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Nicaragua Yoga Retreat Surfing

If you’ve only ever done yoga at Western style indoor studios in the United States, then you’re missing out. Practicing yoga in a completely controlled environment with just the right balance of sensory stimulus is relaxing, inspiring and comfortable.

Unfortunately, the outside world is loud and messy. Deadlines have no regard for feelings. Noise pollution attacks our quiet time. And people don’t always make space for latecomers.

Here are 4 ways that doing yoga in Nicaragua will help you achieve mindfulness (and improve your life practice):

1. Uncertainty is where the magic happens.
In third world countries, cultural barriers can create confusion and the instruction style may not be what you are used to. It’s best to leave your expectations at home. Notice what happens to your thoughts and emotions in the moment of awareness.  Learn to experience the uncertain flow without judgment, irritation or disappointment. Surprises await beyond the borders of your comfort zone.

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2. Observe the causes of discomfort.
The core principle to mindfulness is being present and staying completely focused on the here and now. Take an inventory of your heart and breathe in gratitude. Notice which muscles are tight from traveling and give them grace. Become conscious of unfamiliar foreign sounds in the different environment and shift your focus to deciphering their sources instead of getting distracted by them. Awareness of your feelings, body and environment is the key to recognizing that they don’t have to dictate your current state of being.

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3. Feel and embrace the natural elements.
When you cross borders into third world countries, it’s common for yoga classes to take place outdoors. The freedom to set up shop in the wilderness is the biggest attraction to most yoga retreat and teacher training centers abroad. Outdoor yoga exposes natural elements that classroom walls protect from. Wind, sun and rain are gifts from Mother Nature. It’s easy to appreciate them in doses, but in extremes they can be humbling. Learn to cultivate awareness and gratitude for all elements of nature, even when it makes the practice more challenging.

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4. Prioritize practice over industry.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the industry of yoga. The quality of gear has improved drastically in the past fifteen years. From sweat resistant towels and name brand pants, to specialized rubber blocks and lavender scented eye pillows, we’re inundated daily with wonderful accessories that we don’t need to achieve success on the mat. There is something raw and beautiful about practicing yoga in a country untouched by industry consumerism. What you don’t have, you can’t buy in most third world countries. Everyone has access to mindfulness.

 

Guest post article written by Brooke Rundle, a California born surfer and yogi, Nicaragua ex-pat and co-creator of San Juan Live – a lifestyle and travel website on San Juan del Sur. She also co-authored the ultimate travel guidebook on San Juan del Sur. Vist her website here at http://sanjuandelsur.org/ or download her travel guidebook – http://www.amazon.com/Insider-Guide-San-Juan-Nicaragua-ebook/dp/B00NTY9FWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444797918&sr=1-1&keywords=san+juan+del+sur

The Nicaragua Yoga Institute Guide to Power Yoga Poses For Surfers

Nicaragua is an amazing destination for Yogis and Surfers.  Sam Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua is home of The Nicaragua Yoga Institute, the leading yoga retreat center in Central America, Zen Yoga Studio, the first Yoga Studio in San Juan Del Sur,   as well as Chica Brava, one of the worlds top women’s surf camps.

Yoga is the ultimate exercise for balance, strength, and focus for surfing.  In fact, many professional surfers such as Kelly Slater and Gerry Lopez  practice yoga daily and make it a routine before and after every surf session. It is especially important for beginner and experienced surfers alike.

Yoga helps build flexibility, generate core strength and mental awareness. A solid core and balance are key for beginner surfers. Yoga empowers surfers to also focus on the breath, both on your mat and your surfboard.

Whether this is your first Yoga Retreat or you are just new to surfing or an experienced wave rider, adding these 4 poses to your yoga routine will help you pop up and stay up on your board for tons of fun when we hit the areas best beach breaks.

Utkata Konasana – The Nicaragua Yoga Retreat – Surf God(dess) Pose

Nicaragua Volcano Pose Yoga Retreat

 

At the Nicaragua Yoga Institute we also hit the world’s most vibrant volcanoes for some empowering vinassa, the perfect place to practice your goddess pose amongst the ancient lava flows.

Surfing is all about leg strength.  Start standing, separate your feet approximately distance of length of one of your legs. You can turn your feet out to a comfortable degree, usually 45 degrees is comfortable. Raise your arms out straight from your shoulders and bend them at your elbows to form a 90 degree angle. Have your palms facing forward and fingers energized and extended. Start to slowly bend your knees until they also reach a 90 degree angle and hold the pose.

