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Having grown up close to the Jersey Shore, I’ve spent a lot of time sprawling out on hot sand, splashing against powerful waves, and floating in salty water. What I loved most was standing in the wet sand where the big waves became thin blankets. The surf that alternately pushed against my legs and pulled me deeper into the earth on their way back to the ocean. It was a literal grounding experience.
In my early 20s, during my post-college and pre-“real life” era, my best friend and I would make a weekly ritual of meeting at the beach. In that time of everything seeming uncertain and murky, we’d walk toward the water, vent about our existential dread, and play in the sand like kids.
One day, I kinda just lay down on the wet sand where the waves thinned along the shore. I closed my eyes and turned inward, feeling deeply connected to everything around me—the sounds of crashing waves and playful beachgoers, the smell and taste of the thick, salty air, and the countless granules of sand beneath me.
Sometimes, a wave in the distance sounded big and ferocious. I imagined it crashing against me, but by the time it got to me it simply lapped against my feet. It reminded me of the big and scary thoughts I often experienced which, in reality, amounted to nothing. Then, when I least expected it, I felt the rush of water graze my body, sweeping my arm out to the side or brushing my hair back, cleansing my body and mind. The waves were never anticipated, always deeply felt, just like the best moments in life.
Each time I got too in my head, (“I wonder if people are staring at me,” “Is someone going to tell me I’m weird for doing this?”), the ocean lapped against my feet, as if to say, “You belong here.”
It wasn’t until years later that I came to realize I was actually practicing a version of Savasana—lying still, releasing any tension, and allowing my thoughts to come and go. Once I made that connection, I was able to slip even more easily into a state of connection, presence, and surrender at the beach.
How to Practice Surf Savasana
Surf Savasana takes the potential for practicing mindfulness on the beach to the next level as you ground into your body and the present moment.
But first, safety. There’s a reason there are lifeguards. Although Surf Savasana isn’t (technically) one of them, all the rules of playing by water apply.
Here are some key tips I’ve learned in my years of practicing:
- Not all beaches are suitable for Surf Savasana. If the surf is too rough, skip it. Also, avoid beaches with known rip currents, which can happen even in shallow water. (You can do a quick online search of your state’s beaches.)
- Find a place where you can rest entirely on wet sand and not in the water.
- When the surf reaches your body, it shouldn’t be more than a couple of inches deep. You don’t want it to significantly change your position or draw you closer to (or into) the ocean.
- Use the buddy system! I always ask a friend to hang nearby and keep watch so I can feel more at ease.
- Be mindful of others—walkers, swimmers, surfers, dogs, lifeguards, etc. Or find a less populated spot.
How to:
- Find a spot on the beach and watch how the waves roll onto shore. (Avoid spots where the waves roll onto shore every time; it adds to the suspense of whether the waves will touch you or not. It also assures that you’re safely grounded on land.)
- Lie on your back with your feet facing the ocean and your palms facing up. (You know, Savasana.) Keep your eyes open or close them. Breathe.
- Acknowledge everything you see, hear, smell, and taste but without fixating on anything in particular.
- Notice whether you’re anticipating the waves touching your body. Let that go. If you’re wondering whether anyone is staring at you, acknowledge those concerns and then try to let them go.
- When a wave brushes up against you, notice where on your body it touches. Just your feet? Up to your calves? Your entire body? Notice whether the momentum of the water shifts any part of your body as the wave pushes forward and then recedes into the ocean.
- After lingering for as long as is comfortable (I typically stay for about 3 minutes), come into a seated position. You will be covered in sand, but it’s so worth it.
