Why surfing with women is so good for your Mental Health
- Roos Michels

- Jul 7
- 3 min read
There is something special about the ocean. The moment you step onto the sand, breathe in the salty air, and hear the sound of the waves, the rest of the world seems to soften. Your to-do list, busy schedule, and all the thoughts racing through your mind make room for one simple thing: being here. Surfing is a sport, but it is so much more than that. It asks you to be present, trust your body, and move with whatever the ocean gives you. And when you do that alongside other women, something even more powerful happens: connection, support, confidence, and a feeling of freedom that stays with you long after you leave the water.

It gives your mind space to breathe
When you are in the water, you cannot focus on everything waiting for you back home. You are watching the waves, feeling your board beneath you, and waiting for the right moment to paddle. Surfing brings you back into your body and into the present moment. It is a beautiful way to step out of your head. Not because all your worries disappear instantly, but because you get some distance from them. Your breathing slows down, your focus shifts, and you create space to notice what you truly need.
The ocean does not expect perfection from you. Some days you catch a wave, some days you fall, and some days you wait longer than you hoped. There is a lesson in all of it: you do not need to control everything to enjoy the ride.

Growing & (surfing) together without competition
Surfing can feel exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially when you are new to it. You might feel unsure about your balance, nervous about falling, or wonder whether you are good enough.
In a group of women, the energy is often different. There is encouragement instead of pressure. You cheer each other on, laugh together when someone wipes out, and celebrate every little win, from catching your first wave to standing up for the first time.
That kind of support makes it easier to step outside your comfort zone. Not because you have to prove anything, but because you know there are people beside you who understand and want to see you succeed.
Confidence that goes beyond the water
Every wave you catch, no matter how small, builds a little more confidence. Surfing teaches you that falling does not mean failing. You learn to get back on your board, paddle out again, and try one more time.
That feeling comes home with you. Maybe not in the form of perfect surf skills, but as a reminder that you can handle hard things. That you are allowed to take up space. That you do not have to be good at something straight away to enjoy it.
Surfing shows you how strong you are, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sharing that experience with other women makes that strength feel even more real.

There is something beautiful about spending days together by the sea. Away from the usual routines, away from constantly checking your phone, and away from the roles you may normally carry at work, at home, or in your social life.
You get to know each other as you are. In wetsuits, with salty hair, sandy feet, and big smiles. Conversations often become more honest, deeper, and lighter at the same time.
You share stories, doubts, dreams, and small victories. Sometimes you make a friend for a week, and sometimes you make one for much longer. But almost always, you leave feeling seen, supported, and connected.

Movement, nature, and joy as a reset
The combination of moving your body, being outside, and connecting with others is incredibly powerful. Your body feels tired in the best way, your mind feels calmer, and your heart feels fuller.
A surf trip is not about escaping your life. It is about remembering how you want to feel in your life: energised, free, connected, and close to yourself.
So whether you are stepping on a surfboard for the first time or you have surfed before, give yourself that time in the ocean. Give yourself the women around you, the laughter, the little challenges, and the moments when everything feels exactly right.
Because surfing with women is not only about catching waves. It is about finding your way back to yourself, lifting each other up, and remembering that you are capable of more than you think.




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