“What’s the difference between yoga and stretching?”
At
first glance, it may seem that yoga is simply a form of stretching,
and in fact, a lot of yoga poses do stretch the body in various ways.
But just as surfing is more than mere exercise, yoga is more than just stretching.
You see, yoga is not just about flexibility.
Yes, you definitely WILL become more flexible when you do yoga, but it’s almost like a side-benefit.
Just like surfing, yoga is a way of living, a way of being. Yoga
becomes a part of you — sometimes developing slowly; other times
happening dramatically — and you learn to draw on your yoga reserves
right when you need them.
You might find that you start to focus on your breath during a
stressful situation, or you might surprise yourself by staying calm and
centered instead of being overrun by your emotions.
You might notice that you’re sleeping better, experiencing more energy and better moods.
You might more naturally and effortlessly begin to eat more
healthfully and take better care of yourself, and feel good about doing
so.
And of course, you likely will experience greater energy and endurance on the waves and more pure stoke in your everyday life!
That’s because when you practice Yoga, you learn to breathe consciously and stay aware of what you’re feeling in each pose.
You learn to remain open to what you’re feeling, without opinion or judgment — and instead, to embrace the experience at hand.
And then you translate that sense of calm energy and focused
awareness to your everyday life so that each moment comes into
razor-sharp view.
That means no more sleep-walking through life!
Instead, no matter what comes up — from the rides to the wipe-outs — you learn to stay balanced and centered, open and free.
If you haven’t done so already, I invite you begin to live in that
state of yoga, which is a sense of oneness, of wholeness, of
well-being.
Yogaforsurfers
