Over 4,000 females participate in Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day over the weekend

Surf Goddess Retreats partnered with Rip Curl School of Surf to develop the first women only Surf Program in Bali and is has been a match made in heaven.

We just had our Girls Go Surfing Day here in Bali a couple of months ago and now it was time for the Aussie Girls to jon the fun...and boy did they ever!

Although final numbers are still being confirmed, the 2010 Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day is estimated to have attracted over 4,000 females over the weekend. Under the guidance of qualified Surfing Australia instructors, participants either got their first taste at surfing or gained a few tips to improve their current level.



2010 is the 21st consecutive year the program has run, making it the longest running and largest participation based all girls surfing program in the world.


“We had an excellent weekend with a big turnout at all locations. It’s fantastic to see so many girls participating in the sport and there’s no better way to get you started for surfing this summer,” said Marine Cole.


By the end of the weekend, most girls had stood up for the first time on a surfboard and more importantly all were smiling. After each session the participants receive their official Girls Go Surfing Day ‘goodie bag’ with a limited edition singlet and other assorted gear.





The Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day is proudly presented by Virgin Blue with partners Surfing Australia, DOLLY magazine, WIN TV and The Butterfly Foundation.

Soul Surfing - Thoughts and Musings

When we fully realise that the flow of our life's story has been directed by the choices we made in response to any given situation.....the great gift of each new day is that we always have the opportunity to choose again.

Blissful Bircher Museli (Surf Goddess Recipes)

If you've been tiring of eating breakfast cereals first thing in the morning, the original Bircher muesli offers a tasty and healthy alternative that we serve on our retreats!

Bircher muesli, originally brought to the world's attention in about 1900, was created by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The idea was to provide a nutritious morning food as an aid to therapy. (More generally, he went against the grain, suggesting that plant based diets are much healthier than meat based diets, something which science is beginning to corroborate.)


What we think of as muesli today, is actually a descendant of the original muesli created by Bircher, but quite often with the essential healthy qualities removed, due to the shelf life of products - that is, the fresh fruits. Today's mueslis also often have added salt and sugar, both of which are unnecessary to get a great taste. Though some manufacturers do provide a healthier alternative (i.e. no added sugar), the obvious drawback is that packaged breakfast cereals can't contain fresh fruit. After getting a taste for Bircher muesli, it's hard to go back and enjoy food from a box in the same way!

Following is the recipe we prepare daily on our retreat - which is incredibly tasty and brimming with energy!

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 green apple, unpeeled, quartered, core removed
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (125ml) apple juice
1/2 cup (130g) fat-free natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve
Large pinch ground cinnamon / nutmeg
1/4 cup (25g) flaked almonds / walnuts
1/4 cup (30g) diced tropical dried fruit
2 tbs freshly grated coconut ( or pepitas / pumpkin seeds)
1/2 tbs flax seeds
Freshly diced mango, papaya or berries to serve


Method

Coarsely grate the apple. Mix the grated apple, rolled oats, apple juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.

Combine the flaked nuts and seeds in a small bowl.


Stir half the nut mixture through the muesli with 1/2 cup of yoghurt if the muesli has been soaking overnight. (If the muesli has been soaking for 1 hour, add a little extra yoghurt only as desired.) Top with the remaining nut mixture and fruit to serve.

Tip: Adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or whatever you have in the pantry. Replace the apple juice with orange or pineapple juice, milk or soy milk for a non-dairy alternative. Add some toasted shredded coconut, diced dried apricot or currants.

prep: 5 mins (+1 hour or overnight soaking) - Keeps for 2 - 3 days


Enjoy!

Practicing Extreme Self Acceptance

Before you head out today, whether its to the surf or work.... I invite you to practice 'Extreme Self Acceptance'. 

Happiness and Self Love shouldn't be conditional.  

Understand that you are already 'perfect' just the way you are today in your uniqueness.  

Enjoy being in your skin, enjoy doing things 'imperfectly' because perfection is just an illusion.  

When we accept and celebrate ourselves just as we are in each day, that is we give ourselves the freedom to experience happiness - nobody else can truly give it to us.  

Wishing you a wonderful self-judgement free day!

Raw Ceasar Salad Dressing from the Surf Goddess Kitchen

There is nothing like going for an early evening surf in warm weather then coming home and having a big salad fresh salad!  This is just one of our favourites dressings.
It does not need to be served with traditional cos lettuce, as it is also wonderful with arugula, olives, tomatoes, radishes, avacadoes, hemp seeds....mix it up!

Ingredients

1/4 cup cold-pressed olive oil


2 cloves garlic, chopped


4 medium stalks celery, cut into fourths


1/2 cup water


1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice


1/4 cup Namu Shoyu soy sauce


2 Tablespoons sweet white miso


5 organic unsulphered dates ( I substitute 1 t. raw honey)


freshly ground pepper to taste




It's very simple to make....Blend all ingredients in blender


Makes 3 cups and keeps for about 10 days

The Joy of the Beginner's Mind - Surfing's Hidden Treasures

Humans are the only creatures that are self-conscious. You never see a cat blush when they slip, dogs never cringe when they fart in public and I am sure lions don’t beat themselves up over ‘the one that got away.’



It’ s only we humans that have set up the world so that we try to do every thing perfectly...every time. With this in mind, surfing can teach us one of life’s finest lessons…that is to not take ourselves so seriously!

To learn to surf we must be willing to lose our self-consciousness in order to participate. No person has ever picked up a surfboard and ridden a wave perfectly on their first try. We have all fallen off our boards in uncoordinated ways and been unceremoniously tossed around by the white wash - both as beginners and as seasoned surfers!


Surfing teaches us to keep humble, be patient and have a few laughs as we give ourselves a good long period of time where we can be ‘kooky’ surfers as we try something new.

This is also a great lesson to take into life in general. How often are we afraid to try something new because we may fail and worse yet, look foolish or uncomposed while trying?

All the wisest teachers throughout the ages have taught the benefits of keeping a beginner’s mind - to lower the bar and allow ourselves to ‘not know’ and not be ‘perfect experts’.

Indeed I have always thought that some of most fun I have had in the surf was when I was an absolute beginner. It was all great back then. Every small improvement a momentous victory, every slip, slide and tumble and chance to laugh, giggle and get bounced around by the bubbly froth.


How much more serious we become when we lose the beginner’s mind. Every small mistake becomes an excuse to berate ourselves for not doing better. Where is the fun in that?

So if you are a beginner enjoy your bumpy, frothy, fun discovery of surfing; and if you’re a seasoned surfer, re-discover your beginner’s mind.


There are many ways you can do this. One way is by teaching another to surf. As we teach what we know we share the beginner’s experience and re-visit that part of ourselves. Another way is to surf somewhere new or on a different length of board than you usually ride. Surf just for the fun of it. Let go of how you look, how ‘well’ you rode the wave or if you got wiped - just do it because you love it!

http://www.surfgoddesretreats.com/

Surf Goddess Retreats in Shape Magazine Online

Getting fit doesn't have to  mean going to the gym and slogging it out on the  stairmaster...surfing provides a great way to get in shape and have fun doing it!

http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/classes/yoga_surf_camp