Tag: wellness

Last week we had a Southern Hemi…

So last week we had a freak Southern Hemi swell…making 8-10 foot waves. Now in Summer, that’s super weird for Santa Cruz!

I decided that last Thursday would be a great day to surf since I’m technically in training for WOW(Women on Waves). The Thursday swell was declining, waves more manageable, however still incredible waves.

If you follow my blog, you know I’m a dawn patrol surfer, which means to catch a swell like this, I need to be out in the water by 5:30 am. So I diligently got up early and made my way to the beach. By the time I got there, already 30 people in the water! I was shocked!

I walked to see the waves and I found a friend on the rock, who wasn’t suited up. Shes a good surfer, more summer surfer, and she looked frightened. She was nervous to paddle out since her surf buddy already left her.

Being the person I am, I told her to suit up and we will paddle out together. What stuck with me was that I am becoming a better surfer since these conditions didnt even phase me, but I also have become a surfer to help other surfers. Kinda cool 🤙

Btw…The waves were beautiful! About 5 feet, super clean, and the water was WARM! We never have warm water!

I had a blast of a day!

Kumihimo Japanese Braiding

Since my last post, I have still been working on my carved surfboards. I even added tiny fins to my creations, however my carved surfboards still needed a cord.

Luckily and gratefully, craftysurf.com provided me a solution: Kumihimo Japanese Braiding.

This braiding is a form of loom jewelry, and can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be.

I have been doing a simple 8 strand cord, but have also been experimenting with 4 strands.

I’m keeping my post short and sweet this holiday weekend!

Namaste

Scrappy Surfing Yogi

Last Meridian Lip Balm and Surf Balm

* I was not paid to endorse these products. All thoughts and comments are my own.

You all know that I am now an avid surfer and yogi. Well, surfing and practicing yoga in colder weather just does so much damage to your lips and skin. Lately, I have been dealing with dry, cracking and even bleeding lips with no relief. I have also been dealing with dry skin, and even with all the moisturizers and sunscreen, still dry and cracking.

Finally, I found natural and organic products from Last Meridian that has been healing my lips and skin. It’s made locally (to me) in Santa Cruz. I tried their Northern Kiss Lip Balm and Surf Balm.

What I love about the Northern Kiss lip balm is it’s made from Beeswax, Cocoa butter Cocoa powder, Sweet almond oil, Local Raw Honey, Spruce essential oil, and Peppermint essential oil. All of these products mixed together smells great but also feels great on my achy lips. It’s been healing all of my issues, and I couldn’t be happier.

I also started using Last Meridian Surf Balm for actually everyday use. It’s an SPF 30, and I find the balm is more soothing to my skin and also has a hydrating quality. I have to wear SPF everyday, and even under makeup. It’s great for under any foundations or powders, and it’s not oily.

I’m absolutely in love! For more information on Last Meridian products click here

Going back to a studio yoga class

I have documented my struggles in finding a yoga studio that fits my needs. Either the yoga isn’t my style (Vinyasa), the class times aren’t consistent, or frankly, the yoga studio is too expensive for my frequency.

Well, I pushed myself to yoga class last night by a teacher who gives free classes out of her converted garage. It was a perfect night to practice yoga as well. It was super rainy and cold, and since we were in a converted garage, the rain sounded awesome.

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. My muscles have been hurting lately and a guided practice is exactly what I needed.

~Namaste

Scrappy Surfing Yogi

Surfing on a Sunday with Elephant Seals

It’s very rare that I surf the weekends anymore, mainly because the beaches are so crowded. This particular weekend I had to surf because the huge XXL swell was easing, and we have rain forecasted most of the week.

My group of surfer buddies went out a little earlier than low tide, just to get into position. After paddling and catching some mushy waves (or trying to), I was just frustrated in the area of the ocean my group was sitting in. I decided to paddle more towards the cliff, hanging out with another surfer.

We took turns on the shoulder of the wave, then all of a sudden this huge elephant seal came out of nowhere! If you aren’t sure what elephant seals look like, see the pic below. Picture courtesy of National Geographic

He/she was huge, and seemed to be following us. My new surfer friend and I decided to immediately exit the water to let the Elephant Seal pass. Strangely enough, he/she never really left. The Elephant Seal moved from the shore, to a rock, then back to shore. These are always good reminders as I am a guest in the sea.

Finally, when the waves started to break did the Elephant Seal go back out to sea. Readers, I would love to know what is your weirdest animal encounter?

Saturday Yoga

I’m getting ready for a pretty big surf session tomorrow, so I felt that today yoga would be a great way to relax and stretch out my aching muscles

Since I have been setting up more home practice than anything, I decided to dedicate a place in my living room for my mat. I thought this would be a nice place, especially with the sunlight.

Btw, I know my yoga mat is completely worn out, but I love it so much I really can’t part with it.

Today, I focused on more of a “warm vinyaas flow” to keep the heart rate up and stretch out my leg muscles. Today consisted of a lot of chaturangas, planks, and half moon poses. I also did some pop ups just to keep it fresh.

Happy Saturday!

