Surfing’s Mental Health Benefits

There is a reason I always come back to the ocean, even when life feels full or messy or overwhelming. Surfing gives me something I cannot find anywhere else.

The moment I paddle out, my nervous system settles. The noise quiets. My breath slows down without me trying. The ocean asks for my attention in a way that gently pulls me out of my head and back into my body.

Surfing is not always graceful. Some days I barely stand up. Some days I spend more time sitting on my board than riding waves. But even then, something shifts. I feel grounded. Reset. More myself.

For many women, especially in midlife, surfing becomes less about chasing waves and more about caring for mental health. It is movement without punishment. It is time without expectation. It is space where nothing else is required of you.

Being in salt water, feeling the sun on your skin, moving with the rhythm of the ocean, it does something deep. It reminds you that you are part of something steady and strong, even when everything else feels uncertain.

This is why surfing is not just exercise. It is a form of emotional care.

Ways to use surfing as support for mental health

• Go into the session without goals
• Let rest be part of the surf
• Choose conditions that feel kind to your body
• Focus on breath and rhythm rather than waves caught
• Notice how you feel after, not how you performed

If surfing has ever felt like your reset button, this is your reminder to lean into it.
At Sea Her Rise, we create space for women to surf without pressure and reconnect with the ocean in a way that feels nourishing rather than demanding.

You can learn more about our surf retreats and community days and decide what feels supportive for you right now.

Surfing with dolphins is a calming experience for anyone! You can’t help but be happier after this.