Summer's here and the last few days have felt more tropical than your typical English summer day, we've even swapped our hot morning coffee for Jimmy's Iced Coffee! The wave gods have been kind to us, with super fun swells wrapping into turquoise Cornish coves all along the coast. But, if like us, you have been making the most of these fun summer swells, then your body is probably in need of a little re-tuning.
That's why we have put together some of our favourite unwinding yoga poses, so take a little well earned break and give your body some TLC. Use these three amazing yoga poses to help unwind and stretch out those tired surfing muscle groups.
1. Seated Twist - Arda Matsyendrasana
Great for stretching out and unwinding tension in your torso and hip areas. This is a big stretch and will help loosen lower back muscle groups, prone to over extension and fatigue from laying on a surfboard. This pose also targets our big Latissimus Dorsi paddling muscles. It also detoxifies the body.
Start seated, slide your left foot under your right leg to the outside of your right hip. Lay the outside of the left leg on the floor. Step the right foot over the left leg and stand it on the floor outside your left hip. The right knee will point directly up at the sky. Exhale and twist toward the inside of the right thigh. Press the right hand behind the back, and wrap left upper arm on the outside of your right thigh. Inhale, lengthen through the crown of the head, exhale twist towards the back of the mat, keeping the spine long. Take at least 8 long breaths. Repeat on other side.
2. Triangle with shoulder opener - Utthita Trikonasana
Amazing for strengthening legs, lengthening hip flexors, opens the hips and groin that get tight when sitting on a surf board. Allows a yummy opening in the shoulder after paddling and strengthens the back.
Stand in Tadasana. Step your right foot to the back of the mat and toes pointing out 90 degrees, front heel aligned with the arch of the back foot. Raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down. Exhale, place left palm to rest on the mat or block, right arm reaching up to the sky. Squeeze everything into the midline, press right heel into the mat, keeping spine long. Exhale, take right palm behind you to rest on the lower back or wrap around the left thigh, use the hand to draw right shoulder open, spinning chest to the sky. Hold for 8 breaths, repeat on other side.
3. High lunge twist
Again, strengthens the legs, lengthens the hip flexors and soas. Activates the glutes for stronger surfing and better balance, it also stimulates the abdominals for better movement.
Start in plank. Step your right foot forward between your hands, bending at the knee so knee stacks on top of ankle, extending out through the back heel. Place your left hand on the floor directly under your shoulder, inhale twist to the right reaching right arm up, opening the chest to the sky. Keep the bottom shoulder active, hips square to the front of the mat and legs strong. Take 8 breaths, repeat on other side.
Love this yoga for surfers sequence? Come along to one of our retreats!
Fuerteventura Island Villa Surf and Yoga Retreat
Portugal Escape to Nature Surf and Yoga Retreat
Costa Rica Treehouse Adventure Surf and Yoga Retreat
Morocco Surf and Yoga Camp