The Surprising Ways Surfing Rewires Our Brains
Neuroplasticity is one of those words that makes you sound instantly intelligent when used in conversation.
That said, it’s not a word commonly found in the lexicon of most surfers.
This is surprising since surfers are probably more familiar with neuroplasticity than they realize.
In fact, surfing has been scientifically proven to rewire our brains in ways that contribute to a better quality of life, with our own neuroplasticity being a key ingredient in this process.
Our mind creates our reality, but it’s also shaped by it. And when we see a perfectly breaking wave, watch a friend get the wave of their life or simply lay eyes on a new surf break, we essentially rewire it.
Short of strapping MRI nodes to our heads and paddling out, we can already tell you that surfing has specific effects on our minds.
Here are just a few ways surfing reshapes the brain.
Being immersed in water relaxes the brain
We’ve written at length about how being near or immersed in water can have a calming effect on the brain.
Called the Blue Mind theory, this phenomenon is the subject of many studies and has been shown to have a positive impact on our mental health.
Whenever we’re near water, our brains automatically shift into a relaxed state, making us feel calm and at peace.
According to marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, the chief proponent and discoverer of the Blue Mind theory, water is medicine.
He claims that being near water can elicit a wide range of positive emotions, from awe and wonder to happiness, contentment and compassion.
And it’s not just Nichols who believes this either.
A 2020 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that engaging in water-based activities while traveling abroad had a significant positive effect on participants’ quality of life and overall satisfaction.
And after seeing thousands of Rise Up Surf guests (like Alan) experience the transformative effects of surfing, we can attest to this phenomenon firsthand.
Your body is flooded with feel-good chemicals
You know that feeling after you catch an amazing wave? That rush of adrenaline and endorphins coursing through your body, leaving you feeling euphoric?
It’s actually a biological response to the act of surfing.
When we exercise or engage in thrilling activities like surfing, our bodies release neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
These chemicals are responsible for regulating our mood, sleep, appetite and overall sense of wellbeing.
This means that when we surf regularly, we’re essentially flooding our brains with these feel-good chemicals on a regular basis. Over time, this rewires our brains to associate surfing with positive emotions and feelings of happiness and contentment.
This creates a feedback loop whereby we’re motivated to continue surfing, leading to even more positive effects on our brain.
This has been proven time and time again by studies on physical activity and mental health, such as this one released in 2022 that showed a positive relationship between surfing and mental wellbeing.
We guess that means the phenomenon of “surf stoke” is real, right?
The parasympathetic nervous system kicks into gear
Your body and brain are constantly in a dance, with one affecting the other and vice versa.
Two systems in particular, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, play a major role in regulating our body’s response to stress.
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system helps us relax and recover from stress.
When we surf, the repetitive motion of paddling combined with being immersed in water triggers our parasympathetic nervous system.
This allows us to enter a state of relaxation and promotes recovery from any stressors we may be experiencing, allowing us to live longer and healthier lives.
The parasympathetic nervous system also affects our brain waves too.
You may have heard of alpha, beta, theta and delta brain waves – different types of brain activity associated with various states of consciousness.
Red Bull (yes… the energy drink company) actually conducted a study on surfers to see how their brain waves were affected while surfing.
The results are yet to be published, but initial findings suggest that during surfing, our brains produce a unique blend of brain waves: a combination of alpha, beta and theta waves.
This state of consciousness is often associated with increased focus and relaxation, which could explain the addictive nature of surfing for many.
You feel more in the moment and less anxious
Stress comes in many forms.
It can build up over time, causing chronic anxiety, or it can hit us all at once in the form of a traumatic event.
One thing is clear: stress negatively affects our mental and physical health.
But surfing has been shown to have a significant impact on reducing stress levels and improving overall wellbeing.
When we surf, we’re completely focused on the present moment – reading the waves, paddling out and catching each wave as it comes. We’re not thinking about our next tax return, what to get your boss for their birthday or about an argument you had in sixth grade with your then best friend.
You’re sitting in the ocean.
Observing the wild and wonderful world around you.
Tuning into your body and nature.
It goes without saying that a focused mind is a healthy mind. And with social media screen time and the ever-pressing concerns of modern life, now more than ever we need to disconnect and be present.
Surfing provides the perfect opportunity for this.
In surfing, there is only the now. And while much of the research about this topic is still in its early stages, many surfers will attest to feeling less anxious and more at peace after a good session.
Wrapping up
Meditation, regular exercise and immersing yourself in nature are three things that have been proven to improve mental health and wellbeing. But if you can roll all of them up into one activity, why wouldn’t you?
Surfing is more than just a sport or hobby… it’s a guaranteed brain-changer and mood-booster.
Sure, we love thinking about getting tanned, meeting new people and seeing new places when we go on surf trips, but we shouldn’t forget about the importance of surfing to better ourselves either.
It really does nourish our body, soul and mind.
