You may not have thought about this, but actually there are many health benefits coming from water features and they are related to:
- art therapy,
- sound therapy,
- refreshing and purifying the air,
- stimulation of the vital energy (as desribed by Feng Shui philosopy)
Let’s look at them one by one:
An indoor or outdoor waterfall, pond, water garden, can add a beautiful visual element to any garden, back yard or home decor. You can challange your artistic imagination, playing with different ways of creating beauty in your surrounding environment.
Sound therapy
Sound not only affects our state of mind, but can be actually used to improve our health. It is well known that sound therapy can dramatically change one’s health.
Sound Therapy is becoming an increasingly popular way of ‘re-tuning’ mind, body and spirit. Sound is used to correct imbalances on all levels of being using a method known as sympathetic resonance and entrainment.
Art Therapy
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has developed a study about the relation between art and health.
This research took a broad view of how the relationship between art and health is articulated. It draws on an increasing body of evidence that focuses on the importance of such factors as increased well-being and self-esteem, and on the role of participation and social connectedness in the enhancement of people’s health by building social capital
Indicators for such improvements include:
- Enhanced motivation (both within the course of a project and in participants’ lives more generally).
- Greater connectedness to others.
- People’s own perceptions about having a more positive outlook on life.
- Reduced sense of fear, isolation and anxiety.
- Increased confidence, sociability, and even self-esteem.
By adding colorful flowers and rocks and even lights to water features, you can create corners of art and beauty to please your eyes and mind.
Falling or just moving water brings life to a too quite corner, while they enhance the environment with a peacefull, relaxing sound.
Refreshing and purifying the surrounding air
Water provides additional health benefit by releasing negative ions, thereby purifying your environment; they also increase the humidity levels, decreasing the level of dust, pollutants and static electricity.
“Near strong surf or close to a waterfall up to 10.000 negative ions can be found, however the number of negative ions in major capital cities at rush hour does not even reach 100.”
Water features bring life to your garden or house, not only by the moving water but also by plants and even fish that can be added. When outdoor they attract birds, butterflies and other forms of wild life awakening and enlivening the good energy (Chi)
A water garden opens up a new world of planting and landscaping possibilities. You can start small, with a hollowed-out stone that catches rainwater or jump right in with a half-acre pond that has water lilies, fish and a fountain.
“No one can deny the power and attraction of water features. And it’s never been easier for gardeners to add the sparkle and serenity of water to their own landscapes.
Like in all the other cultures, the Chinese philosophy associates Water with maternity and abundance. It contains the potential of giving life an nourishes all living things.. That’s why in the Feng Shui philosophy water features are considered to bring to stimulate the flux of life giving energy, bringing wellbeing into our own life’s.
Here are some great ideas for incorporating a waterfall garden or waterfall pond into your landscape.
- creating cascades
- streams
- springs
- water spray patterns
- ornamental falls
- water staircases
