Why yoga helps your surfing journey

Surfing and yoga might seem like entirely different worlds, one centred on saltwater and adrenaline, the other on stillness and flow. So why do people combine the two? Because they share the same foundation. Not only is yoga one of the most grounding ways to start your morning, it’s also one of the BEST ways to prime your body and mind for the ocean. Those quiet minutes on the mat, tuning into breath and movement, set you up with exactly what you’ll need once you’re out in the lineup: calm focus, steady balance, a flexible, but strong body, and the ability to let go of everything else. 

Both ask you to be fully present, to tune into your body, and to move with awareness. Here’s why we think yoga and surfing were ALWAYS meant to be practiced side by side: 

Flexibility first 

Ever felt like the ocean humbles you fast? One long surf day can leave your shoulders

aching, your hips tight, and your lower back sore from all that arching on the board. Without mobility, those dreamy surf sessions can get rough. This is where yoga comes in. Downward dog stretches out those paddling shoulders, pigeon pose opens your hips, and cobra lengthens your spine. Do all of that consistently, and suddenly your body feels smoother, looser, and much freer in the water. 

Flexibility doesn’t just make you feel good, it’s performance, too. Struggling to get your pop up right? Your legs feel too long to slide underneath your arms? The more mobile you are, the faster your pop-ups, the deeper your turns, and the longer you can last before your muscles give out. 

Breathe through the wipeouts 

The ocean doesn’t care if you’re ready. Sets roll in bigger than expected, the wave you wanted disappears under your board, or the worst; you get spun around like laundry. That’s part of surfing. Yoga teaches you to breathe through those moments instead of panicking. The same way you hold steady in warrior pose when your legs are shaking is the same way you stay calm when you’re tumbled under a wave. It’s presence. Focus. And trust. 

Pro tip: Even 5 minutes of meditation before a surf can reset your mindset. Try sitting with your eyes closed, imagining the rhythm of waves, and syncing your breath with that rhythm. Or watch the movie ‘Soul surfer’ and listen to her thoughts on being stuck in the impact zone. It helped us massively when we first started out!

Core power, surf for hours 

If there’s one thing you need as a surfer girly, it’s core strength. Your core is what makes paddling easier, pop-ups smoother, and turns more controlled. And guess what? Yoga sneaks core work into almost every pose. Plank, dolphin pose, side plank and chaturanga are not only making us stronger for yoga, but also for surfing. A strong core also means less strain on your shoulders and lower back, which means fewer injuries.

Pro tip: Core work in yoga = stronger paddling + easier pop-ups. Your body will THANK YOU later. 

Feeling present 

Surfing is more than just catching waves, it’s about that feeling when everything clicks, when time slows down, your mind goes blank (in the best way possible) and you’re fully in the flow. Runners call it a runner’s high. Yogis call it mindfulness. Surfers call it stoke. Either way, it’s a feeling we are all chasing. 

Yoga strengthens this mental muscle. On the mat, you learn to quiet the noise, tune into your breath, and move with awareness. In the water, that translates into more precise focus, something that is needed with surfing (I mean balancing on a board on a wave is tricky enough by itself).. When you’re on the board, there’s no room for anxious thoughts about to-dos or deadlines. It’s just you, the board, and the ocean.

The perfect surf prep (even without waves) 

Frustrated that you can’t always improve your surfing from home without access to waves? Here’s the good news: you CAN. Yoga is one of the best ways to practice and prepare for long surf days, even miles from the ocean. From hip openers that mimic your pop-up stance, to planks that build paddling endurance, every move on the mat is like training for your next session. That way, when you finally get back on a board, you’re not starting from scratch, your body remembers the rhythm. 

Why we start our mornings this way

This is exactly why some of our Dream Life Getaway mornings start with yoga, followed by a big, nourishing breakfast together, and then straight into a surf session. Because honestly, name a better combo than stretching your body, fueling up with yum food, and paddling out into the waves with your girls. We’ll wait. ;) 

The last set 

At the end of the day, surfing and yoga just flow together. Surfing asks for strength, patience, and presence. Yoga gives you all three. Together, they don’t just make you a better surfer, they make every session feel smoother, stronger, and a whole lot more fun. So roll out your yoga mat, breathe deep, and know that every minute you spend in yoga is also a step closer to your next best wave. 

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