Chi Gung Surfing, Slackline Chi Gung, Tree Yoga - for Surfing

Aloha Tribe,

So, I've been working on a number of disciplines to improve my surfing. Namely...

1. Chi Gung

2. Slacklining

3. Slackline Yoga

4. Slackline Chi Gung

5. Tree Yoga

6. Silver Surfer Longboard Yoga


Each of these arts dances together in a harmony of balance. Since balance is the root of all that is behind surfing, by training in these other disciplines, I am able to work on my balance from a variety of angles.

Chi Gung, as I see it, is the root of surfing, for it is behind all that we do as surfers, its simply that most have not heard the term nor know the discipline. Essentially, it involves a variety of stationary as well as moving postures, all flowing together in gentle rounded movements, in harmony with ones breath and the energy of the body as well as beyond our bodies, chi.


Slacklining is standing, walking, and moving on a thin strip of tubular webbing, often about an inch in diameter, sometimes less, sometimes more. Essentially, a piece of webbing is strung between two solid supports such as trees, boulders and the like, and you stand, sit, and move on the line as it gently sways.


Slackline Yoga is all about doing yoga poses while on the slackline. It is a beautiful, soft, gentle, magical  approach to movement, stillness, and life.

Slackline Chi Gung involves doing Chi Gung on a slackline, just as Chi Gung Surfing is about doing Chi Gung while one surfs. In both cases, it brings a combination of internal and external awareness to what you are doing, be it walking on a slackline or surfing a wave. At it's most basic, the art involves learning to harmonize your physical muscular movements  with your breath. This method is called Wai Chi. And, at more advanced levels, you harmonize your bodies internal energy or chi, as well as the energy beyond yourself from a wave or the sky or earth, and you blend that energy with your own and move it through your body as you dance with the energy of nature.

Tree Yoga involves using various straps suspended from trees to aid in your Yoga practice. Using these straps, one can also bring them to the Slackline for Slackline Yoga practice. In addition, you could use a NOHO Surf Balance Trainer set up under a tree, and use the straps from Tree Yoga to help you hold various static and dynamic movements on your surfboard when it is on dry land. This form of practice is a variation of Zhan Zhong, and, in this format would be Tree Yoga Surfboard Zhan Zhong. Standing in such postures, one might hold them for one to several hours to allow the body to slowly grown into each new pose. It is truly a beautiful art with infinite depth to explore, both internally and externally.

And of course, that brings us to Silver Surfer NOHO Surf Balance Trainer Yoga. As I've mentioned in other posts, my inspirtation comes from the Marvel Superhero, the Silver Surfer and that fact that he spends so much of his life literally on his board. As such, I am learning to use my NOHO Surf Balance Trainer as a way to truly explore the depth of my balance on my longboard. With such a tool, it is possible to literally train on your board all day, overnight, and for however long you choose to remain on the board and NOHO Surf Balance Trainer. It is truly a phenomenal experience and is not to be missed for it offers such an awareness that is beyond imagination. Rather trippy, actually.

So, by combining these various training methods into different combinations, I'm slowly working on honing my surfing balance for when I hit the waves.

I am searching for an art that is as beautiful to see as it is to feel.  I seek an art that is soft, gentle, receptive, feminine, flowing, beautiful, rounded, playful.  Last night, I spent most of the night in personal exploration of muscular movement through yoga, bringing me to new heights of snesory awareness and a much greater limberness today. Truly awesome!!!

Bodaciously Stoked,

Lily of the Valley