At first glance, yoga and surfing may not seem to go together, but they both require strong balance and a centered mind. Developing a strong yoga practice can be a good way to improve surfing skills. Although there are many poses that can work, the key for surfers who want to use yoga to enhance their wave riding is to focus on poses that require standing and ones that strengthen the core. Standing poses will help with balance on your board while strong core muscles improve stability and general strength. To use yoga for surfing, try these three exercises daily, before you head out on the waves.
Chair Pose
The chair pose is simple to make but tough to hold. Stand straight with your legs at hip width. Bend your knees as if you’re going to sit in a chair. Raise the arms above your head. You can hold your hands the same width as your legs if you need the balance, or you can join them in a prayer-like stance.
Warrior Pose
One of the most fun beginner poses, the warrior is used in many basic sequences. Begin standing with feet shoulder-width apart. Put one foot in front of your body so that your knee is bent, and then move the other foot behind you. The back leg should reach as far as you can with the toes pointed downward and keeping the back leg and front knee aligned for greater balance.
Next you will hold your arms out to your sides parallel to the ground and slowly twist the body so that your torso is facing to the side of where your legs are pointed. Hold this pose and then slowly twist and hold in the opposite direction.
Boat Pose
Boat pose will strengthen your core. Sit down and begin to raise your feet so that they are pointing toward the ceiling. Hold your hands behind your knees for support if needed. As you raise your feet, lean backward so that you are balancing on your sit muscles.
During your stay with us at Real Surf Trips, we can arrange daily yoga classes to help you not only stretch out and improve your surfing abilities but also bring balance to your body, mind and spirit.
Real Surf Trips in Playa Negra, Costa Rica provides its guests with first class accommodations, one-of-a-kind service and over 20 years of local surf knowledge, guaranteed to give you the Costa Rica Surf Trip you’ve been dreaming of!