Can surf be consider as a therapy?
It is getting more and more popular to use the ocean as a sort of therapy because of its healing energy. There are many emotional benefits of surfing which can help with depression.
Anxiety, burn out, sedentary lifestyle, isolation and in general to release stress from everyday life. But what are the reasons?
The color, blue:
Being near the ocean has mental health benefits as well as physical ones. Scientific research from Richard Shuster shows that just being near the color blue has led to an overwhelming amount of people to be associated with feelings of calm and peace.
The sound of waves:
The sound of waves has also been proven to relax the mind. As waves come in, crash, and then recede again, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which slows down the brain and helps promote relaxation.
This process makes the part of the brain. Responsible for stress emotions shrink, while areas such as empathy and memory grow.
The challenge of surf:
Many of us fear to be challenged in life or just not being familiar with challenges. To overcome these issues a solution can be to start practicing surfing. There is no better challenge than catching a wave.
At the same time it’s also one of the most difficult things to do and from time to time can be frustrating but once you succeed the reward of being one with the wave is exceptional.
Surfing as a form of meditation:
You must have heard about the benefits of meditation or at least have an idea how it should be done.
Meditation is not just sitting in a crossed legged posture and trying to be one with the divine soul without moving but to pick up an activity that clears your mind and puts you in the present moment.
Riding a wave requires you to be fully in the present moment and focus on what you are doing , so for that time you become free of worries.
To summarize it all, surfing can definitely be a way of therapy for those who suffer from mental health issues.
We encourage you to look up the nearest surf association and let them know about your issues. Joining a group of surfers, who have similar problems than you. This will also help to heal yourself easier and you will not feel alone.
