Nosara's Dynamic Duo: Yoga & Surf
Where the jungle meets the ocean there is a unique marriage of tranquility and liveliness. This yin - yang bond parallels the lifestyle that many people adopt here. It’s pretty obvious that surf and yoga are a large part of the Nosara community and it’s easy to see why. Both of these popular activities go hand in hand and draw people from all over the world!
Playa Guiones, Nosara’s most well-known beach area, is considered one of the best beginner surfing breaks in the world. There are few places in the world where you can surf all year round. Yep, that’s right - where there’s a will, there’s a wave. To make it even more irresistible, the water is comfortably warm. No need to wiggle your way into a wetsuit as you head out for a morning on the water.
While we all agree that surfing is rad, there is no doubt that it’s also quite demanding on the body. Even the most experienced surfers find themselves with soreness and tension in specific areas after a good day of riding waves. Yoga is an ideal sister practice to surfing because it offers complimentary movements needed to balance the wear and tear on the body. During yoga classes we are encouraged to connect with our bodies. This results in practitioners gaining more awareness and control of their body, which certainly enhances surfing - a dynamic duo.
In my reflection of the connection between yoga and surfing, I asked local yoga teacher Robert Busch, also known as “Yoga Dude”, to lunch so that I could soak in some of his knowledge. Robert came to the area for the first time 7 years ago. After falling in love with yoga and practicing for two years, he completed his teacher training at the iconic Nosara Yoga Institute. As we sat and shared lunch to prepare for this article, he told me with a big smile that he is proud to call Nosara home because it is the best place in the world! His rationale went something like this: Costa Rica is often ranked as having the happiest people in the world. Nosara is arguably the best town in Costa Rica. Therefore, we are lucky enough to live in the best town in the best country - making this the best place in the world! Want more proof? Check out the evidence here.
Robert passionately shares yoga in the community and is in tune with the way his students are spending their days. He wants to give them what they need. If his students are already active while surfing, they benefit most from a gentle warm up and stretch of the body before surfing, and a calming yin or restorative style practice afterwards to give the body necessary tools for recovery. Robert says that giving the body the proper time to recover results in less injuries and therefore more days out on these magical waves. Yoga-dude tip: a more heated, demanding practice such as Vinyasa is a great form of conditioning to strengthen and prepare your body for their first surf lessons, so that they can really hit the waves running. Learn more about what makes Vinyasa Yoga unique here.
Whichever type of yoga you feel compliments your surfing - there is something for everyone here. The number of incredible practice spaces continues to grow and the type of classes offered are endless. The same goes for surfing, where instruction can be given in a casual beach side surf school, a highly technical program, or anything in between.
Happy shredding and Namaste!
Written by Liana Johnson,
RYT 200 and fledgling surfer
Check out Olo Alaia where you can find surf lessons and rentals with their friendly and ISA certified instructors.
For a more scientific approach, Surf Simply offers technical surf coaching for all levels.
Harmony Hotel offers both surf and yoga lessons in a variety of approaches.
Catch one of Yoga-Dude's classes at Patito's Jungle Yoga Studio or Living Hotel or connect with him directly on Facebook, Instagram @DudeYoga, or his website and YouTube channel
Written by:
Liana Johnson