Why a surf and yoga holiday at Lacanau Océan?
Why a surf and yoga holiday at Lacanau Océan?

Why a surf and yoga holiday at Lacanau Océan?

How can these 2 disciplines complement each other for a rewarding surf and yoga holiday?

Surfing and yoga, although practiced in two different environments, share a deep connection that goes far beyond physical activity.

On a surf and yoga holiday, there are a number of key elements that unite these two disciplines:

  • Mastery of body and mind
  • The search for balance
  • Harmony with nature

In this article, discover how practicing yoga can not only improve your surfing performance, but also enrich your overall surfing experience.

Our school offers surfing lessons and yoga sessions on a wooden terrace under the pine trees. The setting is ideal for relaxation and concentration between forest and ocean.

Several types of yoga are offered: Vinyasa, Slow flow, Yin yoga

Séjour surf et Yoga Lacanau Océan

Surfing and yoga: two complementary disciplines

Surfing and yoga are profoundly complementary disciplines. Both require great mastery of body and mind. Combining them can significantly enhance surfers’ performance and well-being.

Discover how a surf and yoga holiday can benefit surfers in terms of strength, balance and flexibility.

Force

Surfing requires considerable muscular strength. The upper body is required to paddle and stand up on the board. A toned lower body, on the other hand, is essential for initiating maneuvers. Yoga, particularly Vinyasa yoga, helps to develop this strength in a balanced way. Poses such as downward dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and plank (Phala Kasana) strengthen the muscles of the arms, shoulders, back and abdominals. In addition, postures such as chair (Utkatasana) and warrior (Virabhadrasana) target the legs and hips, essential for stability on the plank.

Balance

Balance is crucial for surfers. Yoga excels in improving this aspect. Postures such as Tree (Vriksasana) and Dancer (Natarajasana) demand intense concentration and increased stability, training the body and mind to maintain balance even in unstable conditions. These balance exercises on land translate directly into greater stability on the water. This makes it easier for surfers to stay upright on their boards and react agilely to wave movements.

Flexibility

Flexibility is another fundamental pillar of surfing. It enables surfers to move smoothly and avoid injury. Yoga, particularly Yin Yoga and Slow Flow, focuses on deep stretching and prolonged holding. This practice improves the flexibility of muscles and joints. Positions such as pinch (Paschimottanasana) and pigeon (Eka Pada Kapotasana) stretch the hamstrings, hips and lower back, areas often strained and strained by surfers. Improved flexibility allows for greater range of motion, facilitating more dynamic and fluid maneuvers on the waves.

Benefits

As well as the physical benefits, a surf and yoga holiday also offers mental health benefits. The practice of yoga includes breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation, which help to reduce stress and improve concentration. Surfing can be an unpredictable and sometimes stressful sport, and the ability to stay calm and focused is essential. Yoga helps develop this mental resilience, enabling surfers to stay zen in the face of changing conditions and better manage challenges on the water.

A surf and yoga break in Lacanau Ocean

Integrating yoga into surfers’ training routines can transform their approach to the sport, offering considerable physical and mental benefits. By combining strength, balance and flexibility with improved stress management and concentration, yoga is proving to be an ideal complement to surfing.
If you’d like to discover how yoga can enhance your surfing experience, our school offers classes for all levels, taught in a soothing setting under the pine trees.

Séjour surf et Yoga Vinyasa Flow

Surfing and yoga holidays: The yoga postures of choice for surfers

By incorporating specific yoga techniques, surfers can strengthen key muscles, improve their mobility and sharpen their concentration as well as their freediving skills.
Here’s an overview of the postures and breathing techniques applied during a surf and yoga holiday that can benefit surfers.

Head Down Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana

  • Targeted muscles: Shoulders, arms, back, hamstrings.
  • Benefits: This posture strengthens the upper body, stretches the hamstrings and improves shoulder and back flexibility. It also helps prepare the body for the “popup” movement when surfing.

Plank - Phalakasana

  • Targeted muscles: abdominals, arms, shoulders, legs.
  • Benefits: The board is excellent for strengthening the abdominal girdle, essential for stability on the surfboard. It also develops the arm and shoulder strength needed for paddling.

Warrior II - Virabhadrasana II

  • Targeted muscles: Legs, hips, shoulders, arms.
  • Benefits: This posture strengthens the legs and hips, improving endurance and stability. It also stretches shoulder and arm muscles, facilitating better maneuverability on the waves.

