7 Health Benefits of Surfing

Surfing is indeed a fun activity. Although it might be a bit hard to learn at first, once you start surfing you will immediately feel the positive changes in your mental health. You go to the beach, meet new people, and enjoy a challenging sport with your friends. For many surfers, surfing is considered their quality time to relax and enjoy the ocean, and for others, it’s considered the ultimate time to push your limits and release all your energy.

In addition to all the positive mental health benefits that surfing provides, it also has many physical health benefits. Here are the top 7 health benefits of surfing.

 

1. Cardiovascular Health

Everyone knows that regular exercise and maintaining a fit body decrease your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems. Paddling out against the waves with your surfboard requires you to move your arms, shoulders, back, and buttocks. However, incorrect paddling could cause muscle cramps or inflammation. That’s why it’s important to have proper training from surfing professionals. Santa Barbara, for instance, is well known for its surfing spots, so if you are new to the sport and want to get into it then seek out a reliable instructor. You can click here to know more about surfing lessons in Santa Barbara if you find yourself in the area.

This applies in general to wherever you go surfing in the world. Paddling means you move a lot of muscles even if you’re still a beginner, which is why it’s considered a cardio exercise that regulates your blood circulations. In other words, surfing reduces the chances of having heart diseases as it provides you with the needed dose to maintain a fit and healthy body.

 

2. Benefit From Cold Water 

Coldwater has many benefits on our bodies. Staying in cold water is known to ease tension, headaches, and pain. It also increases the body’s metabolic rate, which results in burning a lot of calories in a short time. Surfing in cold water can relieve stress and boost your overall mood.

 

3. Vitamin D 

Surfing in the sun is the optimal way to get enough vitamin D for your body. It’s essential as it’s the base for strong bones and regulating calcium and phosphorus in our bodies. Vitamin D also increases your energy levels and reduces the risk of fatigue. Surfing will ensure that you get your vitamin D dose even if you’re still learning. However, too much exposure to direct sunlight can harm your skin, so you should remember to put sunblock before surfing.

 

4. Enhances Balance

To be able to stand on a surfboard, you should have high body balance. It might be hard at the beginning, but with regular training, you will improve your overall body balance. It’s one of the most important benefits of surfing, as a proper balance is essential for our everyday life because it improves the blood circulation and makes other activities, such as yoga, bike riding, and skateboarding, easier.

 

5. Skin and Hair Improvement 

Saltwater is known to remove all the toxins from our skin and especially, our faces. Surfing in saltwater will ensure that you have healthy and glowing skin. The pollutant that our faces collect during our day-to-day life and harmful chemicals from other products will be removed by the saltwater. It’s also healthy for the scalp and allows us to have healthier hair.

 

6. Balanced Diet 

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, surfing burns a lot of calories. You also need to have enough energy to balance yourself in the water and paddle against the waved, which means that you need the proper nutrition to have that energy. Being a surfer means that you have to take care of your diet because your body needs a specific amount of carbs, proteins, and fats so you can have the power to surf without feeling sick. The best time to eat is 30 minutes after surfing.

Eating right after surging or within 20 minutes might make you feel exhausted and your body might not be able to digest the food properly. Ensure that your meal contains the required amount of food rich in proteins to improve your muscles.

 

7. Enhances Sleep Quality 

After a long surfing day, you will fall asleep faster. That’s mainly because your body needs to repair the muscles you used while surfing and restore its energy. With regular surfing, you will notice improvements in your sleep quality and maintain a healthy sleeping schedule.

There are many mental and physical health benefits from surfing. However, without proper training and warm-up, you could face cramps and other health issues. You should ensure that you had the proper training before you go to the ocean and surf on your own. If you don’t feel that you’re ready to start surfing on your own, consult a professional instructor to evaluate your level and provide you with any needed instruction.

You should also remember to warm up before each surf to avoid leg or shoulder cramps. Once you guarantee that you’re ready to surf, you can start enjoying the waves and all the mental and physical health benefits of surfing.