Anyone that has tried surfing before will agree that the moment you find yourself in the ocean surrounded by water, without a phone or any device that connects you to the rest of the world, that is the moment when you can really connect with yourself in the now. You forget about the future and the past. What you must do when you get home, that fight with your kids a few hours ago, or that piece of work that keeps stressing you out, all of it disappears.
Hearing the movement of the water, the sound of the waves and feeling the sun on your face is the perfect environment. And if you close your eyes and simply let your thoughts go, you’ll find in this space a state of meditation that can change your day and bring peace and happiness in all aspects of your life.
No one argues the fact that surfing is a form of true mindfulness. Unfortunately, surfing is an activity that requires time, compromise and suitable conditions that are out of our control (i.e ocean and weather). But there are other ways of reaching a state of self-focus, reconnection and presence that are less time-consuming and involve fewer logistics.
Yoga: Practicing Yoga is a great way to find yourself in the now, and the best part is that you can practice it almost anywhere without needing any equipment.
Yoga focuses on each movement, pose, repetition and breathing through a series of flows and movements. This millenary practice can make practitioners reach a level of mindfulness and internal peace that not many activities can.
Plus, it increases your flexibility, fitness and body mobility, making it a great workout. From a surfer's perspective, Yoga is the perfect complement to keep your body flexible and toned for better performance in the surf and lower the risk of injuries. We love it so much we incorporate either yoga or surf stretching sessions in all our surf tours.
Surf Skating: This version of surfing on land is a great activity to practice mindfulness while having fun and being active. With the added advantage that unlike surfing, surf skating does not require much organisation or and is not weather dependant.
You can practice Surf Skating regardless of the weather, the surf conditions, indoor or outdoor locations and on most surfaces. As long as you find a flat, dry and clear surface where you’ll be able to skate.
Through surf skating, surfers can recreate the movements as if they were on a surfboard, imitating the feeling of having a wave under the board. It's a great way to practice and improve your surf technique, as you can make as many repetitions as needed without having to wait for an actual wave to come.
As participants of our Surf Skating clinics describe it, when you are on top of a surf skateboard generating speed, practicing maneuvers, or simply going with the flow of the board, that is the moment you find yourself in a space of mental peace and serenity. Right then is when you don't think about anything else but each of your moves, only focusing on the present.
Do you have a preferred activity where you can find that inner calm and mental peace? We’re always looking to find new ways of feeling full, focused and enough, surrounding ourselves with people that add to the this. Our community is a great way to explore, share and create together. So if you’re still trying to find the right way for you, join our online community to discover and connect with like minded women, and try our favourite activities for mindfulness.
