Contributed by Matt Hapgood, surfer and writer.
As someone who loves spending time in and around the ocean, I can wholeheartedly confirm the incredible feeling of freedom and flow that comes with riding waves. But did you know that surfing also has numerous health benefits? From boosting your mental well-being to improving your physical fitness, there are many reasons to grab a board and head out into the water.
Firstly, learning to surf is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health.
Pushing your way out through the waves, and then paddling with an explosion of power to catch them, and then repeating this over and over requires a lot of energy, endurance, and persistence.
Regular surfing can help to strengthen your heart and lungs, leading to improved overall fitness.
Now, combine that with the fact that surfing is a low-impact exercise (when you are just starting out anyway) meaning that it is gentle on your joints and can be a great way to stay active without putting too much strain on your body.
Mental Health Benefits of Surfing
Coupled with the physical benefits of getting in the water, the mental health benefits are huge – and the older I get, the more I feel it.
If the weather is warm enough and you don’t have to wear booties, grounding with the Earth, like this article suggests, helps with your circadian rhythm, and improves sleep, as well as your body’s immune response.
Here are a few other ways that surfing can benefit your mental well-being:
Stress Reduction
Surfing requires a lot of focus, which can help to clear your mind and get into a flow state. When you’re out in the water, most of the time you’re not thinking about work or other stressors in your life. Instead, you’re focused on catching the next wave and enjoying the moment.
Mindfulness and Presence
Surfing also promotes mindfulness and being present in the moment. Being immersed in nature, you have to be fully present and aware of your surroundings. You’re constantly scanning the horizon for the next wave and adjusting your position on the board to catch it.
It sounds like a cliché these days, this sort of mindfulness technique can help to reduce anxiety and improve your overall mental well-being.
Surfing and Social Connections
Over the years, I’ve come to realise that surfing offers much more than just physical exercise and mental relaxation. It also provides an opportunity to connect with others who share the same passion for the sport.
Becoming part of the local surfing community is a nice by-product of surfing. If you’re lucky enough to have a local surf club nearby, I’d suggest getting involved. My youth was spent as a member of my local surf club – I made great friendships that still exist to this day.
While you want to be alone to catch all of the waves you can, surfing is a social activity – it’s not uncommon to strike up a conversation with other surfers in the water. Whether it’s discussing the conditions or anything else for that matter, surfing can bring people together in a unique way.
Travel
Another consequence of getting hooked on surfing is the allure of surf travel. Pretty much every surfer I know loves to travel. And thankfully, some of the best beginner surf spots are also really beautiful places to visit – whether you are a surfer or not.
Think of the rugged beaches of Cornwall and Devon, or further afield like South West France and Portugal.
Riding the Waves to Fitness
There are quite a few really good surf spots around the UK and England as well as over 50 accredited surf schools in England alone. So if you are completely new to surfing try having a lesson or two to get started.
You’ll probably find that your body will ache in places you never thought you had muscles! It’s an amazing full-body workout and will improve your overall health in the following ways.
Cardiovascular Health
Surfing is a great way to get your heart pumping and improve your cardiovascular health. Paddling out to the waves, duck diving, and then getting in the right position in the lineup all take quite a bit of effort.
This constant movement elevates your heart rate and increases blood circulation – both of which can help to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Muscle Toning and Strength
Surfing engages many different muscle groups in your body, including your arms, shoulders, back, and legs. Paddling out to the waves requires a lot of upper body strength while standing and riding waves (if they are long enough) require strong leg muscles.
It’s a great idea to work on some training exercises at home to improve – you’ll be able to paddle out more easily, catch more waves, and generally have more fun!
Core Stability
Surfing requires a lot of balance and stability, which means that your core muscles are constantly engaged. Your core muscles include your abs, back, and hips, and they are responsible for keeping your body stable and balanced on the board.
Surfing regularly will improve your core strength, which can help to prevent back pain and improve your posture.
Improving Balance and Coordination
I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my balance and coordination. The constant movement on the board requires me to engage my core muscles and maintain a stable centre of gravity. This has translated to better balance and coordination in my everyday life.
Surfing also requires quick reflexes and the ability to react to changing conditions. It results in better coordination and agility, which translates into all manner of situations in everyday
In addition to the physical benefits, surfing has also helped me to improve my mental focus and concentration. By staying present and focused on the task at hand, I have been able to improve my ability to concentrate on other tasks in my life.
Vitamin Sea: Sunlight and Sea Air
Another notable benefit of surfing is the exposure to sunlight (when the sun is out) and the salty sea air – this all has a positive impact on health in many ways.
Vitamin D Boost
Spending time in the sun while surfing can help to boost vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is important for bone health and can also help improve your immune system.
And of course, it goes without saying that it’s important to be cautious about sun exposure and wear sunscreen, but spending time in the sun while surfing provides you with a natural source of vitamin D.
Breathing in the Ocean Air
Breathing in the sea air while surfing can also have numerous health benefits. The salt in the air can help clear your lungs and airways, which can be particularly beneficial for people with respiratory issues.
The negative ions in the air can also help improve your mood.
Final Thoughts
The physical benefits of surfing seem quite obvious on the face of it – out in the energy of the ocean, paddling out to the lineup, and then actually riding waves all require a certain level of fitness and burn quite a lot of calories.
But the positive mental impact is only beginning to be understood – the more we connect with nature, the better our bodies feel.
And in this digital age, our connection to nature is becoming more and more important – But don’t just take my word for it, get out there and give it a try yourself.
A Surfing England Accredited Surf School is a great place to start, you can view all centres here.
