YOGA LOVE?

Has anyone else noticed how cold it is out there?  Nights are drawing in, the weather is being its usual schizophrenic self, and in response our bodies are doing a great rendition of hibernating.

In an attempt to keep ourselves limber and surfing shape, now is the time to embrace yoga.  However, before we turn all hippy, there are lots of different types of yoga.  If you feel like chanting ancient sanskrit, then by our guest, but the majority of classes will be all about getting to know your body better.

Some of the most popular forms of yoga are Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa.  Although there are differences between these styles, a lot of the basics are the same.  Hatha is based around the breath (great training for paddling out and wipe outs), Ashtanga is robust (it will work your cardio and give you arms of steel), and Vinyasa is contemporary (think free surfing and using breathing techniques).

If you are looking for something different and are craving some heat, then Bikram Yoga will be for you.  It’ll mean a trip to the London centres, but it will be worth it.  Bikram is one of the fastest growing forms of Yoga. It is a series of postures that are formed in 40 degree C heat.  Yes, that’s right, 40 degrees.  As you can imagine, this will have you sweating like crazy, detoxifying your body, and enabling you to build strength, stamina and flexibility from the sequences.

The beauty of Yoga is that it not only works your body, but trains your mind as well.  If you want to have the fitness and the mental focus to ride better for your next surf session, then surfing is a great tool.  Take part in a class, put on a DVD or simply follow a book at home.  It will be your saviour on that next grey depressing day.

Big Plug!

If you’re thinking of taking up yoga, we’ve some good quality yoga mats for sale at the OrcaShop which feel really nice, check them out. Also yesterday we had a delivery of boutique eco yoga bags from Om Padma,  they look great and they’re ethically sourced from a women’s cooperative in India. If you can’t get to a class then think about getting Rochelle Ballard’s new yoga DVD Surf into Yoga, she goes through all the essential moves to get you up to speed and more, plus it’s a pretty chilled out DVD.

Tags: Bikram, Orcashop, Rochelle Ballard, Surf into Yoga, yoga