Why Do Water Features Cause Relaxation?

Let’s learn about the science behind why water features promote relaxation & calm

Koi ponds and other water features, including pondless waterfalls and aquascapes, are known to offer relaxation, but why? What is it about sitting by a water feature in your backyard that helps to clear the mind and melt away the stress of the day?

Well, there’s actually a lot of science behind this effect. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at some of the key reasons water features and the sound of moving water in general promotes relaxation. This should help you understand your own mind a bit better, and it will also give you an inside look into our philosophy at Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features in Rock Hill, SC.

Koi fish, pondless backyard waterfalls, & other water features offer relaxation & tranquility

A Lesson From the Past

Before we get into the actual data about water features and the brain, we want to offer anecdotal evidence for the soothing power of water features. Our founder, Scott Olson, got into this industry because he has personally experienced the zen-like state that water features offer.

Upon building his first koi pond over a decade ago, Scott noticed how his entire mood and outlook on life changed while sitting quietly with the fish in his pond. The slow movements of the beautiful fish combined with the quiet bubbling of the water feature brought about a type of relaxation that’s hard to find in everyday life.

From that moment on, Ground Fx Landscaping & Water Features has made it our mission to offer our customers access to the same tranquility and beauty that we’ve found in our work.

There’s a lot of science to backup claims that water features cause relaxation

Lower Risk Perception

One of the key scientific findings discovered in our research has been that ambient sounds like running water or a babbling brook lower risk perception. When you’re awake and aware throughout the day, everything from your phone’s notifications to car horns beeping in traffic can signal risk.

This doesn’t mean risk as in danger, but the same parts of the brain that get stimulated by risky situations can be stimulated by sonic interruptions. As such, your ability to relax throughout your normal day-to-day life is lessened simply by virtue of interacting with the world around you.

When humans are exposed to ambient noise, or noise that has no distinct features, this creates a lowered perception of risk. In a sense, it lulls the brain into a state of relaxation. This is the same science behind why white noise machines work to help people fall asleep.

The colors of nature can also promote wellness and relaxation

Reconnecting With Nature

There’s also scientific evidence to support the notion that spending time near a water feature helps to promote wellness by allowing you to reconnect with nature. In fact, some studies have shown that spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, promote a healthy immune system, and reduce inflammation.

Reconnecting with nature also removes many distractions people face during the stress of work, commuting, and traffic as well as the normal day-to-day frustrations of just living life. When you’re surrounded by nature in your own backyard, you feel safe and at peace, and having a backyard escape in the form of a water feature only helps to promote peace and relaxation.

Something else that we found interesting in our research is that even the colors of an outdoor koi pond or robust landscape design can promote relaxation.

Even the sight of slowly moving water can be relaxing

Slowly Moving Water Helps to Relax the Mind

Something else we found interesting in our research is that even the sight of slowly moving water can produce a calming effect. We’ve seen this first-hand, but it turns out that there’s some science behind this phenomenon.

In a sense, the ripples and small waves caused by fish, falling leaves, and even pesky insects can have a hypnotizing effect on the brain. We get lulled into relaxation by quiet, slow repetitive movements. This is also why some people love to spend the day on the lake fishing, even when there are no fish biting.

The calming effect of being on or near the water combined with the reflection of nature on the placid surface of a backyard pond or other water features helps to promote overall well-being.

Contact Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features to Get Your Own Backyard Escape

To experience the tranquility and zen of a backyard koi pond, pondless waterfall, or other type of water feature in the Rock Hill SC region, contact Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features. We specialize in custom landscape design in Rock Hill and the surrounding area, and our team will be happy to work with your vision to design and install a water feature at your home that you and your loved ones will enjoy for many years to come.

Call us today at (803) 371-2324, or use our contact form below to schedule your no-obligation landscape design consultation in Rock Hill SC.