How yoga benefits surfing

After several years teaching yoga in surf camps and retreats, I observed how balancing strength and flexibility is key to a surfer's physique. And how finding and maintaining that balance leads to an enjoyable and injury-free surf journey.

I love how yoga and surfing offer the balance between strength and flexibility, as well as the balance between control of practice on the yoga mat versus surrendering to the unknown of the elements whilst on a surfboard.

Here are a few observations I have made cementing my belief that yoga benefits surfing;

Body awareness

Regular yoga practice will make you more aware of your physical body. Yoga practice can help you become more aware of your limitations, emotionally, mentally, and physically. An opportunity to notice any areas of the body that are imbalanced, less mobile, or in need of strengthening. Once you have made the realisations, then you can make the changes.

Connection to body, mind and emotions

Regular yoga can deepen your connection to your body, mind, and emotions. Through slow, subtle awareness, you notice the areas that need refining to balance your physical, mental, and emotional body. Yoga can help improve mental clarity and focus. Learning to control your mind is key to overcoming fear and helping to develop your confidence and connection.

Balance practice

Yoga, similar to surfing, offers plentiful opportunities to practice and improve your balance. A yoga class will usually include some balance practice postures. Listen out for the balanced focus poses, including Tree Pose, Half Moon Pose, and core-focused poses, which help to improve balance and core strength. The result: improved balance on and off your surfboard and yoga mat.

Breathwork as a tool for surfing

With awareness, yoga can help a lot with deepening and regulating your breathing. In a yoga class, you will often be encouraged to sync movement with the breath. Breathwork practices improve your lung capacity. Also, by bringing attention to the breath, you start to learn how you have the power to control and use your breath to move through certain situations. This can be useful for reducing anxiety, increasing lung capacity, and overcome fear, especially when surfing in larger waves.

Energising and strengthening yoga

A good morning yoga class can set you up for the day. With a positive mindset. Move through a sequence of poses that warm up the whole body and you will be ready for a day in the ocean. A regular strong yoga practice will enhance your surfing strength and flexibility. Poses such as Chaturanga, Plank, and Cobra are excellent for developing the upper body muscles, mimicking the movement of lying on your board with an open upright chest, and ensuring you are fit for paddling!

Relaxing and restorative yoga

Post-surfing yoga classes are usually aimed at stretching and releasing muscles that may be fatigued from a day’s surfing. Through a slower, yin-style yoga practice, you will target the deeper set muscles, tissues and ligaments. Balancing out the yin and the yang energy brings the body into energetic balance. A series of yin yoga poses encourages the body to come to a place of 'rest and digest'. When we move from the nervous system into the parasympathetic nervous system, we enable the body to heal and restore naturally.

I hope this has inspired you to roll out a yoga mat. And, if you are in the Taghazout Bay area, check out this round-up of our favourite drop-in yoga classes in the area.