Here on the coast summer equals Lake Pacific, and deprived surfers tend to go a bit bonkers. (Thank goodness this is also the Wild Rivers Coast where summer also equals river season!) In perfect surfing paradise head-high waves would peel for miles, one glassy peak after another. But in surfing, as in life, you've got to have the flat spells and micro swells to appreciate the excitement of the wild and epic rides.
Life is like a wave. All waves come with crests and troughs, ups and downs, highs and lows. These ups and downs are the constant play of the polarities of life. Day follows night, fortune follows misfortune, and rain follows sunshine. It is our attachment to having the “good” and our aversion to the “bad” that creates suffering.
Yoga is the art of riding
the waves of life skillfully, of finding our balance and keeping our poise
amidst the turbulence of life’s ever-shifting waters. We can learn from our reflections on the mat
so that we can surf the waves of life more gracefully, flow with change, and
ride high on opportunity. As we surf the waves of life we will have
some epic rides and some gnarly wipeouts, sunny days and stormy days, long quiet
lulls and swells of immense pleasure and pain.
We cannot control any of this. What
we can control is our response to each unfolding moment. We can create some spectacular rides by
responding positively to whatever waves come our way. And remember, good or bad, no wave
lasts forever.
If we are the surfer, life
is the wave, and yoga is how we ride life’s rhythms, then our attitude is the
surfboard. Which attitude do you want to
pull from your quiver today? Can we stay
centered in a state of observation, acceptance, and appreciation? Can we face our fears, focus forward, paddle
like the dickens, and commit to the drop?
Can we remain grateful for the lessons that each wave presents? Can we truly allow life to unfold as it
may? Each day we practice we get stronger,
we get smarter, and our intuition tells us which way to flow. Through consistent practice we prepare
ourselves to enjoy the good waves with all of our energy.
The next time you are on your mat, imagine that you
are floating on a surfboard out at sea, gently rocking and rolling on top of
the water. Focus solely on the present
moment with all of your senses. Mind-surf
perfect waves as you lay on your belly centered on your “surfmat.” Paddle for the coming wave; breathe deeply as
you use your whole body to propel yourself toward shore. Arching your body like a banana, stroke one
arm over the other and dig deep. Feel
the water between your fingers. You can
belly-ride this one or pop up to your feet by bringing hands under shoulders, pull
the navel in toward the spine while pushing up to a half push-up on knees (hips
in line with spine), activating and accessing your deep core lines place both
feet under your hips as smoothly and quickly as possible. One foot will naturally lead. Start here.
Practice makes possible. For Silver Surfer Pose press into Warrior II with
the front knee over the ankle, back leg straight, feet grounded, toes in line
with knees, and spine tall. Let your
tail and shoulders become heavy while your low belly, heart and head remain
buoyant. Bring hands together at chest,
and exhale to turn and dive deep onto or inside the front thigh (maybe as low
as the ankle) with your upper body. Press
strongly into your feet and inhale to float up.
Spin your heart to the front as you reach your arms, palms still together,
overhead, now in a side bend over your back leg. Allow your body to express itself naturally,
fluidly. Repeat seven or more times,
then ease back onto your belly again, paddle, paddle, paddle, and pop-up
switch-stance, now with opposite foot forward.
Remember alignment rule numero uno: if it feels good it probably is
good, and if it feels bad it probably is bad. Trust your body’s wisdom and flow in a way
that makes you smile from the inside out.
If
life was only paddle, paddle, paddle and charging big waves, when would we take
the time to watch the pelicans soar, the osprey dive, or the whales
breach? When would we watch the sky’s
colors dance like liquid light on the ocean’s undulating surface, smell the pure
sea salt air, feel the offshore breeze tickle skin while the sun’s rays bring
warmth? When would we listen to the woosh
of the waves breaking on shore, the chattering of the birds, the splashing of
the fish, the barking of the basking sea lions?
Feel the tides and fog roll in and out like the breath. Gazing beyond the horizon to limitless potential,
then back to land where cares and woes now seem so far away, appreciate a fresh
point of view. Let’s celebrate the waves
of life in all their glorious diversity, offer thanks to the Ocean Gods, and
have faith that there’s always another wave coming. Carpe fluctus! Seize the wave!
