By Miguel Gonzalez
Editor
All photos By Melanie Francisca
(North Shore)– Professional female surfer and Haleiwa instructor Rochelle Ballard has always enjoyed combining her love for surfing and yoga. This past week, Ballard was able to teach paddle board yoga sessions that had many praising her ability to instruct a class of such high difficulty. “It’s really about honoring (the water) instead of fighting it,” Ballard said.
Ballard likes to teach by example, her approach to yoga is of complete respect and that respect transmits to her students, even those a bit unsure about doing yoga on an over sized surf board. “Some of the most relaxing things in life for me is jumping in the ocean and having a surf and sometimes it’s calming down and just doing a little yoga.”
The instructor said she hopes to continue to work with festivals like Wanderlust and keep on teaching classes that can combine yoga and paddle boards. “It’s a fun style of teaching yoga. I love playing on my board. When you really can be a part of the elements and feel them, that’s when you are in the union of it.”
For more information on Rochelle Ballard, please visit: www.surfintoyoga.com