Surf & Yoga for Swahinis

Surfing and yoga go together like, well ham and eggs, pancakes and blueberries, tomatoes and basil. The more time I spend in cobra, downward facing dog or eagle, the better my surfing seems to be and the faster my recovery time. Loads of surfing galpals also swear that doing a few 'sun salutes' is a great way to limber up and cool down after an invigorating surf.
So if any of you surfsistas are planning on visiting Albany in WA in 2011 and want to catch a few waves, then I recommend signing up for one of the terrific all-female surf & yoga retreats.

Organised by keen surfer and yoga enthusist Narelle of Albany’s reknown Cruize Inn, the retreats are aimed at female surfers of all levels, ages and surfing ability. The Cruize Inn is a lovely, friendly and affordable accomodaiton for extended families, family groups, corporate travellers and same-interest groups - when I was there during my WA surfari, it was bliss!

The Swahini retreats include:

• Traditional Vinyasa Yoga & Meditation with qualified Yoga instructor - 24 yrs experience
• Surfing the South coast in pristine locations with experienced & qualified surfing instructors
• Massage
• Optional therapies
• Relaxation
• Delicious, wholesome meals & nutritious drinks
• Asian Cooking Class – with a local chef
• Relaxed & comfortable shared accommodation
• Small groups of 6 to 8 participants.

Contact: Narelle – 0417 987 775 or Helen (Yogasun) – (08) 9841 3020 

Happy Days Diary 2011 for surfers

Keeping on top of life’s commitments and schedules can sometimes appear to be the antithesis of surfing. So when the Happy Days Diary 2011 arrived in the letterbox, I was stoked. It's a yearlong celebration of surfing and the environment - it's a million miles away from the usual boring diary which can make you feel like an office-drone.

This spiral-bound diary is in a seven days-to-two-pages format so you can see at a glance your week ahead. It features over 200 pages of delightful surf-related art and photographs and contains loads of interesting details – from feature stories on the marine environment through to surfing destinations. For those of us who like to doodle there is space for notes and drawings.
Another cool feature is that each month focuses on a different country, with photos and surfing information with the weekdays written in the local language. Sustainability is covered by the limited-edition run of 2000, it is printed locally in Australia on Ecostar 100% recycled FSC certified paper with soy based inks.
The Happy Days Diary 2011 also supports non-profit organizations on marine environmental issues that feature in the diary, including whaling, rainforests, climate change, plastic and over fishing information interspersed with the months. It is available in select book stores, art galleries, surf and eco stores, and online at http://www.happydaysdiary.com/