PRACTICE, BREATH WORK, SURFING
Cait Lawson
Pre-Surf Practice to Expand Lung Capacity

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.

Pre-Surf Practice to Expand Lung Capacity
Cait Lawson
September SurfAid #MakeAWave Recap

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.

September SurfAid #MakeAWave Recap
YOGA, SURFING, PRACTICE
Cait Lawson
Under 10-minute Pre-Surf Stretch Routine

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

Under 10-minute Pre-Surf Stretch Routine
YOGA, SURFING, WRITING
Cait Lawson
Featured on the Manduka Blog!

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.

Featured on the Manduka Blog!
YOGA, LIFESTYLE, INSPIRATION
Cait Lawson
Simple. But not always easy.

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.

Simple. But not always easy.

yoga medicine

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Pre-Surf Practice to Expand Lung Capacity

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Pre-Surf Practice to Expand Lung Capacity

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.

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Under 10-minute Pre-Surf Stretch Routine

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Under 10-minute Pre-Surf Stretch Routine

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

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3 Ways My Yoga Practice Supports My Cross-Training

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3 Ways My Yoga Practice Supports My Cross-Training

We all come to yoga for many different reasons, yet there is also no denying that our yoga practice has a way of influencing and enhancing every aspect of our lives. Here are a few ways that my yoga practice supports my cross-training, beyond flexibility & range of motion.

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A Hint of Salt: Reflections on Travel & Coming Home

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A Hint of Salt: Reflections on Travel & Coming Home

Traveling, for me, always tends to bring with it bursts of inspiration and creativity and a heightened sense of connection to myself & the world around me. The challenge tends to be carrying this inspiration and connectivity with me as I begin treading down those familiar roads of routine that make up the map of regular, everyday living. 

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Breathing for Balance: Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril)

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Breathing for Balance: Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril)

Get grounded, clear out the clutter, and cultivate a sense of connection, balance, and harmony through this month's featured breathing technique: Nadi shodhana pranayama, also known as alternate nostril breathing.

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Yoga for Surfers: Easy + Effective Pre-Surf Shoulder Warmup

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Yoga for Surfers: Easy + Effective Pre-Surf Shoulder Warmup

I love this one because it’s quick, easy, and an effective way to mobilize the shoulders, fire up the core, and turn up body awareness. Helpful for surfing, before a workout, or to just begin your day! Grab a yoga strap or long-loop resistance band and check out this shoulder warmup.

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30min. MFR + Gentle Movement for When You're Surfed Out and Sore (Online!)

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30min. MFR + Gentle Movement for When You're Surfed Out and Sore (Online!)

Exactly like the title says, indulge in this 30-minute class that combines myofascial release (MFR) techniques with gentle movement & some mindful mobility work.

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30min. Morning Mobility + Breath Work Flow (YouTube)

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30min. Morning Mobility + Breath Work Flow (YouTube)

Kickstart your morning with some feel-good mobility work paired with an invigorating-yet-grounding breathing practice, and notice how it carries you through the rest of your day. Wake up your body, warm up your joints, and get everything online and ready to support you!

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Breathing for Trust: Viloma Pranayama (Interrupted Breathing)

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Breathing for Trust: Viloma Pranayama (Interrupted Breathing)

Viloma pranayama is an interrupted breathing technique that teaches patience and encourages trust through the intentional interruption or pausing of the breath. This technique can also be helpful in expanding lung capacity.

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15min. Mindful Movement Break: MFR + Yoga using the Wall

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15min. Mindful Movement Break: MFR + Yoga using the Wall

A 15-minute, mindful movement break that incorporates myofascial release (MFR) with an accessible, standing ‘Sun Salutation’ flow using the support of a wall. This practice is great to use anytime, especially to help break up your work day. Enjoy!

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Breathing for Nourishment: 10min. Coherent Breathing

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Breathing for Nourishment: 10min. Coherent Breathing

This slow, deliberate, and rhythmic breathing is incredibly efficient at balancing and calming the nervous system, raising heart rate variability, decreasing blood pressure, and boosting mood all while nourishing our bodies, brains, organs, muscles, and cells.

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Breathing for Focus: 2+1 Breath and 10-Count Breath Meditations

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Breathing for Focus: 2+1 Breath and 10-Count Breath Meditations

Breathing for focus. The one is less about control and more about mindfulness. Let’s explore two breath-counting meditations that can help you to cultivate a sense of presence, focus, and calm — strengthening your ability to be here now.

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30min. Yoga for Athletes: Active Recovery Flow

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30min. Yoga for Athletes: Active Recovery Flow

A 30-minute Active Recovery Yoga class designed to support the downshift into recovery mode. This class is nice to move through right after a workout, training session, or long surf. It could also be helpful post-run and for cyclists, mountain bikers, or anyone at the end of a long day.

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A Hint of Salt: The Strength to Keep Showing Up

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A Hint of Salt: The Strength to Keep Showing Up

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” The showing up is the pathway, and just like in yoga, it doesn't really matter how we show up, it just matters that we do. Because each & every time we show up we learn something new.

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Practice Notes: Tips + Techniques for Healthy, Happy Knees

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Practice Notes: Tips + Techniques for Healthy, Happy Knees

Healthy knees are crucial for our mobility as they help carry the weight of our body & also absorb shock from walking, running, jumping, and surfing. Check out my top tips for maintaining healthy, happy knees!

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Recovery Yoga: 3 Poses to Unravel Your Spine + Reset Your Posture

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Recovery Yoga: 3 Poses to Unravel Your Spine + Reset Your Posture

Long day? Say no more. Check out this Restorative Yoga sequence that uses just a blanket or towel, along with the support of your breath and the floor, to help unravel tension around the spine and reset your posture. Repeat this one regularly!

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Deeply Involved, Less Attached: Root Down to Rise

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Deeply Involved, Less Attached: Root Down to Rise

Just like we can't stop the world from spinning, we also can't stop the passing of time. This moment now will soon be the past and the future will soon become this moment now, so maybe the only way to really sense a slowing down of time is to slow down ourselves.

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Nourish Your Roots: MFR for the Feet

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Nourish Your Roots: MFR for the Feet

How often do you think about your feet?? Maybe some more than others, but let’s take a moment to focus on ‘em. After all, our feet help to ground us and carry us through the world. Check out my go-to sequence of grounding acupressure + MFR that helps to nourish those roots!

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Recovery Yoga: 5 Hip-Openers Using the Wall

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Recovery Yoga: 5 Hip-Openers Using the Wall

Too much working, surfing, sitting, training, running, or anything & everything in between?? Well here’s one of my FAVORITE “recovery yoga” sequences — using a wall — to give the legs, hips, and low back some tender, loving care.

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Breathing for Courage: Kapalabhati

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Breathing for Courage: Kapalabhati

Technically a kriya, or an internal cleansing technique, kapalabhati can help to cultivate a clear & invigorated focus while also supporting the clearing out of both stagnant energy as well as any unhelpful & unnecessary thoughts.