Take a field trip to your local art gallery for a wave of tranquility.
Living a high-performance lifestyle has always been about balancing physical fitness with mental wellness, which includes established practices like mindfulness, meditation, and stress management. But research from the University of Pennsylvania shows you can add something more unexpected to help heal mind, body, and soul: a visit to the museum.
Visiting a museum, particularly an art museum, has emerged as an activity that not only fosters learning but can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression — enhancing your overall well-being, according to the UPenn study. The benefit goes beyond the notion of simply feeling “happier” around art.
“Looking at the world around us in a contemplative way is a mindful activity that we all could use more of. When we look at art or a tree swaying in the wind, we often forget about our busy lives,” says Marie Westburg, a registered art therapist and creative coach. This mindful observation momentarily allows people to disconnect from their hectic routines, “and it can shift our thinking into a new place, opening us up to the possibility of new perspectives and experiences,” she says.
Art as a Therapeutic Tool
For Equinox members accustomed to pushing their physical limits and maintaining a high-performance standard, the quiet, reflective space within a museum creates an atmosphere conducive to mental clarity. The carefully curated exhibits of art museums, in particular, guide people through a journey of discovery, encouraging them to engage deeply with the art around them. This engagement can lead to a meditative state, helping to lower cortisol levels — the body’s primary stress hormone — and promote a sense of calm, research suggests.
Westburg highlights the importance of this creative process: “When we make an internal part of ourselves visible, our emotions become tangible and available for further reflection,” she says. “This can be very powerful, especially for adults who have forgotten how to play and feel cut off from parts of themselves.” Members who often lead demanding lives can benefit from this therapeutic exploration and creative process, whether through creating art in interactive exhibits or simply appreciating the works on display.
Engaging with art can also help individuals access different parts of their brains, fostering creativity, reducing rigid thinking patterns, and enhancing overall mental flexibility. “When we slow down and access different parts of our brains, we can explore new vistas, surrender rigid thinking for something yet unknown, and hopefully find new pathways to understanding ourselves,” says Westburg.
The “Right” Way to Visit a Museum
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to your next museum visit. The key is to show up with an open mind and heart. Don’t feel like you need an art degree to benefit mentally; it’s about slowing down and immersing yourself in the exhibits rather than rushing through. This will allow for deeper engagement and reflection. “I see again and again how important exploration through play is to well-being. Without it, we all can get stuck in an unfulfilled state and then wonder how we got there,” says Westburg.
For members who are used to structured workout regimens, a museum visit can serve as a breath of fresh air from the day-to-day. Visitors should feel encouraged to explore museums at their own pace, allowing them to be drawn to the pieces that resonate most.
The good news: Many art museums offer free admission, making them accessible to a broad audience and allowing more people to benefit from the mental health advantage of the activity. By offering a temporary escape from life’s stresses and an opportunity for deeper, therapeutic engagement with art, a museum can serve as a sanctuary for mind and soul. So, the next time life feels overwhelming, consider visiting an art museum — it might just be what the doctor prescribes.