I’ve always had a bit of a thing for the ‘Shred Lifestyle’, appreciating the cool factor of surf culture and wanting to be part of it. So in 2020 I made a New Years Resolution to learn to surf, which was going pretty well until early March last year when Covid first hit. Without my own board or the confidence to head into the waves on my own, this goal got sidelined, shelved and never picked back up again although it has lingered in the back of my mind as sort of ‘unfinished business.’
So when the opportunity to head to Te Arai for a weekend of surfing and yoga presented itself, it was an easy YES. The Women’s Wellness Weekends run by Aotearoa Surf School are all about giving us girls the chance to spend some time out on the water, as well as nourishing our bodies with healthy food, great conversation, and time to relax and recharge.
I left Auckland on a Friday afternoon mulling over unanswered emails, to-do lists and vaguely wondering if my phone battery would last the drive to Te Arai. Pulling into the driveway of Aotearoa Surf School and all of this mind chatter started to quieten as I took in the surreal view of all of the East Coast islands and incredible landscape features. My friend and I were greeted by Che, the owner of Aotearoa Surf School, and shown to our Glamping Teepee with the full suite of creature comforts and luxuries of home.
Both Saturday and Sunday began with a gentle Hatha Yoga Practice. In my daily life I thrive off the high energy of a sweaty power yoga practice so I was a little unsure whether I would have the patience to sustain an hour of this slower movement. However within 10 minutes of the practice instructor Francesca had guided me into a state of calm, conscious, meditative motion. Francesca has about 20 years experience practicing yoga and it shows – her functional flow is seamlessly put together, with intelligent and easy to follow cueing. Sunday’s class on the porch was especially magical, flowing in the early morning rainy mist as Francesca helped us to stretch out and give back to our bodies after the previous days surfing.
The star of the show of the Women’s Wellness Weekend is, of course, the surfing. I’d surfed the odd time with friends prior to Covid, and managed to get up on the board a few times, but with no technique or any idea how to progress. Our bubbly Surf Instructor Ophe spent the first part of our lesson on Saturday going over the basics of reading the wind and the waves, paddling and the pop-up and then we were off, into the water to experience the ritual of wave riding. With Ophe’s support and guidance, I was quickly able to get back up on the board and during the second lesson on Sunday started to get the hang of accelerating and turning the board. It helped that the waves at Te Arai are also some of the most consistent waves on the East Coast, making them perfect for learning. While it was awesome to make this progress over just 2 lessons, there was something even more powerful than this sense of achievement – experiencing the healing, humbling benefits of being out in the water. There is nothing like being out in the ocean to feel absorbed by nature, and it was so freeing to look up and be surrounded by it’s great expanse. When I was out on the water, I found it hard to think about anything else, offering my mind a much needed break.
The Women’s Wellness Weekend at Te Arai was, for me, the biggest silver lining in this otherwise crazy year. I left Te Arai on Sunday afternoon feeling both blissed out and empowered, ready to re-enter the world (and buy myself a board!)
Find out more at aotearoasurf.co.nz/womens-wellness-weekend
surf@aotearoasurf.co.nz
09 431 5760
