At Iguana Surf, we believe that surfing is more than a mere sport but rather a way of life that has the power to transform your body, mind, and soul. Eventually, if you let it, surfing can change your whole life.
From the moment you paddle from shore and place your instincts, experience, and faith in the ocean, it’s as if you enter another world. One whose rhythm is set by nature. It is right at this moment, as you match the flow of the sea to catch your waves that the connection between your inner self and nature becomes undeniable. Connecting with nature in this profound way is life-changing for many.
We see it here in Tamarindo all too often. Adventure seekers head to our corner of paradise to spend a week learning a new sport…and end up finding a brand-new perspective on life.
And that’s quite a powerful thing.
While a surf life can certainly keep you fit and healthy and help you manage your stress levels, it can also be a transformative journey.
Today, we thought we’d share with you why we believe the surfing life can change your life on multiple levels.
Surf life helps you connect with the rhythm of nature
One of the most captivating aspects of surfing is that it nurtures a deep connection with the ocean. Many people mistakenly believe that nature is something to be mastered and conquered. If you’re planning to face the Costa Rica surf for the very first time on an upcoming vacation, we suggest you take a moment to consider your tactic.
As we tell all our new recruits – and as every experienced surfer knows – you must spend hours studying tides, weather patterns, and swell conditions if you hope to succeed. Rather than try to conquer the sea, you must learn to understand its ‘language’. Its rhythm. Only then can you hope to ride on its same wavelength.
Surfing is all about developing a unique line of communication with the sea.
Developing a connection with the ocean can have a multitude of benefits to your everyday life. Costa Rica surf will teach you to be patient and resilient. It’ll teach you that change is a daily occurrence and that you should never take anything for granted. And it’ll teach you respect – not just for the sea but for nature, in general.
Surfing leads to a newfound sense of inner peace
Surfers often speak of the therapeutic effect of paddling beyond the break, where the only sounds are the waves and the distant cries of seagulls. It isn’t just about the physical challenge, but also about tranquility that comes from being out at sea. Surfing calms the mind and reduces stress, and is amazing for your mental well-being.
There’s certainly no better way to destress in Tamarindo: grab a surfboard, head out to the sapphire-hued horizons, and escape from the bustle of everyday life for a while.
Surfing helps you connect with your body
It’s called kinesthesia, or proprioception, the ability to be completely aware of your body and all the movements you’re doing in a specific space. This is an incredible skill to have and one that surfing can help you perfect.
Surfing is a full-body workout that engages muscles you never even knew existed. Paddling out, popping up on the board, and riding the waves require core strength, balance, and coordination. The physical demands of surfing lead to increased fitness levels, improved flexibility, and better cardiovascular health.
But there’s so much more to it than that.
There’s a particular physicality to surfing that requires a deep connection between body and mind. If you don’t feel very attuned to your body before you adopt the surf life, you sure will soon after. Think you’re a bit uncoordinated or unable to move your limbs a certain way? Try the surf life and see those skills improve drastically. To be a good surfer, you must learn to read your body’s unique signals and develop a deep connection to it.
This increase in the awareness of your body won’t only help you become a better surfer but will also improve your posture, make you more agile and help you prevent injuries.
Surfing helps you connect with Mother Nature
If you know any avid surfer, you will know that their life is pretty much dictated by the surf and all its related conditions. Surfers often rise before dawn to catch the best waves, making the most of the early morning swells. Here at Iguana Surf, we are early to bed and early to rise for this exact reason. We know that the best of Costa Rica surf is to be enjoyed in the first few hours of the day.
The harmonization with nature’s timetable resets your circadian rhythm (and we all know the good that is for our overall health), will teach you discipline (because ‘one more drink’ late at night might ruin the next day’s surfing sesh) and can help sharpen your time management skills all-round.
Enjoy a weeklong adventure immersed in Costa Rica surf, and you’ll learn to prioritize your day around the waves. This is an outstanding way to nurture a strong sense of purpose and direction.
Try it…and you’ll never look back!
Surfing teaches you humility and resilience
The ocean is one of our planet’s most humbling forces. No matter how skilled a surfer you become, you’ll undoubtedly encounter waves that are too powerful, too big, or too unpredictable. So, what do you do? You take a big bite of humble pie and bow to the sea in honor of its superior strength. And then, you vow to try again tomorrow.
Surfing will first impart lessons in humility and then teach you to stand up and try again.
This ability to embrace failure and persevere through adversity is a valuable life lesson that can serve you well in all aspects of life.
The surf life helps you enjoy the simplest pleasures
Feeling the sun’s first morning rays on your face, catching the perfect wave, sharing a laugh with your friends as you paddle out, or finally mastering that new maneuver for the very first time. These are the little joys that fill the heart of every surfer. They are fleeting moments of seemingly simple joy that have the power to transform the way you enjoy life.
If there’s one thing all avid surfers attest to, it is that the surf life helps you stay focused on the present and savor life’s smallest pleasures. Which, as it turns out, might be among the most important ones of all.
The transformative power of surfing extends far beyond the thrill of riding waves. It encompasses a profound connection with nature, a deeper understanding of one’s body, a synchronized relationship with time, the cultivation of humility and resilience, and the discovery of joy in the extraordinary. At Iguana Surf, we are firm believers that the surfing life has the potential to reshape your perspective on life, leading to a more balanced, mindful, and fulfilling existence.
So, if you’ve ever considered taking up surfing, don’t hesitate to dive into this transformative journey—it might just change your life in ways you never imagined.
We’re here waiting for you to join us to taste Costa Rica’s surf life.