Yoga & Fitness - Maranga Surfvilla

Sun salutation by the ocean

Yoga for body and soul in surf villa by the beach in South of France

Breathe in…breathe out…your breath flows like the waves surrounding you. You are completely calm, your mind is clear, and your concentration is completely focused on that next wave already rising behind you. This is what makes a good surfer – and this is what yoga teaches you: controlling your breathing, keeping a level head, and directing your concentration towards specific things. It’s not without reason that Yoga and Surfing have become so commonly associated. Not only does it train your mental fitness; regular yoga practice also strengthens your body, which in turn prevents injury and provides the flexibility necessary for a smooth take-off. Some yoga poses, referred to as asanas, work perfectly as warm-up exercises before surfing. Others have a relaxing effect and loosen up your tired muscles after a rigorous session in the waves.

The Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara), a dynamic cycle of specific asanas, in which movement and breath become synchronized, follows a motion almost identical to the take-off on a surfboard, making it the ideal exercise for surfers. Finally, through regular yoga practice you can treat, even prevent, chronic surfer ailments like lower back pain and neck tension

Yoga and The Ocean
Ahimsa (non-violence) is one of the most important principles on the eight-limbed path of yoga and concerns us surfers as well. Why? The ocean is a place of calm and peace and it should stay that way. In the high-season line-ups can get pretty full, which leads to conflict and competition every once in a while. We should all try to treat each other with friendliness and respect, regardless of our origins and regardless of our surfing skills. We have more in common than what separates us, so let’s celebrate the moments spent together in the ocean and share the exhilaration that comes from nailing that ride. Ahimsa also applies to our relationship with our own bodies: accepting our limits, avoiding over-ambitiousness by finding joy in continuous small progress, and realizing when the forces of nature at work in the water are greater than our own, in order to avoid injury. Finally, Ahimsa plays a role in our treatment of nature. We surfers love the ocean and, as a consequence, are very connected to and keenly aware of changes in it. That is why we should strive to preserve these areas by keeping the water and beaches free of plastics and trash, starting with ourselves by minimizing our own waste production.

Yoga in our surfvilla
Here at the Villa, yoga has edged its way into our routines and become a regular part of our surf life. We practice Vinyasa Flow Yoga, a dynamic style that contains both powerful and relaxing asanas – adapted to fit the specific needs of surfers. Our lessons are taught by professional Yoga-Alliance-certified instructors and are open to all ages and levels. No prior experience required! Every participant is encouraged to pursue their own progress goals by doing the pose modifications suited to their individual physical condition. The courses take place outside on our quiet terrace, shaded by pine trees. The times vary, as we coordinate our yoga sessions with our surf lessons, which depend on the tides. As such, it can happen that a sunset-viewing-party at the beach might suddenly turn into a spontaneous Acro Yoga Jam. Stranger things have happened. We have yoga-mats and blankets on hand at the Villa, though you can feel free to bring your own materials if you prefer.

Fit for any wave

Surf-Specific Fitness

Next to regular yoga-lessons we would like to offer our guests surf-oriented fitness training. In order to help you prepare for your surf-trip beforehand we’ve compiled a brief training plan, which you can download here. These specifically chosen exercises are sure to make your first days in the water and on the board easier.

Once here, this routine can be built upon by adding exercise tools, all readily available at your leisure. Learn more about our surf-specific training offers.

Fitness specific for surfers in our surfvilla
Surfing requires a certain degree of physical fitness – in order to move through the water and navigate the waves some stamina and strength are necessary. That’s not to say that you have to be able to run a marathon or do ten pull-ups in order to have fun in the water. Simply, you will have fun for longer if you already possess a greater reserve of paddling power and energy. Think of it like a battery: the longer your battery life, the longer you can stay in the water, and the more waves you’ll get! Well-trained muscles and a flexible body are also a great injury-prophylactic. For all these reasons, we offer the possibility of doing surf-specific fitness training at the Villa. There is a wide array of equipment available (exercise ball, balance-board, blackroll, practice boards for take-off training, slackline etc.), which you can use at your leisure. Dry-training is also perfect for days when the conditions in the water aren’t great, but you still feel the urge to move and stay in shape.

Getting Ready for your Surf-Trip
May times we’ve been asked: how can I prepare myself for my surf-trip, physically, if I’ve never done anything like it before?

In the very best case you could start training several weeks or months in advance – a few simple exercises, regularly performed, can do wonders. For these you don’t need any materials other than perhaps an exercise or yoga mat.

Our certified fitness trainer Barbara will be here for you to give you detailed instructions on how to safely and effectively execute your exercises and use the tools we have on hand. She also compiled this little training plan for you, so that you can begin your vacation in prime surfing condition.

Follow this link to find your training plan

Come together

Yoga and fitness by the sea in France are pure fun

Yoga for body and soul in surf villa by the beach in South of France

Yoga and The Ocean

Yoga in our surfvilla

Surf-Specific Fitness

Fitness specific for surfers in our surfvilla

Getting Ready for your Surf-Trip

Yoga and fitness by the sea in France are pure fun

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