Yoga and surfing are the perfect match, helping to build strength, flexibility, balance and body awareness both in and out of the water.
That’s why we’re so excited that Portuguese yoga instructor Inês has launched a new series of Yoga for Surfers videos on SurfGirl Premium this summer, where she will be sharing sessions designed to improve your surfing, posture and overall wellbeing.
In this feature, Inês explains why yoga is such a powerful tool for surfers and how even a few regular sessions can make a real difference to your time in the waves.
As well as teaching on Premium, Inês hosts her own surf and yoga retreats in Morocco this autumn. Combining beautiful waves, daily yoga and an incredible setting, they look like the perfect escape if you’re dreaming of a surf adventure. Take a look and get inspired.
Ines, can you explain why is yoga so good for surfers?
Yoga is so good for us because it creates that balance, we move better, feel more connected, and stay more present. It’s not just stretching, it’s strength, mobility, breath, and mindset. Yoga keeps you aligned both physically and mentally.
How does yoga for surfers differ from a typical yoga class?
Yoga for surfers is built with the ocean in mind. We target muscles that get overworked while paddling and open up areas that tighten from long surf sessions, like shoulders, hips, and lower back. It’s less about advanced poses and more about restoring function, building core stability, and syncing breath with movement. We move with intention, focusing on flow, recovery, and staying injury-free. While a typical yoga class might aim for full-body flexibility, surf-specific yoga is practical, it keeps you loose, strong, and better prepared to read waves and move efficiently.
What are the main things you focus on in yoga – flexibility, balance, injuries?
It’s a balance of all three: flexibility, balance, and injury prevention, but always with a purpose. I focus on mobility over just flexibility, helping joints move through their full range with control. Balance work improves board control and reaction time. And injury prevention is key, we work on stabilizing smaller muscle groups that don’t always get attention, especially in shoulders and knees. Surfing is demanding on the body, so the goal is to build resilience, smooth out imbalances, and keep you in the water longer and with more ease.
What are your top three yoga poses?
So hard to choose just three, but here we go:
1. Downward Dog – It’s a go-to because it stretches the entire back body, from calves to hamstrings to shoulders. You can also move in it to stretch through the side body and really lengthen out the spine. After paddling and being compressed on a board, it’s magic.
2. Hip openers (like Pigeon or Lizard) – These are essential after surfing. They release deep tension in the glutes and low back, which can get super tight from constant crouching and pop-ups.
3. Reclined Twist – Nothing beats that feeling of releasing along the spine. Every little crack helps you feel more aligned and grounded, like everything falls back into place.
How often should we be practising a week?
Ideally, aim for 2-3 times a week, even if it’s just 10–15 minutes, consistency is key. It’s better to do short, regular sessions than one long class every now and then. If you’re surfing a lot, even a short recovery-focused flow or some breathwork can make a huge difference. On non-surf days, go a little deeper, work on mobility, balance, and core strength. Listen to your body, if you’re tight, hit the mat. If you’re tired, use yoga to recover. Make it part of your lifestyle, not a chore.
What’s the most surprising feedback you’ve had from surfers who do yoga with you?
Many surfers are surprised by how quickly yoga helps them tune into their bodies. The gains in core strength and flexibility are clear, but it’s the increased awareness, physically and mentally, that really lands. Yoga teaches you to understand your breath, your limits, and how to stay calm under pressure, which is huge during wipeouts or long hold-downs. But it also helps you move better, recover faster, and feel more connected to how your body works. For a lot of people, the big realization is that surfing and yoga aren’t just complementary, different expressions of the same flow
Any myths about yoga for surfers that you’d like to bust?
A big myth is that you need to be flexible to start yoga. The truth is, yoga builds flexibility, it meets you where you are and gradually opens the body up, you don’t need to touch your toes or fold into a pretzel. For surfers, it’s not about how deep you get into a pose, but how connected you are to your movement and breath. What starts as physical, stretching tight hips, releasing shoulders, strengthening the core, often shifts into something much deeper. Yoga works from the outside in, and over time, it sharpens your focus, teaches you how to breathe through intensity, and helps you stay calm when it counts, like during a hold-down or in critical moments on a wave. It’s not just about recovery or injury prevention, it’s a full-spectrum practice that supports both your body and your mindset, in and out of the water.
Join Premium and give the Yoga for Surfers series with Inês a go…
Pre Surf Yoga Flow
Yoga, Surf and Explore in Imsouane, Morocco with Inês
Why not practice your yoga at Ines’s 7-day yoga and surf retreat? The retreat is designed to help you release, realign and reconnect. Yoga and surf are the heart of this retreat based in Imsouane, Morocco and the retreat takes place on 21-28 November.
The yoga practices take place daily at sunrise and sunset and are always adapted to meet you where you are. We will explore a range of styles including Vinyasa, Somatic Yoga, Yin, and Restorative, supporting both movement and stillness. Each practice is designed to help you release tension, cultivate awareness, and realign with your intentions, allowing you to move with greater ease and focus.
Surfing in Imsouane becomes a moving meditation, an invitation to connect with the ocean and yourself. Surf sessions are led by Rachid Chahifa, a highly experienced local surfer who brings deep knowledge of the waves, the area, and a supportive teaching approach. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, the surf experience is open to all levels. Guided sessions focus on confidence, technique, and enjoyment, encouraging you to move with the rhythm of the waves and embrace the joy of learning.
Beyond the mat and the waves, you’ll have space to explore, rest, and connect with like minded people.
- Discover stunning beaches and valleys
- Enjoy a day trip to Essaouira
- Experience vibrant Moroccan culture
- Nourish yourself with delicious, healthy, and nutritious Moroccan cuisine
- Spend time with like‑minded people in a supportive, inspiring environment
- Take time to pause, reset and release
Interested? Then find out more about this amazing retreat here
About Inês
