Surfing Moms Offering Free Surf Therapy to Maui Moms
What: He’e Nalu Group Surf Therapy, 5 in person and virtual events starting October 20
Who: Open to members of Surfing Moms (free to join in 2024), who are current Maui residents. Must be able to swim, but surf experience not necessary. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. (no children at the therapy sessions, this is not a surf/swap event, no childcare is included)
When:
- Initial Surf Lesson/Beach Therapy for Intermediate Surfers: Sunday, October 20 from 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Initial Surf Lesson/Beach Therapy for Beginner / First Time Surfers: Saturday, October 26 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Zoom sessions: Saturdays, November 2 and 16 from 8:30am – 10am
- Additional surf lessons: Sundays, November 16 and 24, from 8:30am – 10:30am.
Where: Surfing and therapy locations will be based on weather, but will be between Maalaea and Lahaina.
Why: Surf therapy can be useful for overcoming fear, anxiety, and negative self talk.
How to Sign Up: https://surfingmoms.org/hee-nalu-program
Deadline to Sign Up: Friday, October 18 at 5pm or when all spaces are filled.
Cost: FREE! Surfing equipment is also provided.
Sponsors: Surfing Moms, Maui Surfer Girls and Groundswell
Read More About this Exciting Upcoming Program:
Surfing Moms, Maui Surfer Girls and Groundswell Surf Therapy are teaming up again to host a free He’e Nalu Group Surf Therapy session, in which participants can attend in person and virtual events, starting October 20. Surf Therapy is open to first time, beginner, or intermediate longboarding moms that are current residents of Maui. Surf therapy can be useful for overcoming fear, anxiety, and negative self talk. Participants must be current members of Surfing Moms, which is free to join in 2024 for Maui residents. All surf levels are welcome, but participants must be able to swim. This event is for moms only, there is no childcare provided.
The event will kick off with a surf lesson on Sunday, October 20 from 8:30am – 12:30pm for intermediate surfers, or Saturday, October 26 for first time or beginner surfers. Following the initial lesson, participants are also invited to attend 4 more events, including two Zoom sessions on upcoming Saturdays, November 2 and 16 from 8:30am – 10am, and two more surf lessons on upcoming Sundays, November 16 and 24, from 8:30am – 10;30am.
Surfing and therapy locations will be based on weather, but will be between Maalaea and Lahaina. More details will be provided in the registration forms.
To sign up for Surfing Moms and receive registration forms for all the upcoming events, visit https://surfingmoms.org/hee-nalu-program . The deadline to sign up for the Fall Surf Therapy is Friday, October 18 at 5pm. He’e Nalu programming is sponsored by funding partners Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Mana O Maui.
Meet Your Surf Therapists
The program will be led by Natalie Small, LMFT, founder of Groundswell Surf Therapy, and Kiki Martins, a Groundswell-trained professional surf instructor. Sessions include time on land as well as in the sea integrating in somatic, art, and eco therapy tools. “Whether you want to overcome fears, build your confidence, or work on reading the waves within you and around you, Surf Therapy is a powerful opportunity to build and deepen your surf practice to support your physical, mental, and emotional health,” Natalie shared.
More about Groundswell:
Natalie Small is the creator and founder of the Groundswell Surf Therapy model. The program is designed to deepen the participant’s relationship to self, others and the sea through surfing. Natalie weaves together her clinical training as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with expertise in Experiential Expressive Arts Therapy and Somatic Therapy alongside her lifelong passion for surfing.
More about Surfing Moms:
Surfing Moms, a non-profit organization that started on Oahu and is now spreading around the country, is offering free membership for all postpartum residents of Maui in 2024. Membership allows for free participation in the He’e Nalu programs which includes surf lessons, surf therapy, and surf-swaps, in which participants alternate child-care and surf sessions.
