Introducing the Series: WAVES & WOMEN

Welcome to WAVES & WOMEN, our newest story-driven blog series from WALLIEN. Over the next several posts, we’ll take you on a journey through surfing’s ancient roots, explore what makes it so addictive and dive into the power of sisterhood in the sea. 

In this sense our blogs do indeed bear much similarity to a love letter - one whom many of us have either written or received - in this case it'll be a love letter to the ocean. One, which unfolds itself over its chapters.

Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or still building up to your first pop-up, this series is for every water-loving woman who’s ever wondered: What exactly am I tapping into when I paddle out? Why do I feel such a thrill when I am out there in the forces of nature?

Let us start at the beginning, and welcome to the third chapter of WAVES & WOMEN.

Welcome to Chapter 3 of WAVES & WOMEN, a series exploring the deep, tangled, and liberating relationship between women and waves.
In Chapter 1, we explored the origin of surfing through a feminine lens. In Chapter 2, we dove into the science of stoke - the feel-good brain chemistry that hooks us for life.

Today, we will go past the sole surface levels. Beyond thrill. Beyond fun. Beyond fitness. Because for many women, waves are medicine.

Healing, like magic, defies tidy definition. Yet, maybe part of it lies in the rhythm, the rhythm of the waves and the sound of the ocean. The reset. The sensory immersion. Because for many women, surfing has become more than just a sport; it’s medicine.

Why? Well for starters, surfing doesn’t ask you to feel ready. It doesn’t care if you’ve cried that morning, felt burned out all week, or simply have forgotten what calm feels like. 

Surfing solely asks you for one thing: Show up.

The sea doesn't demand polish. Only presence. When you start to take this fact for the very fact it is, then the time of transformation arises.

Forged in salt and sunlight, surfing supports mental health on multiple levels:

• Cold-water exposure reduces inflammation and floods the brain with mood-boosting neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine

• Saltwater and motion activate the parasympathetic nervous system - your body’s “rest and digest” mode

• Waves demand presence, offering a moving meditation that quiets anxious thoughts

• Natural Sunlight + Movement stimulate vitamin D and serotonin - counteracting seasonal blues and stress

These effects aren’t just anecdotal, they’re increasingly backed by neuroscience and clinical studies. Surf therapy is now used to support PTSD recovery, anxiety relief, and emotional resilience.

Let us present you with some science-backed facts, after all, we are here to learn something.

Marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, author of Blue Mind and Catherine Kelly, the author of Blue Spaces present two intriguing viewpoints. Nichols reaffirms our earlier points and what all avid watersporters intuitively know: being near, in, or on water significantly boosts both our emotional and cognitive well‑being. His work shows how the proximity to blue spaces fosters mindfulness, reduces stress and enhance creativity and connection.

Kelly adds another layer through arguing how such benefits can be contributed to the scale. Better said, beaches offer a unique kind of mental rest because of their expansive views and never-ending, immersive soundtracks. The horizon soothes; the sound of waves slows the mind. It’s psychology by way of geography.

And then there’s the cold...

Just one single immersion in cold water has been shown to improve your mood immediately, according to findings from the Lifestyle Medicine Week Content Collection.

Instant serotonin. Just add ocean - and mild hypothermia.
Jokes aside, the science is clear: a plunge in cold water triggers the release of feel-good chemicals and resets the nervous system. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Okay, let’s try this again - but calmer.”

For all those coffee-addicts among us - immersion in cold water spikes norepinephrine by 200–300% - giving you a mental jolt that can beat caffeine by a mile. 

Perhaps it's time to hit the cold.

Don't worry, you can finish off reading this blog after your cold-water dip. Refreshed, present. For that full-body, brain-boosting reset only the ocean can deliver.

Because let’s be honest - a cold dip beats a doomscroll any day.

Want to lose yourself in the ocean - without losing your swimsuit too?

These featured WALLIEN pieces are made to move with you, no compromises.

So, we're back - salt-kissed, skin tingling, and minds reset. Hopefully we’ve warmed up - especially for those of us not lucky enough to surf in the tropics. Now that the chill has worn off, let’s talk about something that truly shapes the surf experience: community over competition .

Because in the water, it’s not about who’s best - it’s about who’s beside you .

Rituals That Reset: Why We Keep Coming Back

Ritual anchors healing. Surf ceremonies become medicine:

1. Early morning rise

2. Waxing the board

3. First paddle into stillness

4. Breath-aware boarding

5. Sunset return with salt-washed hair and a softened mind

These acts transform surf into sacred practice - a consistent reset for body and soul. Surfing doesn’t promise to heal everything, but it offers:

• Presence when distraction dominates

• Breath when disconnectedness settles in

• Return when grief or overwhelm makes us feel lost

And when you emerge - salt-soaked, and sunbursted - you also emerge lighter. Sharpened. Rooted again in body, heartbeat, and the ocean. From Waves to Wellness!

What’s Next in WAVES & WOMEN

So far, we’ve explored the origins of surfing, why its stoke hooks us and how its waves can prove healing.

In the next chapter, we shift focus from waves to wind. We’ll dive into:

• The surprising origins of kitesurfing—and how women are carving their space in this high-adrenaline sport

• The parallels between surfing and kiting: freedom, flow, and full-body presence

• And the pioneers and modern-day kite queens shaping the future of the sport

Stay tuned for Chapter 4 – Taking Flight: The Untold Story of Women in Kitesurfing