For you I give it all.

It's been a while...
I guess I just can't help myself.  
In between the living, the jobs, the puppy and the surf trips I've missed something. 
This blog was a massive part of my life, not because it gave me an identity, somewhere to implore the world or drift into retrospectives. 
This blog was somewhere to just be. 

I've missed this blog, I've missed the incentive it gave me to go out seeking. 
I miss the weekly records of my habits, the clipped cheerfulness, the examination of my mental bandwidth. 

Mostly I miss the opportunities to discuss surfing. 

For a while I had to store surfing in the back of a cupboard, stowing it away like a saved Easter Egg for moments when I want to indulge. It became a distraction, pouring myself into a wet-suit was my chrysalis, riding a wave I emerged. The trouble with this particular method of metamorphism is that it requires you to be by the coast. 
I am land locked. 

Who needs California tans when you can look this cold and ill?? 

So in the interlude I told myself I was a serious business woman building her 'yoga brand' and that grieving waves missed was a perfunctory way to spend my (very little) downtime. I got weary, watched the numbers in my bank account jump along the timeline always plummeting to that line below 0. I cried myself to sleep worrying about finances, about how I was going to fulfill my dream as well as pay the bills.  

Between the lack of resources, I fell more and more in love with Mr Sunshine, my man, my beau, my friend. We got a puppy too! After all those years of describing my 'perfect' dog in an instant Ozzie the french bulldog appeared, the antithesis of what I thought I wanted. As the saying goes I got the dog I needed not the dog I wanted! 

I became a self employed yoga teacher then realized I like stability, I like structure and a monthly pay check. So I restructured, I got a job working with SEN kids realized I love working in the care sector. Now I'm about to become a technical rehabilitation instructor (i.e. working with people with acquired injury to regain their independence- so using yoga in a medical context)! I decided my heart is in building relationships so now I run yoga & surf retreats part time. My very first abroad trip is in Norway in 3 weeks time! 

I'll finish this tangent with Dolly (Parton of course). 

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain" 

We've been here before. The land locked surfer girl moaning about being land locked, except this time I see my frustrations as a necessary catalyst. I can see rainbows in the rain, staying here in the middle of England is not a failure, it does not diminish my capacity to surf, it just makes me appreciate my wave riding all the more when I'm there (and takes a little more effort). 

I'll keep you posted.

Mahalo love bugs x 

For the love of long boarding...

Home is where the waves are....

 

  

Morocco chewed us up and spat us out again- thus was our surf trip to Tagazhout. Of the 5 days I planned, three were dedicated to throwing up and not being able to leave my bed. When I wasn't sick other surfers were, so my trip passed like time spent in respite, a kind of blur. Thankfully those sick days were studded with moments of wonder - a dawnie surf and on the last day the sunset surf I experienced with my girls (minus a few fallen), where I began my everlasting love affair with long boarding. Long boarding and I are the real deal, we're for life. Everyone knew before I did that I was a long boarder. I thought I could swerve and slice the wave like a short boarder but turns out I'm more mellow than that. 

So I guess I'll leave the swerving and slicing for my time outside the water and stick to being a long boarder serene and steady in the water. Discovering long boarding feels as natural as I imagine coming out of the closet does after years of denying the real you. Even though I still make wipeouts look like an Olympic sport using a long board made me feel like I was skating on the water, or as close to being a Hawaiian princess as this Brummie girl will ever get! 

The sea can sometimes feel like a bad boyfriend (especially when you stand on scorpion fish) but I always come back to it, its an enduring love I guess. 

Until next time, 

Stay strong, surf well

Love

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN COURTESY OF JEMIMA STUBBS PHOTOGRAPHY.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HER WORK HERE. 

Namaste surfer.

Wouldn't be a very good surf yogini now would I if I didn't provide you with some yoga advice to improve your surfing?! 

Having being a keen runner, swimmer and gym bunny I can vouch with all the credibility of a certified yoga teacher that yoga seems (in my opinion) the best exercise to compliment your surfing. On an anatomical level yoga increases core strength which contributes to better balance (which you sure as hell need when trying to stand up on a moving board)! The balance postures such as eagle pose, warrior III etc challenge your brain increasing your concentration and all that stretching can help prevent injury. 

Perhaps the most important benefit of yoga is that it creates mindfulness and focus through meditation and pranayma (breathing) techniques. When the fear factor starts to take over in a big wave situation it is the breathing techniques I use in my yoga practice which drags my attention back to the present and helps me regain my composure. Here are a few yoga moves which I feel really help with improving your surfing (when your stuck on land like me and need something to do)! 

Upward facing dog.  

Up dog is a good surf move for various reasons. Firstly it is great for the lower back and for stretching out the abdominal muscles. I find this asana (posture) particularly good because it reminds you to keep your hands by the side of your chest when inhaling up, this is exactly the same placement of the hands for an effective pop up. Placing the hands anywhere but at the side of your chest causes the board to wobble and for you to wipe out. 

Chaturanga (yoga push ups).

They are brutal but my gosh they work! Chaturanga i.e. yoga push ups are all about upper body strength and core. If you repeatedly do these in a vinyasa flow sequence you will make your pop ups a hundred times easier. 

Kakasana (crow pose) 

Crow pose might not look like an obvious posture for surfing but it is a balance and any balance is great for mental focus and concentration. This also happens to target the upper arms again helping with those pop ups. Below is a step by step guide follow from left to right to accomplish this pose. 

 Salabhasana & Dhanurasana (Locust & bow pose) 

Both locust and bow pose mimic the position the lower back is in when your paddling out on a surf board. As the lower back is such a delicate area any asana which strengthens this is good in the long run. Remember your only as young as your spine! 

Mediation.

