Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Wave Project and using surfing as therapy, with Joe Taylor
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Wave Project and using surfing as therapy, with Joe Taylor
Honoured to be joined this week by Joe Taylor, founder of The Wave Project.
The Wave Project is a charity using surfing and spending time in the ocean as a form of therapy for young people struggling with mental and physical issues. Having taught watersports for nearly 10 years to thousands of children, it was amazing to chat to Joe about why he started the Wave Project, and the effects it has on young people who otherwise wouldn't get out on the water.
We discussed why surfing works so well for young people struggling with mental health issues, especially anxiety. It's a tough sport to do, but it's not inherently competitive, there are no leaderboards, and you can't score a goal. It doesn't matter whether you're standing up for the first time ever, riding on your stomach, or doing your first air. The goal is the same, to catch a wave and have fun.
As Joe described, The Wave Project's goal isn't to teach people to surf well, or to produce the next Kelly Slater. It's designed to build young peoples resilience and help build confidence and feel more positive about themselves. It may sound a bit silly that surfing does all of these things, but the proof is there.
By encouraging growth in a less clinical environment and allowing young people the chance to learn something new (and fun!) at their own pace. It's literally changing lives.
From personal experience, I always feel a lot better once ive been in the ocean, I wish I'd found windsurfing and surfing at an earlier age. It's amazing that The Wave Project are bringing these experiences to people who otherwise wouldn't experience them. Hope you enjoy!
View all episodes
By Sandy ClunasHonoured to be joined this week by Joe Taylor, founder of The Wave Project.
The Wave Project is a charity using surfing and spending time in the ocean as a form of therapy for young people struggling with mental and physical issues. Having taught watersports for nearly 10 years to thousands of children, it was amazing to chat to Joe about why he started the Wave Project, and the effects it has on young people who otherwise wouldn't get out on the water.
We discussed why surfing works so well for young people struggling with mental health issues, especially anxiety. It's a tough sport to do, but it's not inherently competitive, there are no leaderboards, and you can't score a goal. It doesn't matter whether you're standing up for the first time ever, riding on your stomach, or doing your first air. The goal is the same, to catch a wave and have fun.
As Joe described, The Wave Project's goal isn't to teach people to surf well, or to produce the next Kelly Slater. It's designed to build young peoples resilience and help build confidence and feel more positive about themselves. It may sound a bit silly that surfing does all of these things, but the proof is there.
By encouraging growth in a less clinical environment and allowing young people the chance to learn something new (and fun!) at their own pace. It's literally changing lives.
From personal experience, I always feel a lot better once ive been in the ocean, I wish I'd found windsurfing and surfing at an earlier age. It's amazing that The Wave Project are bringing these experiences to people who otherwise wouldn't experience them. Hope you enjoy!