~Namaste

Scrappy Surfing Yogi

Mystery Blogger Award

I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by Crafty Surf. I always enjoy reading this blog and learning creative ways to enhance my surf life. As per the instructions, here are the rules and explanation of the award copy and pasted below. Thank you again to CraftySurf.com for nominating me!

What is a Mystery Blogger Award?

The creator of this award, Okoto Enigma, says “It’s an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.

The Rules.

  • Put the award logo/image on your blog.
  • List the rules.
  • Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog, as well as to the specific post in which you were nominated. That way, the blogger who nominated you will receive a Pingback and know that you posted your answers and will be able to read them!
  • Mention the creator of the award.
  • Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
  • Nominate 5 people.
  • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
  • Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny question (specify)
  • Share your link to your best post(s).

Three Things About Me:

  1. I have always been fascinated by water. When I was little, I was always swimming. Surfing was a natural progression for me. Maybe it has something to do with being an Aquarius?
  2.  I used to make websites for fun, especially using the site Neopets ( just aged myself). I always liked the community aspect of these online sites.
  3.  I started my yoga practice in North Carolina over 13 years ago as a way to pass the time

Here are my questions from Crafty Surf:

Coke or Pepsi?

Usually, Coke but on the one made with real sugar. I also prefer bottle as well. Unless, it’s a Slurpee from 7-11. Then cup is fine.

Miami or Orlando?

Miami seems more fun. I also can relive the Will Smith song “Miami” while driving. This is a plus!

Apple or Samsung?

Well, it’s Samsung now because I married an engineer who likes to program his own things. Used to be Apple. I am literate in both technologies, and pretty much a geek.

Chips or Chocolate?

Chocolate, not much of a chip person. Now if there are pretzels in a room, that’s my go to snack.

Sand or Snow?

Definitely sand! Surfer Chicks Unite!

The Nominees:

  1. Shana
  2.  Baby Crow Yoga
  3. The Om Project
  4. Mad Cap Dog
  5. The Running Rebel 

My Questions:

  1. What is your dream vacation?
  2. Why did you start blogging?
  3. What are you most passionate about?
  4. What’s your favorite T.V. show?
  5. If you could have one super power what would it be? (I guess funny question?)

This is my favorite post, not necessarily a good one 🙂 Wipeouts, Workouts and Warrior Poses

To Surf With or Without Booties 

So, as most of you know, I’m a Santa Cruz surfer, which means the water is about 50 -58 degrees. A wetsuit is a must because of things like hypothermia. What are not always used are booties and gloves, your feet and hands might get cold but nothing extreme will happen. 

So the other day, while I was doing some yoga stretches and dry pop ups it dawned on me; I can feel every part of my foot. I haven’t surfed without booties in Santa Cruz in a long time, and my booties tend to be extra thick and padded. Great for ankle support, but not great for feeling your feet.

So, today was a surfing day. The swell was fantastic! 5-6 feet and most beaches, long period swell ans chunky powerful waves. We’re gonna get hit with an XXL swell by end of the weekend (maybe even Mavericks will happen next week). With the weather 65 degrees, I decided to go without booties. I wanted to see if it hurts or helps my surfing ability. 

Guess what? Totally did better without the booties. Of course the water was freezing, but I could really turn into the wave. And not to mention after surfing my feet were freezing! Guess that’s why Uggs were invented 😁

~Namaste 

Scrappy Surfing Yogi 

Welcome to the home gym

About three months ago, we bought a weight machine and an elliptical machine. Our reasoning was since my husband and I both work from home, having a home gym would be less than monthly gym memberships and we don’t have to leave to work out.

It did take us a while to set up, since we had to do some extreme cardboard box removing, but it is finally all done. I honestly don’t use the weight machine, I like free weights, but I have been using the elliptical on a regular basis.

My favorite thing of our home gym is the tv my husband installed. Now really no excuse not to exercise.

My workout lately has consisted of cardio or hill workouts and watching surf movies on the regular. As for yoga, I practice inside the house because the garage floor is concrete and that hurts in yoga practice.

Readers, do you like to watch tv or listen to music while working out?

~Namaste

Scrappy Surfing Yogi

In a terrible habit

I have never been a great sleeper, always dealing with some sort of insomnia or disrupted sleep pattern. Lately, I have been in a terrible habit of getting up in the middle of the night, going to the couch and watching T.V. or surf movies for a couple of hours.

Last night was the worst night of it all. After a very long surf session in the late afternoon and some nighttime yoga, I fell asleep around 10 pm. Then, I was up around 1 pm, and couldn’t fall back asleep until like 5 am. This morning my body and mind are exhausted.

I seem to get the worst of this type of sleep disruption when I workout, surf or practice yoga later in the day. I always thought exercise should tire me out, but it doesn’t seem to do that.

I will admit, sometimes when I get up to watch T.V. or movies, I rather enjoy it, especially if I don’t have a schedule the next day. But, now being an adult, I always have something that needs to be done to be productive.

Anyone else deal with disrupted sleep patterns?

~Namaste

Scrappy Surfing Yogi