This piece reflects on a recent trip to El Salvador, where a simple reunion with the ocean turned into a powerful experience of community, healing, and collaboration. During volunteer work, Ari met Ceci — a therapist, surfer, and kindred spirit — and the two began dreaming up a women’s circle rooted in accessibility, cultural wisdom, and the grounding power of the sea. Months later, that shared vision came to life in Playa El Zonte, where women across generations gathered to reflect on mental health, dismantle stigma, and connect through art, storytelling, and supportive conversation.

The Science of Surf Therapy: New Research on Chronic Pain Relief

A groundbreaking new study from the Pain Trauma Institute, in collaboration with USC and Groundswell Community Project, reveals that surf therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain and promote nervous system healing. Through guided sessions rooted in trauma-informed care, participants living with conditions like chronic pelvic pain, Lyme disease, and long COVID reported a 50% average decrease in pain intensity, as well as increased emotional vitality and deep brainwave shifts associated with rest and regulation. Beyond the data, the ocean offered something deeper — a sense of agency, awe, and belonging. Surf therapy reconnected participants not just to their bodies, but to the belief that healing is possible, even when medicine falls short. This research marks an early but powerful step toward integrating surf therapy into chronic pain care — not as a cure, but as a co-therapist.

When the Ocean Becomes Medicine: Understanding Surf Therapy

Surf therapy goes far beyond learning to surf — it’s where the ocean becomes a partner in healing. Unlike a traditional surf lesson focused on technique or performance, surf therapy combines the natural rhythm of the waves with mindfulness, somatic practices, and community connection to help participants feel safe, grounded, and alive in their bodies again. Rooted in both science and lived experience, it draws on the ocean’s proven ability to calm the nervous system, boost mood, and build resilience — reminding us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, but in connection with nature, movement, and one another.

Partner Spotlight: Mindful Waves

In Nosara, Costa Rica, Mindful Waves is creating safe, supportive spaces for women to connect with the ocean and themselves. Founded by Dani after her own personal transformation through surfing, the program now partners with local mental health organization Nosara Siente to bring surf therapy to women and children in the community. Through intentional rituals, circles of belonging, and a deep respect for the sea, Mindful Waves empowers women to heal, grow, and reclaim their strength. Rooted in Groundswell’s global movement, they are building ripples of impact that reach far beyond the shoreline.

What if healing isn’t about getting “better,” but about getting closer — to ourselves, to each other, and to the ocean? In this deeply personal reflection, Groundswell surf therapy alum and retreat co-host Tracey shares her journey through chronic illness, medical trauma, and the unexpected connections that helped her heal. From ER visits to waves in Costa Rica, discover how community, surf, and somatic healing became lifelines — and how a new trauma-informed retreat is inviting others into the water.

Chelsea Almario reflects on her journey to joining the board of Groundswell. In this candid reflection, she shares how community, service, and the ocean have shaped her healing—through identity shifts, personal challenges, and the transformative power of showing up.

Board member Whitney Taylor shares her journey from discovering somatic therapy to finding a deep sense of belonging with Groundswell. In this heartfelt reflection, Whitney weaves together nature, healing, and legacy—exploring how the ocean, community, and personal connection have shaped her life and her vision for Groundswell’s impact.