How does Yoga improve your Surfing?

After working 4 years as a Surf Instructor all over the world, I discovered that Yoga and Surfing have a lot more in common than you might think.. Read on to find out how even the gentlest forms of Yoga can help improve your surf sessions!

Whilst working in the South-West of France, every morning before my surf I would head down the river at the waters edge and practice yoga as the sun came up. It was beautiful, and the perfect way to start to the day.

How Yoga can Improve your surfing, by Ayla Yoga:

Firstly, thank you for being here. My first ever blog post. And what a way to start.

If you didn't know already, before becoming a Yoga Teacher I worked as a Surf Instructor! I worked at Surf Schools in my hometown of North Wales, Mexico, Barbados, France and Cornwall. So what is it that makes Surfing so special? Well for starters it's always different, fun, exciting (...and just plain cool). It can be challenging, but at the same time, so calming.

It wasn’t until I got older and started surfing more that I really understood what surfing is all about. And how it is not only a physical practice, but it is also a mental workout for your mind. Much like yoga! During my Yoga Teacher Training, I discovered that there is so much more to yoga than the asanas (postures). There is the breath, the meditation, the acceptance, the challenges, the community. This is very similar to surfing. So how does Yoga actually improve your Surfing?

Preparing the Mind: Before you even begin to jump into any sort of asana, be it salamba sirsasana (headstand), adho mukha shvanasana (downward facing dog) or any others.

You must travel inwards. You sit, in a comfortable position, eyes closed, gaze turned inwards. You begin to notice how your body is physically feeling, how your breath is naturally flowing, and what kind of thoughts and feelings are arising. Once you are feeling grounded and have prepared your mind, you are ready to