Trying yoga makes sense for surfers

Yoga and surfing. If a coin could have three sides, they would be yoga, martial arts and surfing. All physical, all spiritual, all welcome mental challenges. Yoga and surfing go together like peanut butter and jelly, cake and ice cream, baseball and beer. They complement each other perfectly and are much better enjoyed when you combine them.

Although I am not a surfer (fear of being eaten by a shark keeps me away from deep water), I have always felt a connection to the ocean, having been raised in Maine. My fondest memories of childhood include going to the beach with my brother and mom, running around all day, playing in the tide pools. Then, as a teenager, my best friend, Karen, and I would bike to the beach every day in the summer, lying out on the sand by the Breakwater (a jetty that originated in Kennebunkport), climbing on rocks and taunting the constant flow of tourists who would begin their boat trips with an explanation of the jetty being built from stone found further out in the ocean. It was always the same stupid joke: "I guess they just took it for granite" (Insert polite laughter here).

Yoga music and surfing music are a lot the same, too. I remember when the soundtrack to "Thicker Than Water," a movie about surfing, was in heavy rotation at the yoga studio. We all loved it.

So yoga for surfers makes sense. I have heard many surfers refer to surfing as "intensely spiritual" and I understand why. You are so in your body, so focused, that everything else fades into the background and you are one with the ocean. That is how I feel about yoga.

Before hitting the waves

Here are some moves to practice before you hit the waves:

--Sun salutations: From a strong standing position, begin by sweeping your arms overhead and inhale. Fold forward as far as you can, exhaling. Place your hands on the mat (or hard sand will do) and step back into a plank position, body straight as, well, a plank. Then lower your knees, chest and chin to the ground, exhaling. Inhale as you slide your belly to the ground and slightly raise your head and shoulders, using your back muscles rather than wrenching your head up. Then, exhaling, step back to the downward-facing dog pose, making your body into an upside-down "V" shape. Bend your knees a little bit and try to reach your sitting bones to the sky. Then step forward and begin again, maybe five times or so. This warms up the body.

--Side plank: From downward-facing dog, turn on to the outer edge of your right foot so you are balancing on the blade of the foot and your right hand. Stack the shoulder on top of the elbow on top of the wrist to protect those joints. Keep your hips elevated and feel the muscles in your side go to work. Stay for five slow breaths. Return to plank for five breaths, then roll onto the blade of the left foot and the left hand for another five breaths. This will strengthen the core muscles that are critical for all the twisting and turning of the body during surfing.

--Lunges: From either downward-dog or standing, step your right foot forward into a lunge. The knee must be aligned over the ankle for the sake of your knees. Try to press back through the left heel and feel the burn in your right thigh. This stretches hip flexors and calves, strengthens quadriceps and helps with balance.

--Standing bow: From standing, bend your right knee behind you and grab onto the instep of your right foot with your right hand. You might feel a stretch already. If not, begin to kick your foot backward into your hand to increase the stretch in the quads and hip flexors. Extend your left arm in front of you as a counterbalance.

Be patient with yourself. Everyone falls out of this at some point. Aim for five steady breaths in the pose, and switch sides.

You can choose to meditate afterward, or not. The fact is, surfing, like yoga, is an amazing moving meditation, so you don't necessarily have to sit in the lotus position with your eyes closed to achieve that mental relaxation.

Enjoy the surf. I'll be cheering you on from the safety of the beach.

Suzanne Gannon is a yoga instructor in the Charleston area. Reach her at suzygannonyoga@yahoo.com.