˄

7.26.16

STRENGTHEN your back and increase your breath strength with these yoga moves for surfers from our favorite mermaid, Sophie Jaffe. Sophie’s yoga practice is a constant inspiration, and we’re always happy to break a sweat just for an excuse to refuel with her coconut smoothie bowl creations. Here’s Sophie’s advice for surfers, swimmers and other active water babies… 

The fair-weathered summer months absolutely call for pool swims and ocean dips. And when you begin to truly embrace your inner mermaid and glide through the water with a beautiful butterfly, breaststroke or freestyle, you reap both physical and psychological benefits. However, intensive swimming can lead to body misalignment and muscle imbalance, which is why a yoga practice provides the perfect counterbalance to time spent in the water.

While on the sand or dry land, flow through these five poses (and use pranayama!) to strengthen the back, build supple muscles, boost flexibility, and help those lungs breathe so that you can keep on swimming freely.

5 Yoga Poses for Surfers, Swimmers + Mermaids

Cobra

Starting from downward facing dog, come forward into plank. Bend your elbows and lower down to the floor. Roll your shoulders back and press your elbows in, keeping them torso-distance apart. Reach back through your legs, press down through your hands into your foundation, and lift your chest forward and up, keeping the back of your neck long and your legs active. Continue to broaden your collarbones and roll your shoulders back and down, creating a nice long line from the crown of the head to the tip of the tailbone. Hold for several breaths.

Bow Pose

Begin on your belly and reach back for the tops of the feet. Then relax the chin and rest it back onto the floor. Then relax the glutes so that your hips are open. As you inhale, think about filling yourself up like a balloon so that you rise up. Exhale and then kick into the feet, lifting up your gaze. Soften your jaw and point the toes directly toward the sky and kick back as you gently pull with the hands. Hold for several breaths.

Bound-Angle Pose

Begin seated with your legs extended out in front of you. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together. Bring your heels close to your pubic bone so that your legs fold deeply and you feel a stretch in your inner legs. Press your fingertips into the floor next to your hips, and lengthen up from your hips to the crown of your head. Then press your heels together and release the top of your thighs to the floor. Separate the top edges of your feet and gently draw your abdominal muscles in toward your spine to support the length of your torso.

Cow-Faced Pose

Starting with your legs stretched out in front of you, bring the left knee on the outside of your right hip underneath and your right knee on top. Put your right foot on the outside of the left hip so that your knees are stacked and your feet are on either side of the hip. Bring the feet in close to the hips and extend your arms out to your sides. Then reach the hands back behind you, placing the palms together with your fingers pointing up on your back. Move your hands up the back, as high as you can. Squeeze your shoulders back, draw the elbows back, and soften the wrists. Hold for several breaths.

yoga moves for surfersMermaid Pose

From downward facing dog, bring your right knee forward to your right wrist. Rest your shin onto the earth, and then extend your left leg behind you. Get settled in the hips and keep your shin at a deeper angle than it would be for pigeon pose – the heel should be in closer to the left hip. As you settle into the hip, start to pick up your left foot. Gently pull your heel in toward your hip, at which point you’ll start to feel a stretch of the left thigh.

After a few moments, turn your thumb toward the center of your body so your fingers and toes are in the same direction, giving your shoulder a nice stretch. From here, slide your toe into your elbow crease, engage the abdomen and energetically pull everything into the center of your body. Lift your left arm high and shoulder high. Bend the right arm and connect the fingers behind your head. You may also choose to bring both hands to your head, and on each hand, bring your thumb and index fingers to touch so that they’re in gian mudra – a position of wisdom and calmness. Hold for several breaths.

Bottom banner image
From our friends

Comments


  1. Love her yoga tips and her outfit is gorgeous. Where is her outfit from?

    Sandra | 07.29.2016 | Reply
  2. Nice Post

    Nancy | 08.16.2017 | Reply
  3. Excellent article.its very intresting and very helpful for me and others

    Nice Deals | 10.27.2017 | Reply
    • Hi,
      Thanks!
      Indeed a great blog containing a huge informative articles, ideas and experiences.

      Prize Linda | 05.23.2018 | Reply
  4. Nice Post… Thanks for sharing this information.

    Shalini | 11.06.2017 | Reply
  5. yoga is useful for everyone, you have shared nice poses of yoga. thanks for sharing the information.

  6. You are looking great. Your tips are quite helpful. I like it. Thanks for sharing this.

    jack | 11.20.2017 | Reply
  7. Nice and very unique post…help for me…. Thank you very much…

    Amrita | 11.20.2017 | Reply
  8. Hello, Nice post..Please keep on posting..Thanks for sharing the article..Again Thank You..!!

