Surfing is a sport that dates back to the Polynesian times. It is said that the man who could surf the best was crowned the chief of their tribe. Surfing was first noted by European sailors in 1767 near the island of Tahiti.
A state that has a rich history and culture tied to surfing is Hawaii. Hawaiians look at surfing as a way of life and an art form, not just a sport/past time. Building your own surfboard is a spiritual journey. Great care goes into anything to do with surfing in this land.
Surfing culture grew and became famous in the 1960s when movies and surf music made it famous the world over. It has now spread across the globe and there are more and more people learning this art form/sport. It is famous in island nations like Sri Lanka as well and specialist surf retreats like Solas Surf offers individuals a chance to surf in the Sri Lankan shores.
So why surfing? There are many benefits to surfing that range from physical to mental/emotional and spiritual.
Focusing on the physical benefits:
- It helps with cardio when paddling, it improves shoulder and back strength as well.
- Leg and core strength is improved when standing on the board and a lot of other muscles in your body are also exercised.
- Coordination and balance is improved as well. This has lasting health benefits as you age.
- Improved sleep is also a byproduct of surfing.
- Surfing is also a fun way to burn calories. Since most surfers take up the sport because they enjoy it, it would feel less like a form of exercise.
Mentally it is shown:
- To help relieve stress and tension as it requires mindfulness, total concentration to the task at hand. This allows you to not dwell on a day’s events and stress but focus on something more positive.
- Further the amount of time spent outdoors builds an appreciation and love for the natural world that also relieves stress and improves overall health.
Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash