I believe there are two solid reasons worth making morning stretches a habit for all surfers, keeping you strong and durable as you age.The main idea is that if you want to age gracefully and keep on surfing as you get older, you’d better have some kind of practice in place to take care of your body. It requires being proactive about your body. If you ignore that nagging pain in your shoulder or hip, hoping it will magically go away, you’re in for trouble down the road.
Here are two of my favorite exercises to age-proof your body. If you want to keep surfing well as you age, you need to own these 3 movements in your body:
-Rotation in the middle back.
-Hip Flexion (think bringing your knee up to your chest) and hip extension (imagine extending your leg behind you).
-Maintaining a good deep squat
This video will help you improve all three of those movements above with two movements.
To review, here are the two main reasons you should be doing this every single day:
1. It Builds a Strong, Supple, Durable Body
When your joints are working properly with full range of motion, you’ll have a solid foundation that makes everything else better. Getting stronger will be easier. Flexibility improves so that you can squeeze into those tiny barrels. And balanced muscles will keep you in the water longer and decrease the chance of injury.
2. A Small Morning Win Equals Success For Rest Of The Day
It’s not only that your body will feel good with a morning mobility movement meditation. More importantly, it’s the psychological win you get by doing something positive as soon as you start your day. It’s the little momentum you build simply by doing one tiny thing that is good for you.
This small win first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. It tells your subconscious, I’m in control here. It’s the same reason I’m an avid bed maker these days. You’re telling your brain that you’re making shit happen and you’re taking a proactive step in the direction of better health.
Give this one a shot and let me know how it goes. And remember that you need to create and find consistency with your practice in order to improve anything or accomplish a goal. You can also accomplish that by using the power of community and group motivation. Everybody knows what they should do to accomplish a health or fitness goal. But having a group holding them accountable creates a much more powerful mindset for change.
Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in learning more about, check out the author’s 30-Day Leaner and Stronger Program. You can also get early access and a special discount for a limited time.
