Category: Yoga

SOGA is yoga infused core control and balance training for surfers 🙂

How does it differ from muscle and strength focussed training?
Muscle and strength focussed training tends to place a strong emphasis on the development of strength through repetitions and sets. These movements become increasing difficult and are often continued with until failure and through pain. While these exercises do achieve strength to some extent, they are most effective for developing muscle mass. Early in his career Bruce Lee stated that “a stronger muscle is a larger muscle.” He later changed his mind.

Balance, flexibility and core control are often compromised by an over-emphasis on strength. Muscle strength is largely irrelevant when one considers the holistic balance of factors that enable explosive power in board sports. And that really is why we do them!

SOGA is about finding  this explosive power.  The practice is largely about alignment, recovery and simple movement. Relaxed muscle control is prioritized over strength. No pain should be experienced in the sessions. The exercises are all slow, comfortable and within individual student ranges. The goal is to become conscious of points of tension and to work at softly releasing them to enable freer movement. It is very much about letting go and exploring natural easy movement.

There are some strength and fitness benefits that arise from this process but they are incidental to rather than goals of the practice.

Those who practice SOGA have found a freer more flowing movement in their daily lives and in their sports. Reductions in the  frequency and intensity of injuries have also been reported.

The exercises are accessible and fun from start to finish.

Small group workshops and individual training sessions are available.

SOGA presents…

A workshop at the magical, historic Stone Cottage and Plettenberg Bay Lagoon

On the sun deck at Stone Cottage, on a lagoonside beach and in the water

With surfing and kitesurfing coach Stuart Barnes

Saturday 23 February 2013

The workshop will suit all levels of surfers and kitesurfers – from beginners keen to build a solid foundation to advanced riders aiming to improve performance. Those looking to avoid injuries or aid recovery from existing injuries will also benefit.

Fun, concise and highly effective exercises that target the muscles and develop the movements of surfing will be practiced. They will take place both on land and in the water. Exercises that use a range of boards to develop balance, style, flow, control and technique will be used.

Places are limited and booking is essential

Contact Stuart: onreturn@gmail.com with any questions and to secure your booking

The workshop duration is 3 hours and it will be followed by a social lunch and free surf

Accommodation options are available for those keen to stay over in Plett

Join us for a super fun day 🙂

We have taken a break from public SOGA workshops for some time. They will continue at some point during 2012.

SOGA practice has continued to develop through an ongoing study with a range of inspiring teachers of disciplines including dance, yoga, surfing and golf. It continues to grow through surfing and kitesurfing coaching with Life Kite Surfing in addition to individual SOGA lessons with Stuart Barnes.

Feel free to get in touch to talk about your particular interests and how we might be able to help you. All levels are welcome and we always work at a comfortable individualised pace.

Have fun!

A workshop about getting the most out of surfing through yoga and SOGA will take place in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday 20th March with Eve Cunard and Stuart Barnes.

Eve will start the morning with a 90 minute yoga session focusing on releasing, strengthening and awakening the muscles used in surfing. We will look at yoga sequences that can be practised pre-surfing to warm up and after surfing to prevent stiffness. We will also begin to explore the importance of the breath.

Stuart will then run a 45 minute studio session looking at surf specific SOGA exercises to build foundation technique with correct posture and alignment. This will be extended to prepare the mind and body for progressive and advanced performance surfing. We will introduce balance exercises using swiss balls and balance boards. This will be followed by a 45 minute session in the water. It will include paddling technique to maximise efficiency and comfort and to avoid repetitive strain injuries common to swimmers and surfers. We will explore practising balance and flexibility exercises from the studio in the water.

Eve Cunard is a UK-trained hatha yoga teacher who gives classes in Plettenberg Bay and Storms River. She has been practising yoga for 16 years and teaching for 8 years. Since she began surfing in 2008 she has been fascinated by the many parallels between surfing and yoga. She feels the benefit of yoga for releasing tension after surfing as well as for preparing the body and mind to enter the water and move with freedom.

Stuart Barnes is a surfing and kitesurfing instructor based in the heart of the Garden Route. He teaches individuals and groups of all levels. He has enjoyed a life-long passion for board sports, wind, waves and outdoor life and loves to share his slowly growing knowledge and experiences. Stuart has a special interest in the relationship between mind, body and wave in surfing. He is a keen student of yoga and is fascinated by yoga psychology, philosophy and the many benefits they offer to surfers.

Booking essential
For further information and bookings contact Stuart here onreturn@gmail.com