What are the benefits of surfing?

Who has not wanted to feel that freedom that you get on a surfboard? Sport helps us discharge stress, relax, disconnect and activate our mind, putting aside worries. In this sense, surfing is a sports discipline that strengthens your muscles, improves the physical shape, and connects the mind with nature and the sea.

The benefits are diverse, both physically and psychologically, being the modality suitable for all ages, men or women, as long as it is practiced with proper care. These are some of the main advantages:

Improves cardiovascular health

Being a sport practiced in water, the surfer has to deal with the force of the sea. In this sense, it requires the effort of almost all muscles, bones, and tendons, which makes this one of the complete modalities. The athlete burns about 200 to 400 calories per hour of training, tones his body, and increases his resistance. Contact with cold water is also associated with the disappearance of accumulated fats, since the decrease in body temperature requires greater energy expenditure to keep the athlete warm.

Stimulates the body

The contact with cold water is stimulating since it causes blood vessels' contraction and the circulatory system's reactivation. In addition, increased defenses and improved immune systems are consequences. The water also causes a decongestion of the organs and eliminates the blood's impurities through the skin. At the bone level, the sea can also be beneficial, favoring the treatment of diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatism.

Promotes mental health

Surfing allows a constant union with nature and energy, being associated with stress management and relaxation, which contribute to mental well-being. During the period in which the surfer is focused on the wave, the surfer forgets and abstracts himself from his day-to-day problems, directing his energy to the sea. Starting the morning with a session will have positive effects on the rest of the workday, allowing you to be more productive and more resistant to pressure. Surfing at the end of the day allows you to discharge bad energy and "clear your head." This is also why companies increasingly promote surf sessions for their employees.

Benefits the respiratory system

Saltwater, containing sodium, magnesium, and calcium chloride, clears the respiratory channels and has positive effects on the lungs. It also contributes to reducing the risk of diseases such as sinusitis or asthma. During training, the athlete constantly controls the inhalation and exhalation, both out of water, given the demand and energy expended, and in, where he may be in apnea for some time, which also helps develop a stronger respiratory system.

Improves balance and motor coordination

One of the goals of the surfer is, of course, to stand on the board and not fall off it, the balance is greatly improved and enhanced during this activity. The athlete has to train this technique in and out of the water, since the difficulty increases in the sea: the strength of the waves and their constant movement make it even more difficult to keep standing. Motor coordination is also central: the sportsman has to simultaneously think about several movements and coordinate different parts of the body.