Exercise doesn’t have to be a grueling task. You can gain all the benefits of powerful cardiovascular exercise through surfing. Not only do you work out your body by surfing, but you can also improve your mood, mental health, and reap all the health benefits of being out in the ocean. According to The Surfing Handbook, “The health benefits of surfing are numerous. Surfing is a great cardiovascular exercise, using mostly upper body muscles to do the paddling work, and leg muscles to guide the board once you’re up and riding. Since surfing involves more time paddling, it provides an intense upper body and core workout.” Surfing works out your back, legs, core, shoulders, as well as increases your endurance, energy level, and muscle tone. The great thing about surfing as exercise is that you are constantly changing and adapting to the movement and height of the waves, causing you to work different muscle groups rather than the boring and repetitive motions of traditional workouts on machines. Disrupt Sports explains, “Upon catching a wave your body then shifts to the act of balancing, which engages you head to toe. The key to all this however, is the much talked about core muscles. Surfing is sure to target these series of muscles required to execute maneuvers. Surf basics such as the pop-up, the turn and properly positioning yourself on the board all require a strong and stable core to harmonize your entire body when executing these moves.” Like other forms of exercise, surfing can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to an overall improvement in mood. Surfing, however, enhances these uplifting mental effects because it takes place in a beautiful environment, out on the ocean, and often with a community of likeminded people. There is a learning aspect, as it takes time and practice to improve, but this offers a sense of mental engagement not found in many other forms of exercise. According to HealthFitnessRevolution, “Surfing is not the easiest sport to learn. It takes time, commitment and perseverance in order to progress. But once you commit and overcome this barrier, the rewards are huge. You will not only enjoy all the physical and mental benefits that surfing has to offer, but you’ll also have proven to yourself that you can achieve goals that at some point seem unattainable.” Get out there and give it a try! You’ll find that you’ll feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually.
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