Floating upriver on the Issel, Rhine, and Mosel rivers from Amsterdam to Lucerne for eleven days in July proved to be an expansive experience, even though I spent vast numbers of hours daily on (and off) a small ship with 70 other sojourners. Though physically contained aboard for long periods, my spirits soared, buoyed by the water and its abundant wildlife – pairs of elegant swans; unfamiliar, boisterous ducks; wild horses dipping into the rivers to cool, and domesticated cows lying on the sand here and there as though they’d planned a day at the beach. They gave new meaning to the old farm phrase, “Contented as a cow”.

Floating when depleted proves to be a strong Rx, a natural one, too. You don’t need to be on an ocean- or river-bound ship to do it, either. Floating, I’ve come to realize, makes itself available in many versions and leads to a more-restive state of mind. For me, this river cruise likely was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to place an “X” in front of a bucket-list item. I love rivers because they flow somewhere, I feel comfortable on and in water, and I respond happily to the movements and sounds of it. While deeply grateful for my European river excursion, the costs and time needed to take one prohibit me from reserving them often.

Somewhere between Bernkastel, Germany, and the border of Switzerland, I remembered other ways to float to find relaxation and stress release. They’ve worked for me in pressured times – I hope they will for you, too. It will be fun to try some of them before summer ends.

FLOAT IN YOUR TUB

Don’t overthink it – just do it. Fill your tub almost to the brim and add your favorite essential oil. Light candles at the tub’s edge and two or three floating ones, once you’re settled. Don’t forget to have a folded towel ready to place behind your head, neck, and shoulders so you can lean back. A bath pillow does an even better job. Have a washcloth handy so you can squeeze warm water down your shoulders and chest; stay submerged until the water begins to cool. Step out before becoming chilled and only pat dry. While still damp, use your favorite brand of lotion to lock the moisture into your thirsty skin. Add any other elements that will further feelings of relaxation – music, a cup of tea or glass of wine, or maybe a recorded meditation.

FLOAT DOWN YOUR FAVORITE CLEAN LOCAL RIVER IN AN INNER TUBE

The crowds of river inner-tube floaters drop dramatically in August, which always surprises me. They thin even more in early September, yet the water’s often still a comfortable temperature. Bring lots of fresh water (leave the booze at home), wear foot gear, and don’t forget your wide-brimmed hat. Go with just one special friend – someone with whom you can be as at ease in silence as in chatting – and float the afternoon away. At the journey’s end, your body and mind will feel lighter and cooler, your muscles soothed, and your relationship renewed.

SKIM A LAKE OR STREAM BY KAYAK

Kayaking tips your perspective so quickly. From the moment you push away from shore propelled by your own strong body, the magic begins. Seeing land from the water gives new appreciation for both. You spot nesting birds, ducks, geese. You share the channels, inlets, and even small islands with otters, beavers, loons, fish, frogs, turtles, and deer dipping their heads for a drink. Once, while paddling on a lake near Vail, my friends and I spotted a moose bathing at the edge of a river. We floated without paddling for the longest time, enthralled by the playfulness and lack of fear displayed by the magnificent creature. Recently, my daughter and I, each ensconced in our separate kayaks on Spring Creek in Bonita Springs, Florida, noticed subtle movement at the edge of a forest of mangroves. We paused and moored a few yards away. For the next 20 minutes, we spied on an enormous manatee as it lunched its way from one mangrove tree to another. Clearly, in both cases the our quiet mode of transportation and our willingness to stay back made a difference. The point is, your eyes will be opened, your spirit soothed by what you see.

FLOAT IN YOUR BED

What??? A dear friend frequently drifts into sweet sleep by listening to recordings of the movement of water, be it ocean waves, babbling brooks and streams, or thunderstorms and falling rain. We share memories, I believe, of being children falling asleep to the sound of water. If some evening you find yourself tossing and turning, see a picture in your mind’s eye of a charming boat. Step aboard, turn on your “water music”, and drift away in to the Land of Nod.

If the beginning of the end of feeling depleted is admitting to it, then a present positive next step is to merge with water, one way or another. After all, we are made primarily of water and stardust. Enjoy!

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Marcia Appel

In 2006, Marcia, a former journalist and corporate executive, wrote the plan that launched Green Lotus. In 2007, Green Lotus opened, and Marcia and business partner Merry Beth Hovey, who joined in 2009, planted the seeds of service that are the foundation of the Green Lotus philosophy. "As teachers and healers," Marcia says, "we meet students and clients where they are. We learn and grow from each other -- and have fun doing it."