Why is surfing good for mental health?
Evidence showing the mental health benefits of surfing ranges from improving self-esteem and reducing social isolation to treating depression and other mental disorders. Such evidence mainly comes from specific surf therapy programs. Surfing provides many health benefits including: cardiovascular fitness – from paddling.Plus, all that balancing, paddling, and popping up on the board is like a workout for your brain, helping it build new pathways that keep you sharp and focused. So whether you’re 18 or 65, learning to surf isn’t just a fun adventure, it’s a total brain upgrade.To Respect Others Surf etiquette requires us to understand our place in the water, take turns, and practice patience and restraint as opposed to just blindly going on every wave. Surfing also requires us to honestly appraise our skill level, lest some of us charge out into conditions we can’t handle.Riding the Waves: Physical Benefits of Surfing Every Day Strength and endurance: Paddling out to catch those waves is no easy task. Your upper body, particularly your arms, shoulders, and back, will develop strength and endurance like never before. Core stability: Balancing on a surfboard demands a strong core.
Why are surfers so calm?
It’s also a great way to reduce stress, which is why more and more people are surfing for wellbeing. The rhythmic motion of riding the waves allows surfers to immerse themselves in the present, fostering a deep sense of connection with nature. The ocean offers a place to find clarity, perspective, and an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Research shows that people who live near the ocean are calmer and have fewer angry outbursts(1). Even the colour blue makes people feel less stressed.The by or in the ocean has been proven to induce a meditative state that makes us happier, healthier, calmer, more creative, and more capable of connection. This is just the beginning. Our affinity for water is even reflected in the near-universal attraction to the color blue.Spiritual well-being Many surfers describe a sense of spiritual connection with the ocean, as surfing involves a harmony with the tides, wind, and currents, which are powerful forces that can help develop a sense of humility. For many people, this spiritual connection can even lead to greater gratitude for life.
What are the health benefits of surfing?
Surfing provides many health benefits including: cardiovascular fitness – from paddling. Surfing alters your brainwaves The breathing patterns used when swimming and diving stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. This has an impact on the brainwaves and calms the mind, releasing hormones that make you feel positive.Surfing is excellent exercise When we exercise, our body releases endorphins, a chemical that reduces the perception of pain and triggers a positive feeling in the body. At the same time, endorphins boost the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that has a positive correlation with mood.Evidence showing the mental health benefits of surfing ranges from improving self-esteem and reducing social isolation to treating depression and other mental disorders. Such evidence mainly comes from specific surf therapy programs.Surfing can reduce stress and anxiety while improving sleep, mood, and overall mental health. The physical activity and intense focus associated with surfing releases a cocktail of “feel-good” chemicals like endorphins and dopamine into the blood system, leaving you feeling euphoric and blissful.
Is surfing good for your brain?
In fact, surfing has been scientifically proven to rewire our brains in ways that contribute to a better quality of life, with our own neuroplasticity being a key ingredient in this process. The Surfer Mentality: When a surfer gets up on a wave, they enjoy the present moment, even though they know that the wave will eventually end. They fully enjoy THIS wave, with the wisdom and awareness that there are always more waves coming.Catching a wave, even a small one, triggers a powerful rush of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good, reward-driven chemical. Those seemingly simple wins in surfing, like finally popping up or riding a wave just five seconds longer than before, flood your system with a surge of motivation, joy, focus, and confidence.Whether you step into the sea to swim, or connect to the ocean in your mind, the water offers an opportunity to release, cleanse your energy, and to call in guidance for the next phase of your life.Be patient and good things will come. For every surfer, waiting is part of the game. If you learn to enjoy the down times you’ll definitely reap fuller rewards. As surfers, we’re always waiting for something – the swell to pick up, the wind to swing, our friend to return the bar of wax he borrowed.
Why do surfers look so healthy?
Surfing is a full-body workout, engaging core, upper body, and leg muscles. This rigorous exercise increases blood flow, promoting oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin, resulting in a healthy and youthful appearance. Moreover, consistent physical activity has been proven to slow down the aging process. There’s no set “stop age” for surfing. Some surfers keep riding waves into their 70s and beyond, adapting to smaller waves and different beginner surfboards to suit their needs. Surfing for mental health and fitness keeps people of all ages in the water.On average, a surfer starts his or her professional career between 14 and 18 years of age and hangs the leash around 35. Nevertheless, we’ve athletes reaching their peak of performance around 35 or 40.Therefore, it’s safe to say that there’s no set surfing age limit. With proper instruction, a healthy respect for the ocean, and a positive attitude, anyone can enjoy the thrill of catching a wave.Surfing seems to be a young person’s game – statistics show it’s dominated by those between 6 and 34 years old. However, many professional surfers reach their peak performance in their mid-thirties or even forties, proving that age doesn’t have to be a barrier.
Why is surfing so healing?
For many surfers, it’s the meditative rhythm of the sea, the thrill of riding waves and the sense of belonging to the natural world. Sitting on your board “out-back” bobbing up and down, waiting for the next set of waves, leaves a sense of calm and time for inward thinking. The paddle-out is a global surfing ritual of mourning, farewell and symbolic placement of the deceased into the space of the ocean at a beach or beaches connected to local, tourist and mobile biographies of surfing.