Be very careful as you bend your knees that they do not knock inward. Be sure that your knees always track directly over your toes, even if that means modifying the angle your feet. This is so important to build the correct strength in the legs and to protect the very vulnerable knee joint.  Yoga Pose one accomplished!

Warrior II to Side Angle – The Nicaragua Yoga Retreat – Board Balance Pose

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Now lets move onto Warrior Two Pose, which  brings balance and strong core stability to your surfing skill sets.  Step your feet wide apart and raise your arms up to shoulder height. Your wrists should line up over your ankles. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees and turn your left foot perpendicular to the right. Inhale, engage your core and exhale bend into the right knee. From Warrior II pose (with right knee bent), bring the right elbow down to the right knee and inhale the left arm up towards the ceiling and then exhale the arm over the ear, making a straight line with the left side of your body.

Keep the right knee bent directly over the ankle, sink the hips down towards the floor, and reach the left fingers away from the left foot. Breathe and hold for 2-5 breaths. To release: inhale and reach the left fingers up and back into warrior II or straighten the legs coming into 5 pointed star. Repeat on other side. This will also help your frontside and backside wave ride balance.

 

Plank Pose – The Nicaragua Yoga Retreat – Surfer Shoulder Pose

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Plank is an excellent pose for gaining surfing strength and stability in your core and your shoulders. This will help you build the power for your pop-ups (surf-ese for getting on your feet).  Begin on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders. Breathe smoothly and evenly through your nose. Bring your thoughts to focus on the present moment. Spread your fingers and press down through your forearms and hands. Do not let your chest collapse. Gaze down between your hands, lengthening the back of your neck and drawing your abdominal muscles toward your spine. Tuck your toes and step back with your feet, bringing your body and head into one straight line.

Keep your thighs lifted and take care not to let your hips sink too low. If your butt sticks up in the air, realign your body so your shoulders are directly above your wrists. Draw your pelvic floor muscles toward your spine as you contract your abdominal muscles. Keep your head in line with your spine. Broaden across your shoulder blades and across your collarbones. Draw down through the bases of your index fingers — do not let your hands roll open toward the pinkie fingers.

Press the front of your thighs (quadriceps) up toward the ceiling while lengthening your tailbone toward your heels. Hold the pose while breathing smoothly for five breaths. If you are using the pose to build strength and stamina, hold for up to five minutes.

Locust Pose – The Nicaragua Yoga Retreat –  Power Pelvis Pose



Lie on your belly and place your hands right under your shoulders. Your legs are either together with the ankles touching or hips-distance apart. Lengthen your buttocks toward your heels and extend and reach through your legs and spread your toes. Inhale and, on an exhale, press the pelvis down and lift your hands, chest and feet off the ground. Lift with the whole of the spine not just from the back of your neck and keep the legs active and strong.

This will help keep space in your lower back and keep you from compressing and jamming up the lower back. Try coming up and down for 3 rounds on your breath. Inhale up, exhale to lower and, on the 3rd round, hold the lifted posture for more breaths. As you are on your board waiting for the right wave, you will need to build up your lower back strength, especially when you paddle to catch a wave and get your chest forward off the board for those deep strokes.

Nicaragua Yoga Institute is the ultimate getaway for a yoga retreat and is home to the worlds best surfing. 

The benefits that yoga can have on surfers are pretty far-reaching. Whether it’s through strength, flexibility, or simply just breathing better—all these things are highly important in surfing.

After spending more than four decades studying the ancient Indian practice, Gerry Lopez is as qualified as they get when it comes to discussing yoga’s benefits for surfing.

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I’ve been surfing for 55 years and I’m still learning. But I do know that if you can find your focus and clear your mind, you’ll progress more. That’s a part of the reason I think young people have such a higher success rate than older people in the sport. They’re able to clear their minds when they’re in the water. The older you get, the more your mind gets filled with all of the little things and it becomes increasingly hard to just focus on the moment and what’s in front of you. Back in the day at the Pipeline, if it got too loud and I couldn’t focus, I’d tell people “Hey, no talkin’ in the lineup.” When you’re surfing waves like that, you have to be tuned in.” – Gerry Lopez.

With these power yoga poses you can become a balanced warrior on the water and your mat.  So get started today!  …..and head down to San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua for some soulful surfing  and sun salutations in paradise.  Check out our Retreat Schedule at www.NicaraguaYogaInstitute.com for some stoked sun salutations.