Surf Yogi.

The ASP world tour (that's surfing's equivalent to the world cup), has been in full swing, which you'd think I'd be voraciously following being that this here is a surf life style blog. While I was very interested to hear five time ASP women's world champion Stephanie Gilmore collected her fifth Roxy Pro Gold Coast crown, (topping Bianca Buitendag in the Final), it is from a distance that I admire the fanfare. 

Firstly I can't help but think Surfgirl magazine does a far better job of covering the developments throughout the circuit, which is precisely where I get updated. I also think I'm just a little bit too much of a hippie to get overtly excited by competitive surfing. This is coming from a girl who went to go see the Scarborough surf competition (which was flat...literally...all weekend) and whom certainly plans on going to many surf festivals in the future. 

Watching surf competitions live I imagine is an incredible experience and one I hope to add to the ever growing bucket list, but on an inherently personal level surfing competitively holds no grandeur for me. Obviously my current surf ability is Bambi on ice but I also think that I probably lean more towards being a soul surfer anyway.

As a kid I loved tucking into exploratory books written by the likes of Dame Freya Stark, Dervla Murphy, Charlotte Uhlenbroek and Jane Goodall. So exploratory surfing is a far more appetizing prospect than surf competitions. 

The Saltwater Buddha by Jaimal Yogis and Breath by Tim Winton are both books which explore personal development and travel, they are reads I heartily recommend for both surfers and non surfers alike. 

I draw a great many parallels between my spiritual practice and surfing. Much like the Yogic path, surfing is a process of continued growth and development, which requires dedication and presence. Surfing helps me focus on the here and now which merits my attempts at meditation.

But hey, that's enough philosophizing from one surf yogi to another! 

As aforementioned I have been trying to be more of a presence on my blog and not just a distant writer. The process has been really enjoyable and I'm loving honing my photography skills (which are pretty non existent) so without further ado here are today's snaps. 

 This outfit was decided in 15 minutes so not a great fashion moment but hey this is a true reflection of what kinds of things I wear and the kind of life I lead! Jeans and shoes from H&M t-shirt I haven't the foggiest and dog was rescue! 

Obviously I've instragrammed the shit out of this picture but I like it anyway because I think you can see how eating clean is starting to have a positive effect on my skin. I've always been plagued with bad skin (spotty) so its great seeing the results of clean eating and veganism.

My garden is unusual in that I share it with my neighbours (a lovely hippie couple who I adore), this Buddha is one of Jude's additions to the garden which never fails to make me smile. 

This is Jack who you may have seen a few times on Real Women have Curves and Surfboards. He's the family dog (so unfortunately I have to share him and can't take him to live with me...) He's cantankerous, bad tempered and I often wonder if actually a cat masquerading in a dogs body but my gosh I love this creature. 

Well until next time, 

Stay strong and surf well beautiful yogis! 

Love

Hummingbird

Did you know that Hummingbirds are continuously hours away from starving to death? They are able to store just enough energy to survive overnight and are the only group of bird which can fly backwards! 

The Aztecs revered them as being talismans for vigor, propensity, energy and they were also thought to improve sexual potency. 

To me the busy hummingbird is a symbol that while our hearts beat we must live busily. Eat, love, rest, play do all that you can in  a lifespan - live because you are here. 

Some things that have happened... 

I made the photo black and white as I was so red with excitement having seen vegan baked goods!!

Camden is as cool as it looks, definitely a place for bohemians and fringe people. 

Finding beauty in the morning commute

A letter from one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world. He's doing a mountain leadership course in Patagonia and has been living on an ice cap for the best part of a year. Makes me feel very boring indeed....

(Above/below) These books are like old friends, I've read them again cover to cover and am feeling utterly inspired to get back into conservation. 

  

Until next time dear readers, have a wonderful week and I'll catch up with you soon. 

Peace, good karma and all that jazz

love 

Sophia 

Wild Women

My dad this morning came downstairs and commented on how he felt like he'd walked  back in time. Me and my sister were sat at the dining room table working on separate projects. She was doing work for school (she's a teacher) and I was doing a crafty thing to do with animals (a wildlife zine). When Emily and I looked at the scene we couldn't help but laugh, we may be women now but deep down we're still the little girls we once were- Me drawing animals and loving all things wildlife and her lining up her dolls to teach them the curriculum.

The irony is even our little sister has stayed true to herself, she was forever lost on beach holidays, only to be found engrossed in rock pool fauna or just swimming about in the sea. Our little mermaid is  not so little anymore she's a slightly bigger marine biologist (in the making)!

Life huh?!

It got me thinking about the people who've influenced me whilst I was growing up and on reflection nearly all of these are women. Wild women to be exact the kind that studied primates in deepest Africa or trekked through Amazonian rainforests. I'd get lost in their books or T.V. shows dreaming of the life they had (which lets be honest contrasted quite a lot to my suburban West Midlands existence)! 

I take a lot of joy and solace out of spotting wildlife in urban places. The asphalt flower, the robin on the railway fence, there is so much beauty around us and if you blink you'll miss it. Simply doing your commute you can have some really wild encounters (and all in middle England)!

The intrepid Charlotte Uhlenbroek

 

My hero Jane Goodall

The Really Wild show was one of my favorite T.V. programs and I so wanted Michaela Strachan's job!

The only male to make my list, Rolf Harris is a LEGEND and I absolutely loved watching him on animal hospital each week. Seriously who doesn't love Rolf Harris??

You may have noticed on this blog of late, that my career choices have been quite far ranging. I believe a few weeks ago all I could talk about was setting up a social enterprise, well that idea is still there but to be honest I've started wondering about my first love - wildlife conservation - it is after all what I studied in University...

Monkey Business

I came across this blog of an anthropology student which perfectly summarizes the boomerang effect graduates go through in selecting a career. I found it really, really amusing and as its monkey related right up my street! (My specialism was primates at uni).

 This is Serious Monkey Business

 As to the big life decision I'm still up in airs about what I'll pursue but having space to think and not dwell on it has brought wildlife conservation back to the forefront. Loving nature is so interwoven with my history its making me contemplate whether its part of my future too. 

I'll keep you posted. 

:)