Tree pose - Vriksasana

  • Targeted muscles: Legs, ankles, hips.
  • Benefits: The tree improves balance and concentration, two essential qualities for staying stable on the surfboard. It also helps strengthen leg and ankle muscles.

Breathing techniques to improve concentration and apnea

Ujjayi Breathing - Ocean Breathing

This breathing technique, in and out through the nose, creates a soft sound by slightly contracting the back of the throat.

The benefits of Ujjayi breathing are manifold:

  • Improved concentration
  • A calming effect on the nervous system
  • Regulation of respiratory rhythm
  • Improved concentration
  • How to manage stress during a surf session

Yoga offers an array of techniques and postures that can significantly improve surfers’ skills, both physically and mentally. By strengthening key muscles, improving flexibility and mastering specific breathing techniques, surfers can increase their performance and enjoyment on the waves. To discover these benefits, join a yoga class tailored to the needs of surfers, taught in a serene setting under the pine trees.

Séjour surf et Yoga mai 2024
Séjour surf et yoga Lou 2024

an unforgettable surf and yoga holiday in lacanau

By combining a surfing holiday with yoga at our school, we offer our students a holistic experience that strengthens both body and mind. Discover how our surfing programs and yoga sessions come together to create an unforgettable adventure.

Surf lessons and yoga sessions

Our surf lessons are designed for all levels, from beginners to advanced surfers. Our experienced instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of surfing, help you perfect your techniques and give you personalized advice to improve your performance on the waves.

At the same time, we offer yoga sessions tailored to the needs of surfers and non-surfers alike. Set up on a wooden terrace shaded by pine trees. Here’s an overview of our yoga schedule:

  • Vinyasa Yoga: A dynamic style that synchronizes movement with breathing, ideal for strengthening the body and improving flexibility.
  • Slow Flow Yoga: A slower pace that allows you to concentrate on alignment and holding poses, perfect for those who wish to deepen their practice.
  • Yin Yoga: A gentle style of holding postures for several minutes, helping to release deep tensions and improve flexibility.

We offer 3 to 4 yoga classes per week. All the necessary equipment is provided so that you can enjoy each session to the full.

Testimonial from our surf and yoga instructor

Here’s a testimonial from Lou, one of our yoga teachers, who shares her experience on the impact of yoga for surfers:

“My name is Lou, and I’m both a yoga student and teacher with a passion for surfing. Since incorporating yoga into my daily routine, I’ve noticed dramatic improvements in my surfing.
Yoga has helped me develop flexibility, strength and balance, which are essential in my surfing.
But yoga hasn’t just helped me physically. The breathing and meditation techniques taught me to stay calm and focused, even in difficult wave conditions. This ability to manage stress and be fully present has helped me to better read the ocean and improve my performance.
Every day, I do a yoga session of varying length, from 10 minutes to 1 hour, which makes me work not only my body, but also my mind. This combination brings me harmony and a deep connection with nature and myself.
As a yoga teacher, I highly recommend that surfers and non-surfers alike integrate this practice into their lives. The benefits are immense, and the mind-body harmony yoga brings greatly enriches the experience of surfing and relating to life and what surrounds us. For me, yoga and surfing are two complementary passions that have allowed me to find balance and deep joy in my life.”
Lou

A surf and yoga holiday at our school creates the perfect synergy to enrich your experience of both disciplines. By integrating yoga sessions into our surfing programs, we give you the tools you need to improve your performance and overall well-being.

SURFING AND YOGA, A HOLISTIC ADVENTURE

Combining these two disciplines provides a rich, holistic experience for wave enthusiasts. Yoga helps to strengthen essential muscles, improve balance and flexibility, and master breathing techniques that promote concentration and apnea management. These benefits translate into optimized performance and greater peace of mind at sea.

Practicing yoga alongside surfing helps you to develop the physical and mental harmony that’s essential if you want to fully exploit your surfing potential. We invite you to discover this unique complementarity by joining our surf school. Immerse yourself in our surf and yoga classes, offered in a serene natural environment, and experience for yourself how this alliance can transform your approach to surfing.

To find out more about our programs and timetables, visit our website or contact us directly.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to the many benefits of the perfect union of yoga and surfing.

Séjour Surf et Yoga Outdoor