Surfing Through Perimenopause: Finding Strength, Calm and Joy in the Waves
There’s a moment in life when your body starts to shift in ways that can feel confusing, confronting and at times exhausting. Hormones fluctuate, sleep disappears, moods change and the body you’ve known for decades starts to move differently. Welcome to perimenopause, the long and often misunderstood chapter before menopause officially begins.
But here’s the beautiful part. This change doesn’t have to mean slowing down or stepping back. For many of us, it’s actually a time to rise, and the ocean can be one of the most healing places to do it.
The ocean doesn’t care about your age
When you paddle out, the ocean meets you exactly as you are. It doesn’t care how old you are, what size you are, or whether you’re having a hot flush or a low day. It just asks that you show up. The rhythm of the waves, the salt on your skin and the steady pull of the tides all bring you back to yourself in a way that nothing else quite can.
Surfing reminds us that we are strong, adaptable and capable of moving through change. Some days the waves are messy and unpredictable, a lot like hormones, but learning to ride them builds a kind of quiet confidence that seeps into every part of life.
Movement, balance and flow
Perimenopause can come with stiffness, joint pain and fatigue, but movement is one of the most powerful ways to ease those symptoms. Surfing gets your body moving in a way that feels playful and alive. It’s full-body exercise without feeling like a workout. You’re just out there, having fun, breathing fresh air and feeling free.
Connection and support
This stage of life can also feel lonely, especially if people around you don’t really talk about what’s happening. That’s why surfing with other women makes such a difference. There’s something special about paddling out with people who get it, who laugh about the same things, share the same challenges and lift each other up when the waves, and life, get rough.
A new kind of strength
Perimenopause isn’t the end of your youth, it’s the start of a new kind of power. It’s a reminder that we’re constantly evolving, that we can soften and still be strong, that we can rest and still rise.
When you stand up on a wave, even for a few seconds, you remember who you are beneath all the noise. You remember that you are capable, resilient and free.
So if your body’s changing and you’re feeling a bit lost, go to the sea. Let the saltwater hold you, the waves challenge you and the sunshine remind you that this season of life is still full of joy, laughter and adventure.
Because surfing isn’t just for the young, it’s for the wild, wise women too. 🌊💙