Rise Above Returns to Folly Beach
Story by: Liz Wolfe | Contributing Writer
Photo by: Sarah Butler
A local wellness program is returning this winter with a simple goal: help women stay connected to their bodies, to each other, and to the ocean during a season that often encourages hibernation.
Rise Above, a wellness series supported by Waves 4 Women, was first launched a few years ago and recently rebooted in response to growing interest from the community. Led by Jennifer Hamrock alongside longtime organizers, the program offers consistent winter programming designed to bring women together through light conditioning, conversation, and creative activities inspired by the ocean.
Rise Above welcomes women at every stage of their surfing journey, says Hamrock, including experienced surfers, beginners, those curious to try, or anyone who simply finds comfort near the water. Regardless of surfing ability, all Rise Above program activities aim to help participants feel stronger and more confident when spring arrives. Just as important, Hamrock says, is the shared sense of accountability that comes from moving together.
Winter wellness, she notes, is about tending to mental health, relationships, and physical activity during a time when routines often fall away. The colder months offer a chance to slow down and notice things that often get overlooked in the summer.
For Waves 4 Women Executive Director Sarah Butler, Rise Above serves as a gentle reentry after the holidays. She says the program helps her step back outside, reconnect with like-minded women, and prioritize self-care again.
In a season defined by stillness, Rise Above offers something very moving for the women of Folly Beach.
For more information about Waves 4 Women or the Rise Above program, find them on Instagram @waves4women or online at www.waves4women.org.
