country, and Yamanashi is home to one of the best places in Japan to try takigyo, the Bentendou Waterfall.
Waterfalls are said to symbolise the process of letting go, cleansing and the continuous flow of energy and life. So a waterfall in your dream can highlight the importance of letting go of the negative thoughts that have become lodged in your mind
Although the moment when you slip under the cold water is far from pleasant in itself, people who have experienced it all attest to feeling refreshed, more serene, distanced from the small problems of everyday life, and with a renewed energy.
CAUTION: Don't jump off of waterfalls or dive into waterfall pools. Unseen objects, such as logs and boulders, may be under the water's surface. Never swim or wade upstream near a waterfall, even if the water appears shallow and calm. The currents close to the falls could pull swimmers over the edge.
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