How can yoga help your surfing?
As the Wrightsville Beach waters warm up, many of our surfing yoga students hit the waves and talk about how much yoga has helped to improve their surfing. They practice yoga as a way to loosen up before a surf session, to stay flexible during the flat days and to improve their balance for riding the bigs waves when they come. We’ve put together this video as a guide for students interested in how yoga can help with surfing. Please enjoy these six yoga postures perfect for opening and strengthening the body to prepare to surf, presented by Lexi and JJ of the Wilmington Yoga Center.
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Yoga Postures Covered in the Video
1. Garundasana (Eagle Pose)
Cross one elbow over the other bringing the palms to touch. Breath into the space between the shoulder blades for a few breaths and repeat with the opposite arm on top. This posture is perfect for warming up the shoulders to prepare to paddle.
2. Malasana (Squat)
Open feet slightly wider than hip distance, toes slightly outward. Bend into the knees and lower hips to heals. Keep the chest upright and root the heals on a blanket if they rise away from the ground. This posture stretches the hips and inner thighs preparing the legs to sit comfortably on your surf board.
3. Plank to Chaturanga Dandasana
Begin in the upward position of a push up, hands slightly wider than the shoulders, core engaged to keep the spine long and straight. Hold for a few breaths then rock forward on the toes or bring your knees to the ground and lower through the arm until the elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle, floating the hips in line with shoulders and heels. This combination of postures builds arm and core strength give you the power to paddle, carry your board, and move with ease and grace.
4. Shalabhasana (Locus Pose)
Rest on your belly reaching fingers beside your hips towards the toes. Inhale and lift arms, shoulders, head, and feet and legs away from the ground. This posture builds the muscles along the spine and back allowing you the strength and flexibility to keep your head up while paddling and searching for the perfect wave.
5. Navasana (Boat Pose)
Sit upright on your sitting bones lifting the chest. Draw ears and shoulder back, lifting the legs to make a 90 degree angle while engaging the muscles of the belly. Perhaps extend arms over head and legs straight to intensive this posture. The posture helps to build a strong core helping you to pop to standing and protecting the back.
6. Ananda Balasana (Happy Baby)
Rest on your back and draw the knees to shoulders taking hold of the outer edges of the feet. Rock side to side or sway through the hips will extending the tailbone away from the head. This posture opens the hips and possibly hamstrings and is also a great stress reliever.
Bonus: Twists
Resting on your back, draw the knees over the hips. Exhale allowing the knees to rest to one side while turning to look in the opposite direction. Repeat in the other direction. This posture lubricates and warms the spine and also helps the body digest food and detoxify the internal organs.
