We just got back from a vacation trip to Niagara Falls in upstate New York. Although no picture can ever completely capture the power and majesty of the falls, I’ve posted a picture to the right of the American Falls. You can see part of the horseshoe shaped, and much larger, Canadian Falls in the background. Although I still had aches and pains from the cross country drive we had made to get there, they were quickly forgotten as I gazed at the amazing sight of the entire Niagara River dropping over the cliffs to the bottom of the gorge, over a hundred and seventy feet below. All of a sudden, I felt refreshed and fully alive.

Ever wonder why just being by a waterfall instantly soothes your spirit and makes you feel relaxed and energized?

There are actually several reasons for this. The first is the rhythmic sight and sound of the rushing water as it gathers speed, spills over the falls, and crashes into a pool below. The motion of the water is almost hypnotic and the sound is like a lullaby that sings directly into your soul.

The crashing water of a waterfall also creates quite a bit of mist, increasing the humidity and cooling the surrounding area. A lot of mist in the air tends to create rainbows when the sun is at the right angle, another item that is pleasing to the eye and that helps to calm the spirit.

Waterfalls also create significant levels of negative ions. Negative ions not only clean the air (which is why the air around a waterfall always smells fresh and clean), they make you feel relaxed, refreshed, and energized.

Lastly, waterfalls are just plain cool. Who can watch water come crashing down from a high cliff and not be moved to amazement? Who can feel the cool mist on their face and not experience a deep connection with the Earth? Who can possibly come up with a better way to describe a waterfall than to just stare at it and say, “Cool!”?

Balanced health means more than just diet and exercise. Although diet and exercise take care of your physical body, you have to also balance your mind and spirit. Sitting near a waterfall is a great way to do that.

So whether you’re sitting near a waterfall as massive as Niagara Falls or one as small as a tabletop waterfall, take the time to really watch the water flow over the edge. Hear the water splashing on the rocks and hitting the pool below. Then take a slow, deep, cleansing breath, and say, “Cool!”

Hiram

The Balanced Health Guy

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