Did you know that enjoying the sight and sound of your indoor or outdoor fountain or waterfall is good for your health? While you are improving the beauty of your home or garden, you are also providing a more healthful environment for all who enter. The sound of the falling water in your fountain or waterfall enhances the relaxation effect, while the action of falling water improves the air quality around you.

            Your indoor or outdoor fountain or waterfall enhances your body’s ability to relax, which brings about many physiological effects, including:

• decreased blood pressure
• decreased anxiety
• decreased muscle tension
• increased mental clarity
• decreased breathing rate
• decreased heart rate

You may not remember, but the first nine months of your existence was spent floating in water and your body is made of a very high concentration of water (55-60 %). So the sound and sight of water flowing in your fountain just feels like home.

             In addition, the action of water falling from your fountain causes negative ions to split off and negatively charge the surrounding air. If you’ve ever been to the ocean you know that the air feels and smells different – clean and fresh. Negative ions causes your body to increase serotonin levels (the hormone responsible for the feeling of well-being) and also improves your body’s ability to take in oxygen. The result is decreased anxiety and a calming effect. Also, indoor fountains add moisture to the air decreasing the need for humidifiers.

            So while your indoor or outdoor fountain may be beautiful, it may also help relax you and those around you, creating better relationships ( or, if your fountain is in your office or place of business, improve sales or customer relations!) and improving the health and well being of all.