by Wayne Mcintee

Created on: January 09, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Yoga to Surf and Back, How Yoga relates to Big Wave Surfing In My Mind and Body.
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Sports

My Good friend Dawn Talked me into trying Yoga, She told me it would help me hold my breath better! I figured if this is true, It should save my life for my little sisters! Because I almost die every time I go out in true 6 foot swells (12 ft faces) And Its all I can do to stay alive because all the years of bud smoking and I cant hold my breath at all..And for a goal of surfing Jaws within the next year or so I have lots of training to do! I was coming close after free diving for a few years But after I got into scuba I quit holding my breath..

I have only been doing Yoga for a short time now and It has done so much more for me than My lungs. More than I ever knew it could and the true fact is, It saved my life, I'm sure of this.

I think some of the biggest surf I have been in so far was 8 to 10 from the back, with long hold downs I would get my head up just in time for another wave to hit me, Maybe one breath between. Only in my last 2 yoga classes have I started to truly understand the potential yoga has in aiding my training for big waves. Not only the lungs, And meditation and stamina I gain But mostly using the mind to aid the body and recharge my self in the little time I have between wave hold downs.

Yoga To Surf Mind set!

When I first was doing the yoga , we do a hard stretch and then take a small rest between each one called a "savasana". But this I found to be extremely important to me.. Because at first I didnt understand how powerful this was.. Now every time I do one My mind is in BIG surf. I picture My self having just gotten a long hold down and my head is up for only a few minutes.. As I get a little air I fully relax and allow my body to really recharge and let go, Knowing another mean wave is on its way I ignore that and just relax and allow my mind to let go.. Full relaxation for just a small time, then when the instructor says lets go, I picture another big wave hitting me hard! Bahm! Do another hard exercise and push as I am being hammered by a large swell! Then I get another small rest and I picture, again My head surface up out of the foamy white water for a small breath, I will not be struggling to stay on surface but trying to fully relax and calm my body, recharge and Ignore the fact that another wave will hit me soon! Just Let go and relax!

Surf to Yoga Mind.

I expect That when I am in this big surf next winter and I get held down I will meditate my mind back to yoga. During this hard time I will picture my self Back in yoga class doing my exercise and when I come up out of the white foam for a short breath I will picture the "savasana" And My mind will be in Yoga class, Remembering What my body learned "endurance" Of the body and mind.

Aloha

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