Surfing: Good for Body, Great for Your Mood

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Filed under: Fitness

The fact that summer is almost over is enough to put a big, fat damper on your positive outlook. But while the days are still hot and the water is relatively warm, here’s a surefire way to boost your mood: Go surfing. Recent studies from the University of Iowa have found that just 30 minutes of hanging ten can increase your positive energy while blasting negative feelings and fatigue.

“If you ask any surfer, he or she guaranteed will tell you, ‘Oh, man, I feel a lot better after I get out,’” study researcher Ryan Pittsinger told Live Science. To test this, he and his colleagues asked 107 surfers on Manhattan Beach in California to answer a questionnaire before and after surfing. The results were overwhelmingly positive: Not only did the participants report an increase in positive feelings after 30 minutes of surfing, but they also said they felt calmer and more tranquil. “Because you are out there alone — it’s just you — it’s really an activity where it allows you to clear your head,” Pittsinger added.

But maneuvering a heavy surfboard through open water can be a bit daunting for beginners, so we asked Larry Scharmota of the Chicago Surf Shop for his top tips:

Learn from the pros. “Learn from your mistakes and take advice from others to shorten your learning curve and get beyond the early frustration to actually catching your first wave and riding it,” he said. Lessons are a great way to get started because not only do they include hands-on training and water safety pointers, but equipment rentals are usually included so you can give it a try before investing in a surfboard.

Master the basics. Learning to position yourself is the first step to surfing. After that, there are a few moves you’ll need to practice: “Paddling, the duck dive, the pop-up and the pivot turn are the basics to surfing,” Scharmota said.

Paddle properly. “Paddling is the hardest part of surfing,” said Scharmota. “Instead of using a butterfly stroke to assist in going straight, use a crawl stroke to provide smoother acceleration and a more proficient application of power. Your back will thank you.”

Stay low. Once you master standing up, maintaining a low center of gravity is crucial. “Your core strength and thigh strength are key,” he said. “Feel the wave with your feet and manage your board position and your balance with slight movements.”

Turn with your feet. “Don’t lean with your upper body — that only works at places where the waves are big enough to carry the speed,” he said. “Instead use your heels and toes like a skateboarder and make those slight shifts to ease your line of travel into another direction.

Keep your eye on the prize. One of the hardest things to master is your gaze. Keep your eyes looking in your direction of travel and up toward the horizon — do not look down at your feet,” Scharmota said.

Still not convinced? You might want to give stand-up paddleboarding a try. “The learning curve is very short, and it’s great exercise,” he said. It’s also popular with celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson.

Above all, “the spirit of surfing is to have fun,” Scharmota said. It may take a while to get proficient at it, but the verdict is in: Becoming a surfer will have amazing benefits for both your body and your mind.

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Filed under: Fitness

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