While everyone who tries surfing knows how ridiculously fun it is, it also happens to be super healthy for you too!

So while you’re simply playing in the ocean riding waves, you’re actually gaining way more physical and mental benefits than you realize.

Let’s have a look at (just a few of) the healthy benefits of practicing surfing:

1. Healthy Heart
Paddling around trying to catch waves uses loads of energy! The more you paddle around the harder your heart is working to get blood to your muscles. The more often you surf the fitter and stronger your heart will become. Surfing is excellent cardio fitness.

2. Improved Lung Capacity
Next time you’re puffing and panting while paddling, then holding your breath while duck-diving or wiping-out, think about the excellent workout you’re giving your lungs. The more you surf the more you’ll increase the capacity and general health of your lungs.

2. Stronger Muscles
Paddling and standing on a surfboard gives you a FULL BODY WORKOUT! Yes! Your ENTIRE body gets exercised while you surf. Some muscles get worked more than others – eg. your shoulders, back, neck and arms (you spend more time paddling than riding). But even a professional or regular surfer can catch a long ride and have their legs feeling like jelly by the end of it!

3. Boost Your Immune System
“Seawater contains vital elements, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, amino acids and living microorganisms that can produce antibiotic and antibacterial effects to help promote a healthy immune system.” Surf or no surf, get in the ocean! You’ll boost your body’s natural defenses again viruses and infections and you’ll feel completely invigorated due to the release of stress hormones. Being in cool water also has an anti-inflammatory action that can ease body tension, headaches and other aches and pains. It also increases your metabolic rate in an attempt to warm you up and as a result you burn calories.

4. Vitamin D
Can you believe sunlight helps your bones?! The Vitamin D you get from being outdoors in the sun regulates the amount of calcium and phosphorus in your blood which is essential for building strong bones. Being outside with fresh air and sunshine will help regulate your circadian rhythm which in turn releases “happy hormones”. On the flip side, not getting enough fresh air and sunshine leads to low energy, low mood and general fatigue. So get outside and get in the ocean! You’re guaranteed to feel better!

5. Improved Sleep
Getting some good exercise in your day will help you sleep better at night. This will help you wake up feeling better with more energy and better focus and concentration. Use the extra energy to go for a surf and your life will be pretty much perfect! 😉

6. Some Other Benefits from Surfing Include:

Improved Balance and Agility and Reflexes and Coordination and Focus and Concentration and Patience and Endurance and Stress Relief!

We can go on and on.. but writing this post has convinced me to go for another surf! Cheers guys!

Isn’t it just so amazing how good it is for you to SURF!