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As a 30 something surfer, there are two great nonsurf activities that keep me feeling tuned up when I hit the water: stretching and watching surf videos. The beauty of Yoga For Surfers is that it offers a great combonation of both.

At 55 minutes, Yoga for Surfers (Volume 1) treats yoga not as some mystical power from beyond but rather a functional tool for surfers to improve performance, endurance, and sheer enjoyment of waveriding.

Host/instructor Peggy Hall demonstrates three phases of Yoga for Surfers. The first is the pre-surf session which focuses on flexibility and focus. I found the exercises to be easily learned and effective. The next session takes place in the water while waiting for waves and includes stretches for the neck, back, and arms. The video finishes with a post-surf yoga session meant to relax and rejuvinate.

As a yoga video, YFS is very good, but once you add in outstanding surfing from Taylor Knox and Rochelle Ballard, this video is both immensely useful and entertaining. Surfers need to be strong and flexible, but stretching when your amping to go surf may not be an option. Therefore Yoga for Surfers offers a chance to get psyched by two world class surfers ripping perfect waves and get your muscles and mind in tune for your next session.

Fluid Power Yoga (Yoga for Surfers II) takes the exercising and relaxing to the next level. This is where I began to feel the burn.

This second installment is more focused on the spine and balancing techniques.

Also, there is a bonus section including techniques to improve lung capacity.

Peggy Hall is incredibly fit (as are Knox and Ballard) which really gives the viewer even more fuel to make Yoga For Surfers a regular part of a healthy surf fitness lifestyle. Without a doubt, surfers need to be flexible, balanced and strong. Yoga for Surfers (Volumes I and II) provide effective yoga instruction mixed with energizing surf footage from world class surfers and is, in my opinion, a useful tool for any surfer who wishes to surf well into his/her later years.

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