Modern life's daily hustle and bustle can take a toll on anyone. If you want to take good care of your overall well-being, you need to go on breaks. Taking some time off is an excellent way to reset and recharge so you keep up with the demands of your job, social responsibilities, and more.
Perhaps it’s time to book your next trip to the beach for a little vitamin sea. And to help you with your journey to wellness, why not try surfing?
Surfing Your Way to Wellness
Surfing is not just a sport but an excellent beach activity to help you make the most out of your day under the sun. It combines both mindfulness and physical exercise under the nourishment of the sun. Whether you’re a pro surfer or a beginner trying out a new hobby, riding the waves can offer various benefits for your overall well-being.
The Calming Effect of Being in the Water
The rhythmic sounds of waves crashing along the shore can bring comfort and calmness to the mind buzzing with worries and responsibilities. And when you’re in the water, you can feel the sea lifting and carrying you, making you feel weightless. Plus, the shades of blue and green are visually soothing, adding to the calming and relaxing effect of the sea.
Practicing Mindfulness
Surfing is an exercise that allows you to connect with yourself and the environment you’re in. When surfing, you need to be fully present at the moment. Your awareness of where you are and the focus on what you must do is crucial to maintain your balance.
Surfing offers a type of active meditation where you must let go of the intrusive thoughts and worries unrelated to the task. The need to survive and balance on the board forces you to immerse yourself in the now.
Physical Benefits of Riding the Waves
Aside from being great for the mind and soul, surfing has well-known physical benefits, too. It helps strengthen the whole body. You need your arms and legs to paddle and swim. And you’ll tap into your core strength to keep yourself from falling off the board.
Surfing may seem laid-back, but make no mistake. It’s a physical activity that is great for individuals looking to stay strong and healthy. Research shows that regular exercise can help improve physical strength, boost heart health, and reduce the risk of diseases.
Nourishment from the Sun
Aside from the ultimate mood-boosting effect of sunlight, there are also other benefits from being under the sun. Sunlight is a natural Vitamin D source, vital for maintaining strong bones and teeth. It also helps boost the immune system, helping you fight off diseases more effectively.
Important Things to Remember
When you’re ready to ride the waves and enjoy the wellness benefits of surfing, you need to keep these things in mind:
Protect Your Skin
Staying under the sun for an extended period can cause sunburn or, worse, more severe skin conditions in the long run. Before grabbing your beach bag and heading outdoors, remember to apply water-resistant and reef-safe sunscreen. Doing so can help you enjoy the many benefits of surfing without the painful redness and other skin issues.
Warm Up Your Body
You want to increase your heart rate and prepare your joints for the full-body workout ahead. Add dynamic exercises like ankle circles, arm circles, lunges, and the like in your pre-surf warm-up.
If you’re surfing or swimming on your period, warming up is even more important. Doing so can help ease tension and allow you to enjoy your day under the sun better.
Leave No Trace
It’s also important to remember that while we are responsible for our own well-being, we should also care for nature. Make sure to adopt sustainable travel practices to keep the beaches you visit clean.
One of the main principles of sustainable travel is to leave no trace. This means leaving the place you visit just how you found it (or even better). Dispose of trash properly. And if possible, bring more eco-friendly containers like water bottles and reusable food pouches to reduce waste. Keeping the sand and sea free of clutter and trash means
preserve them so the next generation can enjoy their healing and relaxing benefits as well.
Discover a New Way to Enrich Your Mind, Body, and Soul
You need to take care of yourself to help others and keep up with the responsibilities of daily life. And to do that, you need to protect your overall well-being. Your mind, body, and soul all need your time and attention.
Surfing is a great way to keep yourself in your best shape physically, mentally, and spiritually. You enjoy the benefits of the physical activity required to perform the task at hand. And being under the sun and water allows you to practice active mindfulness and feel the calming effects of nature.
Blog post kindly written by Katie Pierce. Email her at ktpiercewriting@gmail.com