 

Don't wish for it, work for it. Make time in your schedule to meditate, make it a priority as routine as brushing your teeth. Help yourself be a better surfer by visualizing riding those waves creating mental clarity necessary to accomplish just that.  

There are a multitude of asanas (the yogic way of saying postures) that I could have included in this guide but these are the ones which stand out in my mind as being particularly beneficial. Get your butt to a yoga class near you and start seeing the positive ramifications in your life. 

Until next time,

Stay strong and surf well

Love

Mind matters.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything.
What we think we become ~ Buddha 

 I'm starting to think this 40 day yoga challenge is going to become a 365 day, all year, every year way of life. With each mm I am able to stretch I feel stronger and happier, whilst the daily meditations are helping me be mindful.

 I think teachers come in many guises and I'm lucky that you can be so inspired literally by switching on your phone or firing up your laptop. My instagram feed is full to the brim of yoga teachers connecting me to others and to my own practice also. One of my favorites I'm following is Ali Kamenova the creator of inspiring interval yoga. She also has a gorgeous American bulldog called Sofie who often features in her news feed or in her youtube videos, which never fails to bring a smile to my face! 

Today I've spent more time with animals than I have with people outside in my parents garden. Bruh has been going wild skipping about my folk's rather large garden, while Jack the dog and Hollie my neighbor's cat have mooched around having the odd scratch behind the ears when required! I've always felt a deep connection to animals which probably explains why I also really love oceans and wild spaces. Readjusting to not living by the sea has been hard but I'm opening my eyes to the beautiful wilderness bursting from the urban seams. Its crazy beautiful if you look with a different perspective. 

Lately I've been driving both myself and my long suffering boyfriend crazy with trying to move out of my childhood home. Despite the fact Mr Sunny lets me crash at his whenever I want (and my rabbit for that matter) I still crave my own little nest. I blame this on almost moving to Saltburn this year. I began getting my mindset ready for living independently and now that no longer is possible I'm finding it hard to settle back into living in my parents house. I feel a guest everywhere and home nowhere. Home isn't a place, its a feeling and I know with continued meditaton and yoga practice (along with chewing my friend's ears off) I'll be able to move on from feeling like this...or just get my own place (finance willing)! 

Here's someone making anywhere his home....Bruh decided that his litter box is the height of comfort. Weird animal. 

Until next time
Stay strong, surf well
Love

Janus.

Did you know that January was named so because of the Roman God Janus who possessed one head to look forwards and one head to look back. In terms of my surfing I can see that 2013 was very much a cut and paste kind of year, it was all about gluing the pieces back on and healing, which is funny because in some cultures the ocean is considered a mother and the waves are her arms rocking you. My surf future will be about processes, by which I mean trying to use every surf session as an opportunity to learn, not berating myself too much when I wipe out because failure is an important part of growth and using life outside of the water to complement my time in the water. 

Michelle Obama allegedly rises at 4.30am to have an hour or two for herself before anyone else rises. When it came to others needs she had the ability to get up any time of the day, but as an individual rarely did things for herself. Waking up early she uses that time to work out and affirms that it is the most productive time during her day.

Today I set my alarm early, I enjoyed a green tea and bowl of porridge then after an hour or so of relaxing did a forty minute yoga session. I've had an ongoing love affair with yoga that seems to rise and diminish in fervor. Today's postures reminded me how much the practice brings me back to myself and how much I relish time on my mat.  It comes as no surprise that there are many forms of Yoga programs designed for surfers as the two practices are massively intertwined. Merely being on your surfboard is a yoga posture (you are in constant cobra pose). I am a firm believer in mindfulness and the power of meditation, last year I let my tongue flap about my mouth too much and said some things which aren't some of my finest speeches. This year I want to learn from those mistakes and let go of damaging thoughts. Visualizing your time on your surfboard is a sure fire way of improving what you do in the water if only because it practices focus. I did Judy Tsui's 40 minute Yoga for surfers practice (see below). 




Yesterday I had a day off, one which wasn't filled with appointments or trying to catch up with people so I used the time to paint and listen to some inspiring women. Mainstream media has had a lot to say about Beyonce's recent visual album release, everything from her style, the new found aggression in her songs and the fact she did absolutely no promotion for its release. Long term followers of my blog will know I have a soft spot for Beyonce, but I don't put her on a pedestal its precisely her vulnerability which makes me admire her so much. She is the first to discuss her fears and the power of failure....she also happens to be a huge fan of the ocean. 

During my painting I sat listening to her explanations of her new concept album and the theme of imperfection. I was rapt and continue to be inspired by her. People assume she has an ego, but surely anyone to reach the heights she has needs a certain level of self confidence. In my opinion she's made songs for her husband, her daughter, addressing the people who've held her down and most importantly she's made an experience for her fans. She's reclaiming her body after having a baby and showing the world that you can embody all that being a woman entails, dreaming, love, children and still be you the individual. 

Watching the Beyonce videos lead me to the effervescing Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her speech on feminism. Her words exactly encompass my thoughts on feminism and she does so with humor and affection. I urge you to watch this whether you are female or male.   
                                                                













Another great source of joy is found in Pharell William's new song 'Happy' I listened to this on repeat for AN HOUR. A whole hour painting and enjoying this. Whatever comes first....marriage or death, I'm having this song play me out. Isn't it wonderful when you connect to something! 

Lastly I'd like to get you up to speed with the 'Message in a Bottle Manifesto,' my recent painting of late has all been in aid of the letters I'll be sending out to the brave souls who decided to take a risk. I'll be writing to a Cornish surfer, an American soldier and a local lad all of whom decided to try something wonderful by connecting through letter writing. If you want to receive a letter and maybe even some art off me too then please don't hesitate to get in touch sophia.cant.surf@gmail.com let's start a converation! 

Until next time, 

Stay strong and surf well 
Love