    Rani Yadav | 11.20.2017 | Reply
  9. Hey, Thank u for sharing your wonderful experience with us. You did a great job. I m pleased to read your article.
    if you are facing any kind of technical problem with your antivirus. contact us

    Antivirus Daddy | 11.21.2017 | Reply
  10. Thank you for your good site

    آهنگ جدید | 12.06.2017 | Reply
  11. Thank you for sharing great experience with us. This information is really helpful for all people.

    lina jones | 12.15.2017 | Reply
  12. good post

    go cool | 12.17.2017 | Reply
  13. You are looking great

    دانلود فیلم | 12.24.2017 | Reply
  14. Wow! This article is really interesting, thank you! I think that it is so helpful for a person who also wants to increase their mental health or silhouette.’

    Dilip | 12.27.2017 | Reply
  15. Like
    thx . grate job

    فیلم | 01.01.2018 | Reply
  16. Great Post. thanks for sharing the information

    yoga teacher training in india | 01.21.2018 | Reply
  17. Thanks alot for your sebsite and this post…….

    دانلود رایگان فیلم | 01.26.2018 | Reply
  18. Thanks for sharing.

    Jenifer | 01.26.2018 | Reply
  19. beautiful article a lot this article why yoga is important for health to keep blogging you can add mountain pose is helps Stand tall with feet together, shoulders relaxed, weight evenly distributed through your soles, arms at sides.

    Ashley Brown | 03.13.2018 | Reply
  20. A very informative article it is…
    Thanks for sharing such healthy information…

    Syed umer | 03.21.2018 | Reply
  21. Nice Post. Thanks for sharing the information 🙂

    Kely Kor | 04.04.2018 | Reply
  22. Thanks. Nice post. You’re beautiful!

    Bodhi | 04.12.2018 | Reply
  23. What a lovely post. I myself learned Yoga living in Rishikesh in India once for 2 years. Cannot tell you how Yoga has changed my life.

    Ayurvedic Franchise | 04.27.2018 | Reply
  24. thanks such a nice post yoga is very helpful for moves of swimmers and surfers, very nice thinking, awesome way to sharing idea, pictures are made this post very unique. you can follow us for body massage as well

    juma | 06.02.2018 | Reply
  25. very good to see it and you have invested a lot of time in writing we are also spa blog writer you can follow our website for it

    ravi kumar new delhi | 06.02.2018 | Reply
  26. Nice article! if anyone need help for sound problem? just visit my website and find the help to fix the problem.

    Asus laptop sound problem | 07.31.2018 | Reply
  27. This is a lovely post. I really appreciate your hard work and lovely article. Thanks for Sharing Great Information.

    YOGAMAT | 08.04.2018 | Reply
  28. This article is really so interesting.Thanks for sharing the information

    yoga teacher training rishikesh | 08.14.2018 | Reply
  29. Yeahh.. Awesome work guys. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  30. This is a great post. I loved it.

  31. Thanks for sharing this yoga pose it’s really helpful.

  32. Thanks for sharing this I’m also yoga teacher
    Airtel Lottery

    Anita | 01.27.2020 | Reply
  33. Thanks for sharing us a great article
    Airtel Prize

    Deep | 01.27.2020 | Reply
  34. Hi !! Great information… Thanks for sharing such wonderful content and keep sharing such content… Also checkout Effective yoga breathing exercises for balance health

    John Meghan | 02.05.2020 | Reply
  35. Very Informative blog…..Thanks for sharing this with us.
    10 Yoga Postures To Support Your Addiction Recovery

    Jane | 02.06.2020 | Reply
  36. nice blog and good information shared.

    RISHAV SHARMA | 03.11.2020 | Reply
  37. very helpful post men, thanks for sharing us.

    Softech Bharat | 05.23.2020 | Reply
  38. Hi !! Great information… Thanks for sharing such wonderful content and keep sharing such content…
    Address: – No.9 Jalan Permas 1/7, Bandar Baru permas Jaya, 81750 Johor Baru , Malaysia
    Mo no: – +60 73883616

    Solar panel | 10.01.2020 | Reply
  39. Very helpful comprehensive post! I have found your blog to be really informative – really inspiring overall.

    kranti yoga | 10.24.2020 | Reply
  40. yoga tips all are amazing .

    Blazon | 11.10.2020 | Reply
  41. I love introducing others to yoga because it brings me closer to my own yoga practice and myself. I just want other’s to enjoy themselves and really truly see what yoga can offer them.

    kalyan | 11.12.2020 | Reply
  42. Nice post. Keep posting

    Pearlzmind | 11.12.2020 | Reply
  43. very well written article and thank you for sharing.

    laptopsupport | 11.21.2020 | Reply
  44. Keep on sharing such a beautiful post

    Babar | 11.30.2020 | Reply
  45. Its lovable and beautiful post

    Babar | 11.30.2020 | Reply
  46. It’s a great and exciting post.

    Babar | 11.30.2020 | Reply
  47. Great information. Thank you so much for your information.

    Branding | 12.03.2020 | Reply
  48. Its so inspiring .. hopefully will kick off yoga again !

    Emily Katie | 07.27.2021 | Reply

Leave A Comment


*