When you first hear the words surf and yoga together, you may conjure images of a swami sitting cross-legged on a paisley long board, coasting effortlessly through the clouds to a soundtrack of “Ohmmmm…”

Not quite.

Surf Yoga is a growing phenomenon amongst surfers with an interest in yoga, and yoga practitioners with a taste for the extreme.

These two disciplines go together like chocolate and peanut butter.

First – the chocolate; As 9-time World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater has proved again and again, yoga is an invaluable part of any surfer’s fitness training routine. Surfers yoga takes an age old system of stretching, poses, and meditation in a new direction; targeting the motions that surfers use to balance, with a focus on strengthening the muscle groups that are used for the “take off, ” the “pop up,” and turning maneuvers like “cut backs,” “hitting the lip” and “tube-riding.”

The mental discipline and physical benefits, combined with a heightened consciousness of body, mind and spirit, have been a key part of Kelly’s success, and many other competitive surfers.

For those who have already been practicing yoga – the peanut butter to our chocolate – surfing is a new and exciting way to get a full body workout, and embodies some of the same philosophies that yoga does; oneness and harmony with natural surroundings with an emphasis on awareness through practice and personal betterment.

That’s right! Surfing is for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, demographic, or any other qualifiers you can attach to the sport. The truth is: surfing is a deeply personal pursuit, and not everyone gets into it for the same reason. But one thing does remain consistent for just about anyone who has been at it for a while, a deep emotional connection with the ocean, and a respect for her power, which is both awesome and humbling. With surfing, the rewards are huge; your first wave, your deepest tube ride, your longest ride.

In yoga, the rewards are also huge; physical fitness and mental focus which benefits you in every aspect of your daily life. Chocolate and peanut butter.

[By Kelcey Parker]