Surf Yoga Retreats in Costa Rica

When you first hear the words surf and yoga together, you may conjure images of a swami sitting cross-legged on a paisley longboard, coasting effortlessly through the clouds to a soundtrack of “Ohmmmm…” Not quite. Surf Yoga is a growing phenomenon amongst surfers with an interest in yoga, and yoga practitioners with a taste for the extreme.

These two disciplines go together like chocolate and peanut butter. First - the chocolate; As 9-time World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater has proved again and again, yoga is an invaluable part of any surfer’s fitness training routine. Surfers yoga takes an age old system of stretching, poses, and meditation in a new direction; targeting the motions that surfers use to balance, with a focus on strengthening the muscle groups that are used for the “take off, ” the ”pop up,” and turning manouevers like “cut backs,” “hitting the lip” and “tube-riding.” The mental discipline and physical benefits, combined with a heightened consciousness of body, mind and spirit, have been a key part of Kelly’s success, and many other competitive surfers.

For those who have already been practicing yoga – the peanut butter to our chocolate – surfing is a new and exciting way to get a full body workout, and embodies some of the same philosophies that yoga does; oneness and harmony with natural surroundings with an emphasis on awareness through practice and personal betterment.

Surfing has two faces – the bleached blonde, pimple faced California teenager who dreams of competing in the ASP World Tour, but smokes to much weed to ever get it together to register for a contest; and everyone else. That’s right! Surfing is for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, demographic, or any other qualifiers you can attach to the sport. The truth is: surfing is a deeply personal pursuit, and not everyone gets into it for the same reason. But one thing does remain consistent for just about anyone who has been at it for a while, a deep emotional connection with the ocean, and a respect for her power, which is both awesome and humbling. With surfing, the rewards are huge; your first wave, your deepest tube ride, your longest ride. In yoga, the rewards are also huge; physical fitness and mental focus which benefits you in every aspect of your daily life. Chocolate and peanut butter.

I know what you’re thinking… “Where can I find this delicious chocolate and peanut butter surfing yoga cupcake? And how soon can I gobble it up!” The answer is one you are simply going to love: Costa Rica Surf Yoga Retreats. Costa Rica has been a Mecca for surfers for years, and over the last 10 or so, several excellent yoga teachers have established themselves as surf yoga masters. It gets even better, your surf and yoga retreats are located in some of the country’s most exotic destinations, nestled in tropical rainforest beach towns, where the jungle spills into the ocean and perfect waves beckon. Your packaged surf yoga retreat can be customized to include a host of other activities, like nature hikes to waterfalls, snorkeling, horseback rides on the beach, luxury spa treatments, and surfing excursions to Costa Rica’s best beaches. Seven days of unspoiled natural beauty in one of the worlds most accessible and tourist friendly countries sets the stage for you to indulge in your new passion: surf yoga.

Don’t worry - I’m not going to leave you hanging! I’m going to make this whole painful process easy for you. Not only am I going to drop this mouth watering chocolate and peanut butter travel nugget right into your mouth, I’m going to show you where you can get your own, so you can keep eating and eating and eating; until you explode. But first, you will need to get yourself to the sleepy fishing town of Montezuma, located on the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. Montezuma is a quiet town, a blend of locals (Tico’s), Europeans, and Eco-Tourists on a budget. Amenities like the bank and the post office are forty minutes away in the town of Cobano, and Cabo Blanco National Park is adjacent, where you can find all the howler monkeys, iguanas, exotic birds and Tarzan swinging vines you will ever need.

Contact one of these Surf Yoga Retreats and customize a package for your next vacation. Awaken your mind, rejuvenate your spirit, and nurture your body with a surf and yoga vacation. Find out for yourself why Costa Rica’s mantra “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life” can be heard echoing throughout the country every day.