Surfing and yoga go pretty well together. Pro surfers like Kelly Slater, Gerry Lopez, Nikki Van Dijk and many others have long incorporated yoga practice in their training and lifestyle. In recent years, camps and retreats that combine yoga and surf classes have been popping up all along the world’s famous surf spots. To find out more, read our latest article about Costa Rica’s best surf & yoga camps or our interviews with Aideen from Beautiful Life Yoga and Surf and Phil, co-founder of Rise Up retreats.
Organizing retreats can be a great opportunity to get a foot into the surf tourism business, which is a growing market than can be very profitable. However, retreats usually require a significant investment in time and personal love from the host.
We talked to Lena, co-founder of Higher Frequency Retreats, to find out more about what it takes to organize your own retreat by the sea and create a matching retreat brand.
Hey! Who are you, and what are you working on?
My name is Lena. I am based in Munich, Germany but also spend a lot of time of the year in Portugal. Right now, I am in El Palmar, Spain to spend the winter here. Good weather and small waves - this is perfect for me!
Right now, I am working on the final organization of our spring yoga and surf retreats, coming up in April and May this year. I am also currently teaching yoga every day at a friend’s surf camp here in El Palmar.
Meet Lena, host and co-founder of Higher Frequency Retreats, www.higherfrequencyretreats.com
Has it always been your dream to organize and host yoga retreats?
Yes, definitely. This dream came more and more within reach when I was living in Peniche, Portugal between 2019 and 2021. I fell in love with the place, the beaches, the surf and the people. I found myself in a wonderful community of like-minded humans who became like my second family. We used to go surfing, do yoga and fitness workouts together while enjoying good food and the Portuguese sun. It felt like such a dream to be in community, close to nature and just happy in the moment. This was when I realized that I could help more people make this kind of experience - a get-away from the daily life that often times consists of office work and grey skies.
I noticed that I have a quite good network of friends in Portugal who helped me set up the first retreat. Everything went really smooth and easy - for me a sign that the Universe supports my plans and so I kept going :)
How is your daily routine living next to the ocean?
It is absolutely amazing to be able to come into close contact with nature every day. This is why I love surfing! It’s the full immersion into the elements. Wherever I am, it’s important to me to spend a lot of time outdoors - can be by the sea, in the forest or in the mountains. It makes me feel really good and alive.
My daily routine consists of getting up early, meditating, a few hours of focused working and then time to surf, skate or chill on the beach. I realized that you get things done much easier and more effectively when you take good care of yourself, which means getting enough sleep, spending time outside in the sun and doing activities you enjoy. This is what I think of as good work life balance.
Daily yoga is a must, Foto: @erix_dilexit for @breeze_yoga
What is in your opinion the most important ingredient for a successful yoga and surf retreat?
I think it’s all about the atmosphere that is created during the retreat. We as human beings are so powerful and we definitely have the power to create deep healing and initiate transformational processes within each other. Actually it happens all the time. We are constantly being influenced and influencing each other - mostly unconscious.
During a retreat, we become more sensitive and aware of our surroundings. This means, we focus on the connection with the people around us. We enjoy the food that we eat and we value the nature and the beauty with which she gifts us.
Once we are in this state of heightened mindfulness, and find ourselves in a space that acts as a safe container for healing, we naturally, gradually become more and more aware of who we really are. We remember our core values and find a sense of inner peace and calm. This then is true retreat magic!
What are the main challenges in your business right now?
It’s more an observation than a challenge, that right now retreat businesses are booming. However I have the feeling that the demand creates the offer, therefore it is not really a problem. I see and hear of so many people who really suffered during the past two years - because of lockdwon, restrictions etc. People are yearning to be social again, to re-form connections, to experience themselves in a new environment.
I get the feeling that the demand for retreat experiences has never been so high as it is now. I think it is a great opportunity right now for new retreat businesses to emerge, and to reach more people who are new to surf and / or yoga and might have not been interested in joining a retreat piror. It’s an opportunity but also a challenge to reach especially this kind of people
What does yoga mean to you?
For me, yoga means SO much. It is like a reference point for my life. Whenever I feel confused or lost, I get on my mat and do my practice, I read some yoga philosophy or sing mantras and within minutes I feel stable again. The practice gives me a sense of knowing who I am, deep down in my core. This is something that can’t be superficially described by looks or even by words. It’s a feeling of being connected to something greater, a bigger plan or purpose.
Yoga gives me so much and therefore I love to share the teachings and help more and more people to loacate and cultivate this space of knowing inside of themselves.
Yoga and surf is the perfect combination for me, because surfing needs basically all the qualities that you foster during the yoga practice: focus, calmness, inner stability and strenght.
Where will the next retreat be?
The next retreat takes place in Baleal, Portugal. We will be a group of 10-15 people sharing a surf house 250m away from the beach, having a daily yoga practice, surf lessons, vegan food and some more great activities to foster mindfulness and connection.
What is your favorite surf spot and why?
I love the beaches of Baleal. For me, it’s perfect that there are various breaks within walking distance from Baleal/Ferrel and that there is a different spot for each weather condition and surf level. You can just choose what you feel like in a day and then go to that break. I also love watching surfers at Supertubos on good days.
Where can we learn more about you?
You can follow our social media accounts or get in touch via e-mail. I’m happy to hear from you and maybe welcome you soon at one of our retreats!
