Eco Yoga Surf

I’ve always been passionate about all three (eco yoga surf), but as time went on I found ways to intertwine them more intrinsically… practicing yoga outdoors or on my SUP I would able to experience a greater sense of nature… through surfing I would have milliseconds of clarity between the waves and uncover layers of mindful meditation to fleetingly relish in the same peace I found flowing through vinyasa on my mat…  I learned to witness my body and my breath, as much as I would other species like dolphins and whales with a curiosity and wonder that expanded into immense gratitude for being alive on this incredible planet.  Everything is connected and I began to learn this truth through my explorations, internally through yoga and externally through surfing and environmental campaigns around the globe. During my recent permaculture studies I was able to break it down and understand things more pragmatically… the planet is our zone 5, the wilderness and the wild that makes up our global habitat; and our body zone 00 the most intimate space in which we inhabit. Yoga is the permaculture of the heart, the tool to enable us to observe ourselves.  Our task is to stay present and rooted in our body, understand our own mind, “know ourselves” and then we can begin to cultivate our garden, drive our vehicle in the right direction and travel between the zones and the edges of this world as consciously and mindfully as possible. The Yoga Farm in Costa Rica was where I first encountered and truly experienced a strong connection between ecology and yoga; it was a turning point being able to practice and teach yoga in the jungle!

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This year I have gone from Jersey to France, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, Bali, India and continue onto Sri Lanka then back to Europe.  My biggest personal issue is how my travel impacts the planet.  I am looking for ways to offset all my flights’ carbon emissions and support tree or mangrove planting projects, yet I am still to find one I truly connect with – any ideas!!?  What I take with me also impacts my travels, in India clothing needs to be light and covered up, where as it was still Autumn in NZ, so making sure I have everything I need yet fit it into one bag can make packing rather challenging.  Being grounded, free and personally sustainable is my main focus this year, which can be hard when living a transient life so I am looking for a base now, somewhere to grow veggies and build a home rather than continually travelling.

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“Travel lightly” to me means being aware of any kind of baggage – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual – and avoiding collecting any excess along the way!  Being aware of my inputs and outputs, my out-dated beliefs and moving forward with clarity and compassion.  My way is not the high way and respecting the opposing or differing views I am faced with when visiting other countries and cultures is part of the parcel of conscious travel. I feel very privileged to have opportunities in this life like freedom, health and wealth and I travel to expand my knowledge and learn, but what’s the point in doing so with a closed mind and heart? Leave something positive wherever you go – whether it’s a simple smile, learning a few words of the local language or collecting rubbish off the beach –  leave a legacy you can be proud of.  Do something to connect with the local community; I get so much joy out of the weekly kids club for locals at Soul & Surf.  Sharing experiences of how to travel consciously is integral to making us better at it, I am constantly learning and love hearing about other peoples experiences too.

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In the past I have perceived societal pressure as something negative, but through facing my own fears and leaving a home and job, I have realized that this was an imaginary barrier I needed to pass through.  It has taken commitment to a positive and healthy mindset, trust in my own heart and values and belief that I can actually create my own lifestyle to get to the other side.  Finding balance in this world when there are so many messages about what we “should” do, how we “should” behave, how we “should” look… well, it’s tough!  It’s a continual navigation with twists and turns to find truth. How I deal with this, is ocean time; solitude – just a little bit, every day and EFT! It is uplifting to meet others on the same path, in fact it is what gives me more energy to continue to explore; and collaboration is the best!

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YogaRama is the infant I am nurturing right now in the context of starting a business.  YogaRama represents connecting with my own power and energy to find my place in the world, something greater than me.  I love the concept of the marriage of Yoga – the yoking of the body and breath to invite spiritual connection and Rama – the deity representing our highest purpose.  This marriage invokes the responsibility I feel to the planet or a greater force. It is through the heightened awareness of the body and breath (yoga) that we are able to feel deeper into our existence (rama) and notice the connections within everything we experience – the patterns to detail; the macrocosm and the microcosm.  It is being more aware of these connections that allows us to expand on so many levels.

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Be open and receptive to “messages”!  I first shifted into activism because I saw photos of pilot whales being killed and it propelled me into taking part in my first protest.  That led on to years of campaigns; with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage, Surfers for Cetaceans and Women for Whales; where the energy of individuals and collectives would help carry me. However, I would also feel drained so I found my way back to yoga to ask some important questions.  Was I living in tune with my body, or was I exhausted and fighting, coming up against conflict – internally and externally?  I realized I needed more balance and to heal some past wounds, so had to let go of some commitments. Not long ago I asked the question if I could help the planet through teaching yoga. I believed the answer to be YES! So this has helped draw the three themes of surfing, yoga and permaculture together in my mind.  The final piece in the puzzle is how this will manifest as projects or ventures, I visualize myself and the global surf and yoga community stepping up to the plate of environmental custodians, and I’m excited for how this intention unfolds.  As a surfer I have been exposed to so much devastation but I see the land as where the changes need to happen – our physical practices of dealing with food, waste, shelter and water; our mindsets and resistance to change; our outdated systems and linear economy; our disconnection from nature and our food… all this can truly shift towards something more positive.  And every individual has the power to increase the shift by waking up.

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As humans I think we are becoming very good at manifesting our desires and, seeing our goals accomplished helps to reinforce the strength of the ego mind and self power. I am trying to balance my “I want”s and the “doing” with how that can also serve the planet and my community, and being open rather pushing.  And at every step I take a couple of moments to address the why behind any intention.  Being playful, joyful and seeing the humor in my unfolding human drama is absolutely essential, for when things don’t turn out as expected or inevitably go wrong.  Surfing always helps me to bring me back down to Earth. Sometimes you catch the wave, sometimes you fall off and sometimes you get the ride of your life!  Understanding the concept of dharma has helped me to transition into doing something I love as a living… so that it feels like I am actually living and growing with every day.  Teaching yoga and surfing energizes me, it fills me up and so it feels right and necessary to do this as a profession.  I hope to study and practice sustainability on a deeper level and find ways to interlock the practices of permaculture into surf and yoga tourism.  Hmmm…. in 10 years time I hope to have a wonderful, supportive partner, a family I have time to enjoy and connect with, a permaculture property overlooking a point break, a yoga studio, a kitchen to indulge in raw chocolate making and be connected to a conscious community of special humans.

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I feel like happiness can be fleeting and fickle, and there is almost too much emphasis placed on this one emotion when there is a whole spectrum of incredible flavors of feeling we can experience. What I am more intent on now, is being open to the full range of my emotions, not fleeing from my sadness because I cannot handle it, not running toward ecstasy because feeling pain is so scary.  And not hoping my highs will last forever, because nothing is constant in this world and attaching to happiness is like latching onto an ice sculpture in the sun! In the past I have managed to disconnect from and numb my feelings so now I find happiness in simply feeling!  I now also appreciate the lessons that come from the lows and with that acceptance has come a deeper, more stable sense of happiness.  Perhaps this is more like peace, and peace is something I can’t get enough of! Of course, I do love to be happy and appreciate the things that bring me happiness – peeling left hand point breaks; organically grown veggies straight out the ground; raw chocolate; journaling in nature; laughing with my friends; leopard print yoga pants, spending time with my beloved; crafting, creating and designing; diving deep in the ocean and if I’m lucky, sharing space with other sentient beings, especially cetaceans.

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Just love, light, gratitude and presence 🙂

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