A 10-minute, seated practice that combines MFR with gentle stretches and breath work to help you wake up and expand your lung capacity before paddling out for a surf.
Another September has come and gone, and for the 2nd year, I participated in the SurfAid September #MakeAWave Challenge of surfing 30 days to raise funding and awareness for the SurfAid Programs.
My current, go-to, Pre-Surf Stretch for when my body is feeling stiff and a bit surfed-out. This sequence could also be nice for a brief Active Recovery practice post-training or post-surf/sport
It was an honor to have the opportunity to write a piece for the Manduka Blog as a part of the Manduka x Gerry Lopez collection launch. In this article, I share my personal experiences with surfing and yoga and how I view the two as similar spiritual paths that reconnect us to life.
Now don't get me wrong, sometimes simple can be easy. And that's great. And sometimes there is a place for complexity as well. But the simple, the simple is available. Accessible. And when noticed and practiced regularly, the simple can support us in coming back to center. Back to what's true.
I think that one of the most common, modern-day misconceptions of yoga is that it’s only about the poses we practice on the mat, when really, well at least the way I see it is, yoga is more so a practice of choosing to show up for life. Yoga is a practice that reaches far beyond these four corners with the capacity to stretch into each + every corner of our lives.
A quick (like under-10-minute quick) sequence for those days, or those seasons of life, when you just don’t have a whole lot of time. I consider this to be more of an ‘active mobility’ flow, so it’s nice to do in the mornings or during a midday slump — It could also serve as a warmup before surfing or a workout! Check it out and enjoy!
Lately, I’ve been asking: How can I be of better service to my community?? How can I reach more people and connect to those who maybe don’t live close by?? How can I make this practice more accessible while still honoring my value and my time?? So, if you’ve got a minute, I’d really appreciate your help + feedback!
Proprioception is a big word that refers to our ability to sense our body as it moves through space. Essentially, it’s body awareness, and it’s mostly subconscious as it’s happening all the time. And while there are many factors that can influence our proprioception, I find it helpful to also think of it as a skill that can be consciously strengthened…
The sun is always shining… This Buddhist teaching is one that I’ve been familiar with for a while now, but it never really landed until a few months ago when I was listening to a meditation on joy… Ever since my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer, I had felt like I was in a dark cloud — dull, depressed, and really worried about the future. Joy seemed like something that was so far away…
Are your vinyasa flows getting a little too repetitive?? In this Practice Notes I share 5 alternatives for chaturanga to help you bring a little more variety into those vinyasa flows! While our bodies learn through repetition, our bodies also crave variety, and training the shoulders in different ways will only make them stronger and more resilient.
Do you practice some kind of Vinyasa Yoga? If so, then there’s a chance that you probably move through, or at least hear the teacher call for, a chaturanga or two (or 20!) each time you flow. And whether you love it or could leave it, it’s a pose that can help build strength + confidence, but it’s also a pose that’s all too often rushed through and, sometimes, even feared!
Yoga came into my life when I was 21 years old. Growing up I was an avid athlete – I played soccer and basketball, I was a competitive surfer, and I loved to run and train. Slowing down, moving with compassion, and sitting in stillness were words that most definitely weren’t in my vocabulary, let alone things that I ever practiced regularly…
I thought it’d be fun to share pieces of my practice in hopes that it’ll inspire you to roll out your mat and maybe provide you with some fresh ideas to incorporate into your own practice and/or teaching. My goal with these are to keep them short, sweet, and most importantly, effective. So if you’re interested, click through for these two mini sequences!
A 60minute Spotify playlist that’s nice for practice, movement, or general listening. This one’s called “Just Get Moving” because I like to use it for Sculpt Yoga classes or a more vigorous Vinyasa Flow. I find it supports a more grounding yoga practice as well, especially if you like to use energy + movement to help bring you into stillness + surrender. Enjoy!
This playlist was inspired by the transitions of life. Most recently we've all gone through the big transition from one year to the next, but let this playlist (and your practice) encourage your attention to notice the subtle transitions we flow through from one moment to the next. Can we navigate these transitions with a little more gratitude and grace?
Let’s explore fascial health and the role it plays in how we move through our daily life. I began incorporating myofascial release into my self-care routine a little over a year ago and it has been a game changer - not only for my yoga practice, surfing & cross-training recovery - but also in how I feel and connect with my body. I’m stoked to share a 2-part MFR for Surfers Series that I recorded for the rad crew at The Salty Club!
I am a BIG fan of using props in both my personal practice and in the classes that I teach. But with current times - classes transitioning to online, at-home, and bring your own props - it can be easy to miss the yoga studio experience. So here I share 5 easy, DIY yoga props that you can recreate at home!!
