The popularity of surfing is on the rise, and for good reason. Surfing is a great form of exercise that, fortunately, is also meditative.
When you’re out in the waves, all your worries disappear and you can focus on the present moment.
This is why more and more people are turning to surf as a way to de-stress and find inner peace.
Surfing is one of those activities that can be both exhilarating and meditative. On the one hand, you have the rush of riding a wave and the challenges of trying to stay on your board.
But at the same time, surfing requires you to be very present in the moment and to clear your mind of all distractions.
In this way, surfing can be seen as a path to self-awareness. While it may not be possible to totally escape the stresses of everyday life, surfing can definitely help you achieve a more balanced state of mind.
It’s all about freeing yourself from your thoughts and entering a state of freedom, patience, joy, and emotional balance. And when you’re able to do that, it’s truly an exhilarating experience.
Surfing Is a Lot Like Meditation
The first time I went surfing was actually in the allegedly first nation to ever surf in history: Peru. It was in 2015. Nothing similar to California and exotic, I know.
Since then I found myself surfing in many areas of the globe, discovering secret spots, and being granted aloha vibes.
But it was back in 2019, in the pearl of the Indian Ocean – Sri Lanka, where I wanted to connect the vibes of surfing to people all over the world.
The silence of the sport to mind and soul caught me, it was like an addiction. I never meditated before, but the moment I realized I’m actually meditating while surfing even though I didn’t mean to, just gave me that enlightenment, the eureka style.
Riding a wave is the perfect way to connect with nature and your inner self. When you’re out there, you have the opportunity to appreciate an unparalleled moment of zen.
Surfing and mindfulness are actually quite interconnected. Surfing can be seen as a form of meditation, and when you’re out there on your surfboard, it happens naturally.
Meditation is often thought of as a spiritual practice, but it does not have to be. It is simply a meeting between you and your inner-self, with the focus being on training your mind to induce relaxation, patience, happiness, and emotional balance that bring serenity into your life.
People from all walks of life are using meditation for these reasons – to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, and depression that has entered their lives.
More and more people in Western society have increasingly started to meditate and surfers are definitely pioneers in this movement.
Meditation is often seen as a waste of time, something that people do to clear their minds and relax. However, meditation can actually be beneficial for your mind.
In addition, surfing and meditation go hand-in-hand, with each complementing the other perfectly.
Surfing requires focus and concentration, while meditation helps to clear the mind and achieve inner peace.
By taking the time to slow down and focus on your breath, you can learn to control your thoughts and emotions.
As a result, both activities can help to improve mental and physical well-being.
Absorbing The Mindfulness Waves
When you’re out in the water, surrounded by the vastness of the ocean, it can be easy to feel small and insignificant.
But at the same time, it can also be empowering to know that you’re capable of riding a wave and conquering your fears. You are facing the current situation right in the eye.
Surfing can be a sort of mindfulness because it is a form of repetitive activity that helps you focus on the present moment.
When you are focused on the present, you’re less likely to dwell on negative thoughts or emotions, which can lead to a more positive state of mind.
This benefit can help you develop a sense of confidence and self-awareness that can be applied to other areas of your life.
As human beings, we are easily going towards overthinking, over-analyzing, and worrying. We are constantly running through scenarios in our heads, trying to anticipate every possible outcome.
This can lead to a lot of stress and sleepless nights.
But, when we’re surfing and waiting for a wave, hearing the sound of the ocean, we can only focus on the present moment. We have to. This allows us to see life from an entirely new perspective.
For a few brief moments, we’re not thinking about our problems or stressing about the future. We’re just living in the moment, and it’s incredibly freeing.
Being in the ocean can be a bit like walking into a room full of strangers. It’s vast and full of unknowns.
But, once you get past the initial intimidation factor, there is a sense of peace that comes with it.
Maybe it’s the feeling of connectedness to something bigger than yourself. Perhaps, it’s the realization that we are all just tiny specs in an endless universe.
There is something special about standing on top of a wild natural element that triggers a sense of peaceful mind. Just a small person bonding with nature to ride the waves.
And when everything works together, and you’re riding that wave, there is harmony and joy.
Conclusion
Surfing is the perfect activity for anyone who enjoys excitement and adventure. It’s also a great way to improve focus, concentration, and determination.
And once you’ve mastered the skill, you’ll find that it’s also incredibly rewarding and that there’s nothing quite like surfing to calm your soul and relieve stress. Plus, it’s a great way to stay in shape and connect with nature.
Still thinking about it? Or you might be just meditating. In any case, grab your board and go surfing. Enough reading, go ride those mindfulness waves!