July 2023. Elevate Perspective: Hello There, You Tall Glass Of Water...

It's a very hot summer in Hong Kong! It’s the season for junk parties and fun in the sun.

Are you drinking enough water?

Water is an essential part of life. Without it, we perish. The Earth is called the blue planet because of water. Our bodies are made up of water. Have a look below to see just how much the parts of our bodies are made of water:

Body part Water Percentage

brain and heart 73%

lungs 83%

skin 64%

muscles and kidneys 79%

bones 31%

We can get dehydrated from the heat for any number of reasons. To ensure we aren’t dehydrated, we must drink (or eat!) an adequate number of fluids to replenish what we lose throughout the day. It happens all the time from the moment we wake up. Now we need to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us because we can feel what being dehydrated is like. Symptoms of dehydration may include:

1. Extreme thirst

2. Less frequent urination

3. Dry skin

4. Fatigue

5. Light-headedness

6. Dizziness

7. Confusion

8. Dry mouth and mucous membranes

9. Headaches

10. Increased heart rate and breathing

Beware: Sarcasm is imminent. Dear reader, when you feel these symptoms, just drink some water. And then keep drinking some more water.

Ok, you get it. Water and hydration are very important for us to cool down, but more importantly, to stay healthy. We know this, don’t we? To truly “get it” about movement and how we use our bodies (like when we do our Pilates classes at Elevate) it’s even better to understand what fascia is.

Simply put, fascia is connective tissue that is like a spider web inside our bodies. It envelopes and supports muscles and ligaments and even goes through tissue and organs. Healthy fascia supports a healthy body. Now think of fascia like a sponge: When a sponge is not hydrated, it is dry and rough and can be torn or broken, but when a sponge has been soaked in water then it becomes pliant and stretchy. Our fascia runs through our bodies from head to toe so for our body to function well at a “mechanical” level, our fascia must be well hydrated.

Now do you get it?

In conclusion, drink water, and stay hydrated. Your body will thank you.

Thank you.

RESOURCES:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/body-water-percentage

2. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/dehydration-and-heat-stroke

3. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-water-should-I-drink#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

4. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-fascia-5079645

5. https://www.mfroftampabay.com/water-myofascial-release-needed-for-fluidity-of-fascia/