Take To The Waves Surfers And Improve The Quality Of Your Life And Overall Health

Surfing is arguably one of the oldest practiced sports in the world dating as far back as over three thousand years. It has a deeply rooted Western Polynesian culture and was practiced in parts of South America such as Peru. Surfing relies on sheer athleticism and having an understanding of nature’s power and beauty. It was first discovered by fishermen who took advantage of the waves by riding on it, and it became an efficient method of getting their catch to the shore. It has undergone a lot of evolution ever since, to become the popular sport it is today.

Aside from the mental benefits that surfers enjoy, it also provides many exercise benefits which are really good for the health of the body.

Balance involves two variables, the center of mass and base of support. Surfing is a perfect way to test your balance while developing core and leg muscles at the same time. An exercise benefit of surfing is the improvement of balance and flexibility which is the ability to stay on the surfboard. What mastering this surfing skill means to a surfer is that it can be carried into everyday life and finds application in the prevention of normal slips and falls.

Surfing keeps you very fit, and slim. It has been found that between 150- 400 calories an hour are burnt while surfing. And surfing being a fun sport means you can go hours on end without getting bored while burning plenty of calories in the process at the same time.

The Cardiovascular system consists of the heart, veins and arteries that work to bring blood to and from the heart. Paddling during surfing requires the use of upper body muscles and leg muscles to guide the board during the ride thereby giving an intense core and upper body workout. This leads to improved body functions and provides preventive measures against shortness of breath by opening and strengthening the lung muscles, fatigue, and studies show that any type of physical activity helps to prevent heart attacks. In essence, surfing is a vigorous cardiovascular workout improving overall health condition and protecting the heart as well.

Surfing requires strong arm and chest muscles for the maintenance of balance and stability. Other muscles such as leg muscles, upper back, hamstrings, quads, glutes and calves are employed during the numerous maneuvers involved in surfing. Also, during wave riding the oblique of the abdominals as well as deltoids and upper arm are needed. All these, put together leads to the toning of the leg, arm muscles and building a strong shaped abdomen. This is the reason why surfers are often in great physical shape.

Surfing is an intense physical activity that often leads to fatigue. Getting accustomed to surfing routines after some time can lead to improved stamina, and reduce the symptoms of fatigue due to the energy boost daily exercise provides, for the surfer that translates into more energy to be spent on the other daily activities in their life.

Surfers thrive on riding the energy of ocean waves that have travelled a great deal of distance to reach them. With the ocean being a source of revitalizing energy it is not surprising that most surfers live well into their 60s, 70, 80s and even beyond. Also, older surfers don’t tend to look their age.