OPERATION POSEIDON
Jamie is proud to have developed #OpPoseidon; providing surf therapy retreats for all. The sea is a powerful healer and amazing for improvement of mental health and fantastic for treatment of PTSD.
Op Poseidon aims to deliver therapeutic surf packages at affordable prices. Op Poseidon currently partners with the Curtis Palmer Program who provide mental health support for serving police officers and Rock 2 Recovery who help former Royal Marines with mental health difficulties.
Op Poseidon’s surf retreats meet the NHS 5 steps to mental well-being.
1. Connect with other people
Op Poseidon brings together people who have a sense of adventure and want to learn to surf. The retreats are run in a group setting with a big emphasis on team & confidence building and invitation to the Op Poseidon Community. After the surf retreat all participants are encouraged to join the Op Poseidon surf therapy group on Facebook. This ensures once the retreat is over, participants can still keep in touch and plan their own surf trips or to book on future retreats with us.
2. Be physically active
Surfing is a physical sport and Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness; Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing. Endorphins are released during exercise causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood.
3. Learn new skills
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
- boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem.
- helping you to build a sense of purpose.
- helping you to connect with others.
Surfing is a fantastic and fun new skill which all participants on our surf retreats will learn via activity and interactive based learning.
4. Give to others
Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by creating positive feelings and a sense of reward. Op Poseidon actively encourages participants to encourage each other while engaged in the surf lessons giving a feeling of purpose and self-worth; helping them to connect with the other people on the retreat.
5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. While surfing participants are entirely in the moment as they concentrate on firstly catching the wave they paddle for. Now they are being propelled forward by the wave they have to apply the earlier training delivered on the beach to make their way to their feet. At this point they will be riding the wave and entirely engrossed in the moment and aware of their surroundings.
Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Previously, serving as Royal Marines Commando, I have served in various countries around the globe in all kinds of versatile roles. Drawing on the wealth of experience gained during my 11 years of service I plan to embody that into Op Poseidon and help participants manage their mental health through the medium of surfing!
