The word Therapy, by definition (Wikipedia), literally means “curing, healing” and is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a diagnosis.

Take a minute to answer the following questions and see if you are in need of a little beach therapy.

Are you feeling the urge to look at water, blue sparkly liquid? Perhaps, you are experiencing a craving for some delicious shrimp or spicy salsa? As you swallow, is your throat dry and do flashing images of a cold Mexican cerveza, Margarita or Piña Colada go rapidly through your mind? Do you find yourself shaking sand out of pair of shoes and immediately experiencing a rush of nostalgia, memories of warm sun and salty air? Maybe, it’s when you hear that one special song on the radio and you are instantly transported back in time to a great beach memory and your lips form a smile dreaming of the sea and you ignore the ringing phone at work.

OK, you might need some help. I see you are also reading the Rocky Point Times, well it may be a little more serious than I thought…Yes, in my amateur opinion, I diagnose you have a bad case of beach downer syndrome…you are missing the ocean, sun and sky so much you are in need of some good beach therapy. Just to get things right again, you need some away time in the sand, some fun time frolicking in the sea, some beach time on your back or just some peace in your mind. It’s OK; really…it can happen to the best of us.

Here are six ways to practice beach therapy:

  1. Borrow, buy, rent or create anything that floats on the ocean. Put on a pair of sunglasses, a hat and go down to the Sea of Cortez or Cholla Bay with your water craft in hand and just float. Float. If you’re lucky enough to be in Rocky Point it’s easy to find a place to float, if not find your nearest body of water, any pool, river, or lake. Close your eyes and think of Rocky Point. You will achieve some beach therapy.
  2. Grab a soft comfortable towel, and some sunscreen that smells like coconut. Banana or mango. Head to the sands of Rocky Point. Just rubbing the sunscreen on your body, the smell and the touch will bring you back to the days of being at the beach. Close your eyes, and inhale deeply.
  3. If you can’t make it to Rocky Point this weekend, take out a calendar, or look it up on your phone and pick a weekend to reserve a condo or hotel in Rocky Point. Even if you can’t get away right now, just knowing a future beach vacation is in the horizon will give you a bright spot and a little beach therapy. Do a countdown, invite other friends and family members to plan it with you, make it a beach weekend to remember. Sometimes, it is as simple as picking a date and making a reservation.
  4. Wake up early, drive to the beach and take a walk along the water. Simple, but so much therapy as each foot touches the sand and the water washes away the footprints left behind.
  5. Watch the sunset. Another easy therapy strategy. It doesn’t matter where you watch the sunset; it can be indoors through a window at a beautiful restaurant, sitting on the patio, or relaxing on a blanket on the beach. You decide which style of sunset therapy is best for you. My suggestion, try this one…Look up a song, any song will do, (I prefer Bach or Beethoven) note how many minutes and seconds are in the song, and then look at the time of sunset in the Rocky Point Times newspaper, subtract the songs minutes from the time of sunset and you guessed it…Hit play at the new subtracted time and the sun will drop into the water as your song ends, perfectly on cue. You might even amaze your friends and family, but if nothing else it will provide a little extra special therapy to all. Beautiful ending to a beautiful day.
  6. Don’t forget the nighttime. Lots of great beach therapy happens at night. Although, some night therapy between two people might be a little too personal to explain, a plethora of others exist. Night fall beach therapy can be as easy as listening to the sounds of the water at the seashore, taking an evening stroll on the beach, looking up at the stars or just taking chairs or blankets down to the empty beach, lying on your back, taking in the salty air through your lungs and looking up at the incredible dark blue velvet sky filled with pinholes. Sound machines or apps on your IPhone of the beach will help fill the gap until you can make it down to the real thing.

If you are not able to get to therapy, in other words, you are not able to journey to Rocky Point at this moment, create the beach experience in your home. Sand can get messy, but a beach towel, umbrella, some music, sunglasses and your bathing suit might tide you over until your next visit.

Everyone needs a little beach therapy, and of course the best way to achieve it is in Puerto Peñasco at the beach. It’s free and it feels good.

“It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy…Beach Therapy.”

– Amy Dykens

Anita Kaltenbaugh is the Mexico travel examiner at examiner.com and author of the book “Travel Secrets- Insider guide to planning, affording and taking more vacations” available on the Kindle, and Amazon.com.