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 for surfing

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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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Making A Wave: 3 Takeaways from Attempting to Surf for 30 Days in a Row

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Making A Wave: 3 Takeaways from Attempting to Surf for 30 Days in a Row

While the “Make a Wave” challenge was more about raising awareness and donations for the SurfAid Programs, I also ended up learning a few things about myself, and life, from attempting to surf for 30 days straight.

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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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Make a Wave: September Sessions for SurfAid Support

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Make a Wave: September Sessions for SurfAid Support

I’m joining the Make A Wave Challenge to help raise awareness and donations for the SurfAid programs that bring healthcare, clean drinking water, and food security to communities in remote surfing destinations.

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Breathing for Confidence: Bhramari Pranayama

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Breathing for Confidence: Bhramari Pranayama

Turn down the noise between your ears and turn up your capacity to self-regulate, re-align, and speak your truth through Bhramari pranayama, also known as humming bee breathing. This is one of my favorites because it’s simple, accessible, and very effective.

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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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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.

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A Hint of Salt: Practice, Patience, and Dedication

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A Hint of Salt: Practice, Patience, and Dedication

As cliche as it sounds, our yoga & surfing practices often remind us of this truth that extends far beyond our surfboards or our yoga mats: The destination is in the journey, the practice is in the process. And if we can focus on what’s in front of us now, we can open ourselves up to the possibility of what’s next.

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Swell-Bender?? MFR for When You're Surfed Out

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Swell-Bender?? MFR for When You're Surfed Out

The Swell-Bender Edition: Self-Massage (MFR) to encourage recovery and rejuvenation when you’re wrecked. So whether you’re currently indulging in an abundance of swell or maybe in anticipation of that surfed-out sensation, bookmark this quick & effective sequence.

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Yoga for Surfers + Athletes: Morning / Pre-Surf Routine

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Yoga for Surfers + Athletes: Morning / Pre-Surf Routine

Do you have a morning movement or mindfulness routine? Here I share my current morning routine, which also serves as a pre-surf warm-up, that has been my go-to sequence as of late. It only takes me about 15 minutes to move through and I notice such a difference in my day!

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Talk Story: Surfing, Yoga, and Mirrors of Life

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Talk Story: Surfing, Yoga, and Mirrors of Life

Let’s talk story: You may have heard this one before, but if you didn’t know, I was a surfer long before I was a yogi. Yoga didn’t come into my life until I was 21. The night of my 21st birthday I was out celebrating with friends…

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3 Tips to Maximize Your Cross-Training

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3 Tips to Maximize Your Cross-Training

We all train for a variety of reasons. For some, exercise is a form of stress relief. For others, working out is a way to improve their physical health. Some people train to feel more confident in their bodies, and others may work out to improve their athletic performance or to train for a specific event, such as a race, or competition, or in preparation for a high season of surfing. Regardless of the reason, or the modality, here are 3 tips to get the most out of each session!

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A Hint of Salt: Lean Into the Stillness, No Matter How Brief

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A Hint of Salt: Lean Into the Stillness, No Matter How Brief

Here’s to finding more of those moments of stillness sprinkled within the movement. Because like the ocean, life is rarely ever completely still…

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Featured Writing: Cait in SurfGirl Magazine!

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Featured Writing: Cait in SurfGirl Magazine!

I grew up reading surf magazines - they were almost like a Bible to me - with pages tagged and tear-out posters plastered on every wall. As a grom, my dream was to be featured in the pages of those magazines. When I realized that pro surfing was not in the cards for me, my dream shifted to seeing my writing featured on those pages.

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Yoga for Surfers + Athletes: 3 Ways a Regular Practice Can Support You

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Yoga for Surfers + Athletes: 3 Ways a Regular Practice Can Support You

With winter just around the corner, now is the time to start prepping the body and the mind for the first swell of the season. There are many ways in which a regular yoga practice can support your cross-training and surfing, but for me, these are my top 3:

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In Gratitude For Surfing (Because Surfing is Medicine)

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In Gratitude For Surfing (Because Surfing is Medicine)

A big part of surfing is learning to navigate the ever-changing and often unpredictable lineup. Similar to life, the ocean and her waves are influenced by many different factors, most of them being totally out of our control. And as surfers, we learn that the key to navigating these often tricky lineups is to stay present and remain calm.

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Yoga for Surfers: Pre-Surf Mobility + a Post-Surf Recovery

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Yoga for Surfers: Pre-Surf Mobility + a Post-Surf Recovery

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!

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Practice Notes: 5 Child's Pose Variations for Upper Body

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Practice Notes: 5 Child's Pose Variations for Upper Body

As promised from my previous Practice Notes, here are some of my favorite Child’s Pose variations for a little upper-body unraveling! These shapes are super yummy for the shoulders, chest, and upper back. Enjoy!