Home
Surfing Health Coaching
As a surfing health coach, it’s my mission to keep you on the water for as long as possible.
What prevents you from paddling out?
Let’s talk about it.
Paddle Culture & Surfing Health Coaching
About half of all surfer’s and canoe paddlers have preventable shoulder or lower back injuries.
Playing in the elements adds an extra layer of intensity that can’t be fully studied because the ocean constantly moves. Water sports enthusiasts burn many calories, so it’s vital to replenish your nutrients effectively. However, we also get sport-specific ailments like eczema and surfer’s ear. Fortunately, there are certain things you can do to ease these symptoms and spend more time doing what you love.
It’s disheartening when people stop paddling out. I’ve been there. It’s not fun rebuilding your paddle strength and getting back into the routine once you’ve been landlocked for a while. Paddle sports are young, so as a culture, we don’t rely enough on a surfing health coach or sports medicine because there weren’t any studies validating the science. However, now there are studies that validate the science.
The good news is that rest and recovery are a big part of the equation. You can do less on land because you spend time on the water. What you do is key. You can eat a lot, but when you eat matters. You can also be a part of a movement to make the culture of paddle sports more safe and sustainable.
Together, we can make paddle sports more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
Surfing Medicine International
Don’t take this surfing health coach’s word for it, stay up-to-date with the latest science in injury prevention and water safety by visiting Surfing Medicine International’s website and enjoy a lifetime of freedom. Surfing Medicine International is an organization that provides resources and training to surfers to help them stay healthy and safe while enjoying their sport. Their website offers a wealth of information on topics such as injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and environmental conservation. I hope this helps!
Services
“Surfing health coaching is a commitment we make to each other to advocate for your right to thrive. Together, we use your expertise on your life to help you become the most optimal version of yourself. If you don’t know where to start, we will unearth the answers within you. Our approach is about using your values as a roadmap to guide us, relying on your strengths to make positive change, and armoring you with many skills to keep you doing what you love. Join us today and discover how paddle sports can be a powerful tool for achieving your health goals.”
Choose from:
- Intro to Surfing
- Pool/Ocean Safety
- Virtual Coaching
- Grocery Store Tour
About Nia
We’re all in the same canoe, and I aspire to be the aunty in her 70s who’s still out there in the line-up. Becoming a water woman has been a life-changing experience for me, but it almost ruined all other sports and physical activities for me. I’ve noticed that in the paddle sport community, we rarely talk about or practice sound nutrition, proper stretching, or relevant cross-training. It’s important to take care of our bodies so we can continue to enjoy the water for years to come.
I can relate to your concerns about itchy skin, rattail hair, ear pain, and neck strain. These are common issues that many water people face. To address these problems, you might want to consider incorporating some land-based training into your routine. Cross-training with activities like yoga, Pilates, or strength training can help improve your flexibility, balance, and overall fitness 1. Additionally, proper nutrition is essential for maintaining healthy skin and hair 2.
After taking a long sabbatical in the forest to correct muscle imbalances, recover my skin/hair, and start a whole company based around keeping us on the water for as long as possible, through surfing health coaching, I found it challenging to get back on the water in the right way. However, I believe that with the privilege of paddling out comes a responsibility to take care of ourselves. If we could speak with the ancient Hawaiians about our modern-day lifestyles, they would see it as our kuleana to rest, eat well, and do some land-based training so we can continue to perpetuate the culture.
Trusted by:
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s
◇ What’s A Health Coach?
A health coach has many roles. Most importantly, I’m your partner in a confusing medical neighborhood. We are also guides, motivators, translators, and quality resource providers.
I specialize in surfing health coaching because being on the water makes us better humans.
◇ What’s Behavior Science?
Behavior science looks at our habits and how they affect, in this case, our health. It considers the individual and the socioecological factors that contribute to the individual’s ability to maximize their health.
◇ What’s The Difference Between A Life Coach And A Health Coach?
Along with health matters, life coaches are qualified to focus on career, finance, and relationship goals. Coaches of swell health coaching services only focus on health goals in sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress management.
◇ Are You Going To Tell Me What To Do?
No. I don’t know what you should do. Only you know that. Together, we’ll figure out the “how,” overcome your barriers to making progress and make modifications as your life ebbs and flows. You can get our health coach service in California, United States.
◇ Do You Take Insurance?
I can write a Superbill for you to give to your insurance company for probable reimbursement.
Stefania is the most passionate ,empathetic, and knowledgeable person I know . Her experience in the water shows . I had a huge fear of surfing because of an accident many years ago . I reached out to her for help , I needed some guidance out on the water . I haven’t been able to stay out of the water since . She has so much knowledge and expertise about water sports and caring for your body physically and mentally , I highly recommend her . She is truly a well rounded health coach .
Dinah Childress2023-06-02I love working with Nia, I would recommend her to anyone. She helps me set attainable goals while keeping me in the driver's seat. She is supportive and always professional. She is respectful of the time we have together and always makes the most of it; whether it's providing additional helpful information or helping me set additional smaller goals that I wouldn't have thought to set for myself without her support. She is knowledgeable and helpful in finding additional resources when needed. I have achieved many of the goals I started working with her on, and have set more advanced goals I would never have thought I could achieve on my own without her support.
Emily Sanseverino2023-02-03Nia is absolutely amazing! I have Type 1 Diabetes and competed in professional surfing for many years. My lack of managing my diabetes led to many complications that took me out of the water and dramatically changed my quality of life. When I met Nia she let me know that she could help me get back to doing the things I love, especially getting back in the water at the level I once knew... After working with her for only a short period of time I started to notice many changes with both my immediate health as well as frame of mind / focus. I would recommend Nia to anyone that wants to continue participating in water sports well into their post - prime lives. Nia is a gem, that I would highly recommend.
Russell Wilkie2023-02-01