The outbreak of COVID-19 generated a great deal of anxiety worldwide since, for now, we don’t really know much about what is going to happen. The demanded lock down and social distancing was a wake-up call for people to start looking within and learn how to deal with the stress, anxiety, and isolation that we are all experiencing right now.
What we learned is that sports and meditation can be a great form of relieving stress. Therefore, we will talk about what we know best, surf and health.
Advice during this crisis
During this time of uncertainty, the best advice we can give you is to try to control what you can control and let go of what you cannot. This means focus on your daily tasks, find some time to exercise and meditate, and bring your mind to the present moment. Those are great ways to keep a sane mind free of anxiety, and they are also principles of surfing.
Imagine that this is the time to focus on yourself and your home, so, start an organizing and learning process, do the things that you can do at home but never had the time like reading a book, doing an online class, practicing yoga or meditation or learning how to cook.
While we are in lockdown we will have to stay inside and find activities to keep our mind at ease, but this is a moment of reflection about mental and physical health after this crisis passes.
Surfing keeps the mind healthy
One thing we can tell you for sure is that one of the sports that will help you keep a sane mind is surfing. To start, outdoor activities that contact you with nature are a great way to relieve anxiety and release endorphins. Surfing is about being “in the zone”, a focus and relaxed state that will keep you in the present moment with a feeling of accomplishment.
The jump start of cold water
Coldwater can be quite uncomfortable, but what most people don’t know is that it has unique effects on the body.
What scientists say is that surfing, especially in cold waters, activates simultaneously both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “fight or flight” reaction, which stimulates the body to be alert and make decisions. While the parasympathetic nervous system is related to the calm state that helps your sense of balance. Those nervous systems working together can have great positive effects on the body.
Surfing: sane body, sane mind
Although the goal for most people when surfing is not necessarily only the exercise, physical activity is part of the process. Since mental health and physical health are connected, usually, what relieves one ends up having a positive effect on the other.
Therefore, learning a new exercise like surf, that requires overcoming fears and challenges, is a great way for people that struggle with stress and anxiety or just want to have a better life to develop self-confidence and a sense of achievement.
Learning how to surf can be a perfect way to have those results and no days are the same in the water, so, by making surfing a habit you will always be challenging yourself.
When this health crisis passes we invite you to celebrate life and learn to surf with Pacific Surf School in San Diego. We will be taking all measures to keep safe during the process with private and semi-private surf lessons only, until it is all back to normal.
From the Pacific Surf School team: Stay healthy and safe!
Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash
