Welcome back to the second instalment of our health benefits of surfing article!
In our last post, we talked about how surfing can make you more fit, lead to improved balance and coordination and even make you smile more (especially if you’re ripping!).
Today, we'll discuss a few more of the wonderful health benefits of surfing.
From how surfing boosts heart health to recent studies that prove learning to surf is a fantastic means of treating anxiety disorders, there are so many epic reasons to book a surf lesson and hit the waves.
These health benefits are most certainly known by surfers as we do it every day. The research and “hard facts” however have been little studied. Perth Go Surf and Perth Children’s Hospital have teamed up to run a first of its kind surfing intervention program to get valuable data on the positive health benefits of surfing. You can read more about this groundbreaking study here.
So with that in mind, let's learn about some more health benefits of surfing!
Health benefits of surfing (continued)
If you're wondering how surfing can actually be good for you, then you've come to the right place.
Before we begin spruiking the following physical and mental health benefits of surfing though, you might want to read part one here.
6. Boosts cardiovascular health
Do you suffer from heart problems or know somebody who does?
Chances are that at the very least, you've got a friend or family member who's experienced either a mild or severe heart issue.
Cardiovascular disease is, after all, the leading cause of death in Australia. But what does this have to do with surfing?
Well, according to a study published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, surfing is a great cardiovascular exercise that can help reduce the risk of developing heart-related diseases.
The study found that participants who surfed had lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn't surf. They also had lower levels of bad cholesterol and higher levels of good cholesterol.
This means that if you're looking for a way to foster better heart health through great cardiovascular exercise, then learning to surf might be a good option for you.
Just keep in mind that you should always do it under the supervision of a qualified surf instructor if it's your first time or only paddle out at a beginner surf beach in Perth.
7. Promotes deeper and more restful sleep
Ever since the popular book called Why We Sleep by neuroscientist Matthew Walker was published, we've all become a lot more aware of the importance of sleep.
We now know that getting enough quality sleep is essential for our physical and mental health. It can help improve our mood, memory, stress relief, concentration and overall cognitive function.
But did you know that physical exercise such as surfing can also help promote deeper and more restful sleep? Studies have shown that people who surf regularly tend to sleep better than those who don't surf.
So if you're finding it hard to get a good night's sleep, then going for a surf might be just what you need. Of course, if you're hooked on surfing and you know the waves are going to be pumping in the morning, we understand if you don't sleep all that well the night before.
If that's the case, you could also pick up or download the book Why We Sleep from Matthew Walker.
Ironically, reading this book might be the thing that shuts your eyes.
8. Helps to treat anxiety disorders, clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorders
Australia has the third-highest rate of clinical depression in the world. And according to BeyondBlue, 1 in 4 Australians will experience anxiety at some point in their lifetime.
So if you're struggling with mental health matters such as anxiety or depression, you're certainly not alone. But did you know that surfing might be able to help?
A number of studies have shown that surfing can help to treat anxiety disorders, stress relief, clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
For example, a study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that participants who surfed experienced lower levels of depression and anxiety than those who didn't surf. Another study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that surfing was an effective treatment for PTSD.
Of course, if you suffer from a mental illness then you'll know that exercise is one of the most constructive forms of self-treatment that you can engage in. But surfing (or any watersports for that matter) is slightly different since the Blue Mind Theory also comes into play.
We've already linked to an article about the Blue Mind Theory in the previous blog post on the mental and physical health benefits of surfing, but basically, it's the idea that being in or near water can help to calm and relax the mind.
So if you're struggling with anxiety or depression, then learning to surf or at least reading about the life lessons that surfing can teach you might be a good option. However, you should also talk to somebody about your struggles and seek professional help as well.
9. Increases your stamina
Stamina is one of those things that we all wish we had more of. Whether it's being able to run a bit further or swim a bit longer, most of us could do with some extra stamina.
And guess what? Surfing can help with that too.
A recent study found that participants who surfed regularly had higher levels of aerobic fitness than those who didn't surf. In other words, they were able to endure more physical exercise for longer periods of time.
Translation?
Surfing involves a lot of body movement that can increase your stamina. What's more, you'll be having so much fun being physically active in the water that you won't even know you're improving it!
Just make sure you start off slowly and gradually build up your endurance over time.
10. Improves muscle strength in key areas
Last but not least, we have the tried and tested health benefit of surfing - it will improve your muscle strength, especially in key areas such as your core, upper body and legs.
This is because surfing is a full-body workout that uses a lot of different muscles.
For example, when you're paddling out to the waves, you're using your arms, shoulders, back and other upper body muscles. And when you're standing up on your board, you're using your leg and core muscles to push your body weight up and keep your balance.
Even putting on a wetsuit and carrying your board down to the beach before a surf session can feel like a workout for your shoulder muscles if you've never done it before, which just goes to show that every part of surfing is good for your body.
Now, don't just keep scrolling on your phone or switching between windows on your lappy.
Surfing, while challenging, provides lots of physical and mental benefits. This includes increasing positive emotions, better resilience, improved balance and more finely tuned life-coping skills as well as connecting you with nature and building flexibility, strength and stamina.
In short, it's the best thing you can do for your mind and body (according to us AND science!).
