Dr. Ashley Allen lives at a rare intersection: emergency medicine, integrative healing, chronic pain recovery, and surfing.

In this conversation, we explore how her work as an ER doctor has shaped her understanding of stress, healing, and the mind-body connection—and how her own personal journey led her to look beyond conventional medicine alone.

Dr. Ashley shares how practices like stillness, breath, mindfulness, and surfing can help people reconnect with themselves, reduce stress, and begin creating real change without feeling overwhelmed.

We also talk about burnout in healthcare, the challenge of slowing down in a high-stress world, and why healing often starts with small, simple steps and a willingness to believe a different future is possible.

This episode is a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to care for the body, calm the nervous system, and take ownership of your path toward wellness.

Takeaways

• Healing is not always about doing more. Often it starts by slowing down enough to listen.
• The mind-body connection plays a major role in stress, recovery, and long-term wellness.
• Small, consistent practices can create meaningful change without adding overwhelm.
• Surfing can be more than recreation—it can become part of a personal wellness practice.
• Healthcare providers need spaces and tools to process stress, avoid burnout, and stay connected to their own well-being.
• Belief in the possibility of change is often the first real step in a healing journey.
  
  Chapters

  00:00 Surfing as Medicine, Escape, and Awareness
  28:54 Making Surfing Part of a Wellness Practice
  34:32 Beginning the Healing Journey
  42:01 Mindfulness, Burnout, and Healing in Healthcare
  
  

Life gets busy. Motivation comes and goes. That’s why I use BAMs (Bare @ss Minimums)—the non-negotiable baseline I hit daily so I stay surf-ready no matter what’s going on.

In this episode, I break down a simple 3-phase BAM framework:

• Morning: set intention + lowest-friction start
• Midday: movement “snacks” to stay loose and strong
• Evening: decompress, reflect, and reset for tomorrow

If you want surf longevity without overcomplicating your routine, start here: define your BAMs and hit them daily.

Listen to more episodes here: https://surfstrongfit.com/podcast

Apply for Surf Strong For Life Exclusive Coaching: https://surfstrongfit.com/start

• What “BAMs” are (and why they beat motivation)
• Choosing the day’s highest priority with less resistance
• Morning setup: intention + simple structure
• Midday movement: keeping joints and tissue “online”
• Evening reset: reflection, decompression, and continuity

• Consistency wins when motivation fades—BAMs give you a baseline you can always complete.
• Define non-negotiables that support surf longevity: movement + breath + mindset.
• Start your day by identifying one highest-priority target (then protect it).
• Use midday movement snacks to reduce stiffness and maintain readiness.
• End the day with a short reset: decompress, reflect, and tee up tomorrow.
• Keep BAMs small enough to succeed daily, then build upward from there.

00:00 — What are BAMs (Bare @ss Minimums)
01:05 — Why life distraction kills consistency (and how BAMs fix it)
02:58 — Morning Phase: intention + lowest-friction start
04:20 — Picking the day’s highest priority (simple filter)
05:52 — Midday Phase: movement snacks to stay surf-ready
07:30 — Examples of quick movement / mobility check-ins
09:40 — Using breath + mindfulness to shift state fast
12:09 — Evening Phase: decompress, reflect, reset
13:30 — How to stay adaptable without losing the routine
14:20 — Simple challenge: define your BAMs and do them tomorrow

In this episode of the Surf Strong Show, Greg Finch shares a practical approach to shoulder recovery and shoulder prep for surfers.

He explains why consistency with small habits matters more than occasional long sessions, and how breathing techniques can improve control and recovery—especially under stress.

You’ll get a simple framework of mobility exercises and activation work to support shoulder stability, reduce flare-ups, and strengthen injury prevention habits that fit into real life.

The goal: better sessions now, and long-term shoulder health for surfing longevity.

Takeaways

• Consistency in the small things really matter.
• Focus on those small things and taking action.
• Building good habits is crucial for recovery.
• Breath improves everything, especially during stress.
• Don't rush through exercises; take your time.
• Focus on five minutes of practice to build consistency.
• No pain, no gain is counterintuitive to long-term health.
• Warm-up is essential to prevent shoulder injuries.
• Check in with your body before surfing to avoid discomfort.
• Put the time in now to reduce pain and discomfort.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Shoulder Prep and Recovery

05:04 Building Consistent Habits for Shoulder Health

14:55 Shoulder-Specific Exercises and Techniques

20:50 Conclusion and Long-Term Strategies for Surfing