Yoga and Kayaking

October-November 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Aaron Perlov

As dawn breaks and the sun peeks out behind the distant snow-capped mountains, we sit in a circle on the beach, crossed-legged, and greet the new day. We offer our gratitude to the sun and the sea, in chorus with the morning choir of birds who themselves sing their own tributes. Once the sun rises above the mountain range, Jesse, the trip’s nominal yogi, leads us in twelve ‘sun-salutations’, a flowing sequence of yoga stretches. We prepare our minds and our bodies for the day’s paddle.

Yoga consists of asana (stretching) and pranayama (breathing), which in combination enhance one’s physical condition and promote strength, flexibility and balance. These practices were originally designed to prepare the body for prolonged periods of sitting in silence and meditation. For the purposes of this particular trip, practicing yoga relaxes the body in preparation for the rhythm of paddling.

Kristin, a novice yogi reflects, “Stretching before paddling releases all my muscle tension. Afterwards, I feel relaxed and at ease sitting in the boat. My mind is free from thinking about muscle cramps and is able to harmonize with the daily rise and fall of the sun, the moon and the tides. I feel awesome!”

For some, the focus of a kayak trip is an internal competition, a personal challenge to conquer the surrounding environment. For me, the focus is not towards pushing my limits, but rather, it is a time to relax among places of inspiring beauty. I choose the kaleidoscope of the sea, the rocking motion of the boat, the song of the dripping paddle, the smell of the crisp ocean air, the sound of howling winds, or alternatively, the all-encompassing silence.

The rhythm of the paddle breaking through the still glass water is itself a meditation. This form of meditation allows me to become completely comfortable with my inner self. At the end of the day, I rest under the thick canopy of a Douglas fir, feeling completely surrendered to the simplicity of living in the wilderness. No longer is this just a paddling trip, it is a journey to find time for silence, to find inner peace, to be one with nature. Serenity, Harmony, Awareness—the triad of my soul.

© Aaron Perlov is a cofounder of Moksana Yoga and Kayak Adventures, Web: www.moksanayoga.com