Cornish Coach’s New Book Reveals Why Water Calms the Mind

Could the answer to easing anxiety be as close as your nearest stretch of coastline, river, or even a rainy window? A new book from Cornwall-based ocean advocate Lizzi Larbalestier makes the case that water, in all its forms, holds genuine restorative power.

The Healing Power of Water: The essential guide to blue health publishes today, the 7th of May 2026, through Leaping Hare Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group. The hardback and ebook are priced at £20.

The science of blue health

The book introduces readers to blue health, a rapidly growing field exploring how water supports emotional balance, mental clarity, and physical wellbeing. Lizzi blends current research with practical tools designed to help readers reconnect with water in meaningful ways.

She covers everything from coastlines and rivers to rain, lakes, and the everyday presence of water in our lives, showing how blue spaces can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and enrich daily life.

In her own words: “So much of this book is about creating a deeper relationship with our water which, in turn, helps us value our amazing planet, each other and ourselves, creating a truly symbiotic approach to healing.”

What’s inside

The illustrated guide brings together four main strands. There are simple guided practices including breathwork, mini-meditations, and sensory exercises that work in any environment. Practical activities range from mindful rituals and reflective prompts through to water-based experiences such as snorkelling and surfing. Readers will also find accessible explanations of how water affects mood, attention, and health, alongside eco-centred perspectives on how nurturing our connection with water naturally strengthens environmental stewardship.

The publisher pitches it as suitable for readers whether they live by the sea or in the middle of a busy city, offering science-informed strategies to ease anxiety, restore vitality, and cultivate a more fluid, resilient way of living.

About the author

Lizzi is the founder of Going Coastal Blue and a PCC-credentialed Executive Coach who has become a leading voice in nature-connected coaching. She created the ICF-accredited Blue Health Coach™ training programme, co-designed the iOS Blue Health mobile app, and is the author of blue, a Cornwall-inspired poetry collection.

She has specialised in coastal coaching since 2009 and works as an ICF supervisor and mentor, championing the transformative power of blue spaces through workshops, events, and keynote speaking. Her approach blends nervous-system regulation with deep connection to the natural world to support clearer, more grounded decision-making.

A committed systems thinker and passionate ocean advocate, Lizzi has received multiple awards for her professional contributions and voluntary environmental work.

The book sits alongside two others in the same series, The Healing Power of Trees and The Healing Power of Sound.

The Healing Power of Water is available to buy on Amazon.