Flex-ellent!

How yoga can help surfers stretch themselves further

By Arielle Beauduy

For the TODAY

 There is nothing quite like catching a wave. Whether you’re just starting to learn how to surf or you’re a salty haired old school wave rider, the feeling is exhilarating – puts you in a different realm. Part of this might be because to catch a wave you have to be self-aware, determined, calm and in a place both physically and mentally where you can become in sync with the water. In this modern world, our busy lives often pull us out of this state that is in harmony with nature. So, for many surfers, surfing is much like meditation.

Yoga is a complementary practice that connects the mind to the body through the breath.

Breath is the foundation of yoga; it is through breath that we connect the mind to our movements and poses. Breath also has a profound effect on our nervous system, our fight or flight response. When we use our breath intentionally in our practice it helps elevate our ability to go deeper into poses, thereby enhancing the stretch or strengthening element. This breath practice benefits surfers by helping them to stay calm in the unpredictable and sometimes turbulent ocean. It also increases the surfers' ability to retain the breath when duck diving or turtle rolling under a wave. Breath especially helps surfers to paddle stronger, either when making it out to the line or to the perfect launch spot on a green wave.

Once a surfer catches a wave, there is a fundamental movement that they do in order to stand up, called the pop-up. Yoga has a very similar movement that is repeated through classes, sometimes it is referred to as “take a Vinyasa” or “Chaturanga to Up Dog.” The part that is exactly the same is the position from being belly down with the hands by the ribs, into the hands pushing down and elevating the chest while lifting the thighs and hips. When surfers practice this movement in yoga, they are strengthening their ability to execute this movement on their surfboard while developing shoulder and tricep strength, which is needed to paddle effectively.

There are quite a few other poses that are specifically beneficial for surfers to practice. In order to pull your feet underneath you to come into your surfing stance, you will need core strength as well as hip, knee and foot flexibility. A core-strengthening movement often practiced in intermediate yoga classes consists of beginning in plank, lifting one leg slightly and then drawing the knee to your outer elbow, coming back to plank, and then pulling that same knee underneath your body to your opposite elbow, repeating this several times. Not only do you get the benefits of plank pose, which uses your body weight for resistance, but you are firing up those deep abdominal muscles.

There is also “Boat” pose, where you create a “V” shape with your body by placing your pelvis down on the mat and lifting your legs. This can be leveled up by lowering the legs up and down rapidly or squeezing a block in between your thighs. This pose targets those deep core muscles and strengthens the back and inner thighs.

Now for hip flexibility. Surfers benefit from stretching hip flexors as well as their outer hip and glute area.  A perfect pose to do this is the “Low Lunge” pose. In yoga class, we often begin this pose in Downward Dog, lifting one leg and drawing the knee underneath and placing it in between our hands. To take this pose to the next level of this stretch you can drop the back knee and twist away from the front knee extending the arms horizontally and rotating your head toward your back hand.

In all of these poses, we want to focus on our breathing, guiding our inhale and exhale to be long and smooth, taking our time and letting our body really come into the pose.

Whether you’re a surfer, a yogi, just interested in your health or maybe all three,

Luminous Soul Center will be offering yoga classes for surfers the first and third Friday every month through the late summer or early fall, at 4 pm. Classes will be held on the beach when weather permits. For more information, go to luminoussoulcenter.com.