If you pay attention to the surfers at the beach preparing to paddle out into the line up, you may notice most devotees to the sport are partial to stretching. As you watch them contorting into poses that gear them up for hours of surfing fun, some familiar poses may begin to appear – downward-facing dog, Malasana, Warrior Pose, Dolphin Pose, Cobra, and Upward-facing Dog. Yes, yoga has found it’s way into the routines of most surfers … and like it or not, it appears to be here for the long haul.

Some practitioners of both sports may tell you that yoga and surfing often go hand in hand … both activities benefiting from the physical and mental enhancements as a result of the other. There are the obvious physical benefits of practicing yoga as a surfer, namely the improved balance and flexibility, plus the addition of core and physical strength. In this aspect, some yoga instructors/surfers like Peggy Hall have produced DVDs that target the surf-yoga market, touting the benefits of the practice especially for pro surfers such as Rochelle Ballard and Taylor Knox.

What often is underplayed are the mental benefits of yoga for people, and in this case for surfers. Especially for beginners, the often intense physical sequences bring about an increased sense of focus and awareness to the human form and body. The intense concentration on what your body is doing, and how it is reacting, often has the immediate effect of bringing calmness to the mind, and to the breath. As surfers, being aware of your breath and being aware of how you breathe allows the natural rhythm and flow of the body to rise to the surface. A more rhythmic body focuses your surfing on the core skills – balance and internal rhythm.

So what does yoga do for your surfing?

Practicing yoga gives you an increased awareness of your own body. In yoga, you are often called upon to make small, subtle movements to improve your alignment. Over time, this will increase your level of comfort in your own body. This can lead to improved posture and greater self-confidence. Translated to surfing, this means better balance on your surfboard, a more rhythmic approach to paddling and moving on the board, as well as an increased awareness of your connection to the water, the waves, and your board.

Where to begin with yoga and surfing?

As always, you have to start slow and allow your body to adapt to the use of muscles in a new or different way. Much like learning to surf, you have to ensure that your body can adapt to the new physical activity in a smooth manner. Group classes in your community is a great way to start, allowing you to learn yoga and be guided by more advanced practitioners of the sport. Although there are a number of types of yoga available, the most common yoga practiced by surfers are based in the Ashtanga style or the Bikrams method. There are also a number of DVDs available that can get you started in the right direction.

Whatever you choose and in whatever style, just start slow, start now, and get going!