I was recently asked by a friend to share the most useful yoga asanas for surfing. If you have ever been surfing, you know surfing is way more than standing up on the board. There’s the stamina component, flexibility, strength, paddling out to the line up (my nightmare for a long time) learning when to paddle onto the wave to stand up, when to speed up, when to not go, and finally when you have all that, is figuring out your own style, cruising on the board. There is so so much going on! I will be breaking down some of the asanas I sent her in the next few weeks here.
Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose
The Basics
Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose variation
Prepares you for: Overall stability on the surfboard, paddling out, standing up.
Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose is an excellent core strengthener. This variation in particular is a great heart opener. By opening the Pectoralis major and minor, there is more freedom in the whole upper body for paddling, and you train your back muscles such as the Latissimus Dorsi to be more stable. This equals less work for the shoulders which can feel destroyed after a good session. The shoulder girdle needs all the help it can get from your core so that effort is spread throughout the body. Press your thighbones and toenails firmly onto the mat for maximum engagement of the entire core. Lastly, don’t forget to breathe! Steady breathing helps the nervous system stay super chill, so when you see a huge set coming you don’t freak out :)