Why surfing is good for you – 14 benefits of surfing for mental and physical health

Surfing is a popular sport enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. It is a great sport for those who want to keep their bodies healthy, improve their balance, and be active.

It is easy to learn and can be done anywhere there are waves. Anyone, regardless of age or fitness level, can start surfing.

So Why surfing is good for you? In this blog post, James Nedock will help you answer this question and explore the 14 benefits of surfing for mental and physical health.

Why surfing is good for you? 14 benefits of surfing for mental and physical health

Mental health

Hormones of happiness

Endorphins are released during physical exertions, which have a positive impact on your mood. Take note of the last time you did an arduous workout, partied it up, or traversed through the city—chances are you returned home with a rosy outlook! Surfing has a similar effect on mental health; the endorphins make any discomfort feel less painful and cover up pain so that you can be happy.

Did you know that surfing is a highly addictive activity? When we do this, our bodies release adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine, which is why it’s like taking recreational drugs. So surfing is actually an advantageous form of recreation—it’s an invigorating ‘healthy drug’!

Stress reduction

Escape the daily grind with a splash into the ocean! Surfing is one of the best ways to go beyond your normal limits and just enjoy the beauty of nature. Immerse yourself in a session—whether it be mental exercise or just plain enjoyment—and reap its invigorating benefits!

Learn to be patient

It’s important that we be realistic with you, surfing can be difficult at times. When paddling against the waves, you’ll fall and have trouble a lot. This is normal, though, because it takes time to learn how to do it well and feel comfortable in your surroundings. To get better at something, you have to be patient, which can be hard because things don’t always go as planned. But don’t give up!

Surfing can be an exhilarating venture, but it is also prone to occasional setbacks. You might wonder if you’re good at this sport if you’ve had a bad experience in the ocean, just like you might wonder if you’re good at anything else in life.

Even if you’ve been surfing for a long time and have a lot of experience, you still need to be patient while you wait for the waves or your turn at bat. Perseverance is key when it comes to surfing; likewise, it can also be applied to one’s day-to-day life beyond the ocean.

Benefits of Surfing for Children with Disabilities: A Pilot Study

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/

Learn self-love

Despite your best efforts, a surfing session may start off well with all the ideal surf conditions, but if no waves are caught, it will be a waste of time.

Surfing provides an infinite opportunity to relish in the fun and relaxation associated with being in the water. Don’t fret when frustration arises—dive under it! Rely on your creativity, imagination, and positive attitude to achieve success in this adventurous activity. There are breathtaking landscapes all around you—don’t forget how spectacular they are!

Build stamina

Those who have spent countless hours surfing out to the waves know firsthand that it requires plenty of stamina. For beginners, this could be one of their greatest challenges, and it may take some time to acclimate. Once you get used to surfing, though, your stamina will go through the roof, giving you the ability to do more physically demanding things in life.

Physical health

Boost your heart’s strength

Surfing is a fantastic cardiovascular workout. During this sport, you paddle, stand on the board, and do core exercises.

All of these things work together to make your muscles and heart stronger. This can be helpful because it can help prevent coronary artery disease and even heart attacks. It can also help people who have trouble breathing.

Increase muscle

Surfing not only helps you build strong upper-body and lower-leg muscles, but it also has a strong cross-training impact on your core.

According to research, we can use our trapezius, rectus abdominis, and latissimus dorsi muscles (known as the “core”), obliques, triceps, biceps, and deltoids for the best full-body workouts! If you start surfing regularly, then over time you will observe your physique transform.

Effects of Long-Term Recreational Surfing on Control of Force and Posture in Older Surfers: A Preliminary Investigation

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/

Boost the immune system

Swimming in ocean water can be an invigorating experience for the immune system and help keep one healthy. Therefore, going to the beach as often as possible is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle!

Improve the balance

Surfing can be an invaluable education for maintaining good balance. It offers profound lessons about posture, health, and daily life that help avoid accidents and safeguard against falls.

Improve sleeping

Following an exhilarating surf session, it is common to immediately retire for the evening. If you have trouble falling asleep after a physically demanding activity like surfing, you should try this. Even if you only do it for a few days, you will soon have a better, more regular sleep pattern.

Improve flexibility

During your surfing session, you will contort and swivel your body in a vast array of positions as the power of the waves carries you around. This stretching keeps your physique supple and enhances mobility.

Absorb vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for keeping your health in good shape. It has many benefits, such as lowering your risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart attacks. Also, it can make people who are depressed feel happy, which is a huge benefit that greatly improves their quality of life.

Good for the skin

Salty water can be beneficial to your complexion. Its ability to clean and exfoliate makes it a must-have for acne-prone skin. Its ability to remove impurities and balance the amount of oil on the skin is a nice treat.

No need for pricey facials in exclusive spas—instead, enjoy longer periods of sunbathing! But make sure you protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunscreen, etc., because too much sun exposure could be bad for your skin.

Burn calories

Surfing is a physically demanding sport, with experts classifying it as vigorous exercise. It’s a great way to expend calories and grants nearly the same caloric expenditure as football, rock climbing, or an intense workout at the gym.

At the same time, it’s easier on your joints than things like running, but it’s still a thrilling experience. When done correctly, surfing can burn between 600 and 800 calories an hour.

Advice before you surf waves

Here are some things to keep in mind before you go surfing:

• Check out the beach, and make sure you’re not the only one there—bring a friend.
• Look for rules on the beach and make sure to follow them.
• If you are just starting out, you should stick to beach breaks on sandy beaches.
• Make sure the top of your board is waxed or has some kind of grip, and check that your leg rope is in good shape.
• If you are just starting to surf, tie a leg rope to your board and wear it.
• Even on cloudy days, you should wear sunscreen.
• Everyone has a different level of comfort with cold water, so wear what makes you feel good. Use a wetsuit, steamer, booties, gloves, or headgear to protect yourself from the cold.
• Before you go in, look around to see where the best place is to paddle out. Check out how other people are doing out in the surf.
• Get warm before going into the water.

Conclusion

In short, surfing is great for your physical health, mental wellbeing, and well-being. It’s an excellent way to get your body moving and boost your mood. Make sure you protect your skin by using sun protection, and enjoy your sessions to the fullest!

Our team at guymac.co.nz hopes this post provide you with many useful details, and thanks for reading!