Surf Into Yoga

By Léo Azambuja

Rochelle Ballard. Contributed photo

A former professional surfer from Kaua‘i opened Surf Into Yoga — an adventure, surfing and wellness retreat — more than a decade ago, putting into practice her life-long journey in a healthy lifestyle.

“When I retired from the WSL world surfing tour, I wanted to do something with my experience, knowledge and skill set,” said Rochelle Ballard, adding she was already experienced in massage, wellness and yoga since she was 21 years old. She also ran surf camps for the youth during her last six years on tour. “It was a natural transition for me to go into a surf and wellness retreat business.”

For local residents, she said, Surf Into Yoga offers personalized yoga, core stability functional training, and wellness, life and surf coaching. For visitors, Surf Into Yoga offers several ways to experience Kaua‘i holistically, and also through guided wellness and adventure packages.

Surfing and yoga have been a big part of Ballard’s life since high school, she said.

“They also are great teachers of life and the journey in taking on challenges, overcoming fears, being in touch with your body, mind, spirit and nature. Both are very powerful, healing and fun. They go hand in hand for me,” Ballard said.

Surf Into Yoga started in 2009, two years after the regular-footed big-wave charger retired from the professional surfing tour. Ballard said the idea for the business’ name came from her journey in surfing leading her into yoga. In the beginning, Surf Into Yoga was more focused on the visitor-retreat packages. But Ballard would soon realize her passion for wellness and surf was also right here in her own community and working with local residents to help them to live a pain-free and healthy life.

Working with the youth, she said, and sharing her surfing experience and knowledge while building their skills and future has been an incredibly inspiring and joyful journey for her. When it comes to visitors, the most important lessons have been her clients’ safety, caring for their needs with aloha, and being flexible with them and the weather.

The customers at Surf Into Yoga range from 13 years old to 75 years old, and it’s a pretty even mix of man and women. The cool thing is that you don’t have be a surfer or someone with experience in yoga to join their programs.

Rochelle Ballard. Contributed photo

Ballard herself is one of the surfing coaches. She competed for many years at the highest level of the sport, winning several contest trophies, and finishing second during the 2004 season. Former pro surfer Kaipo Jaquias is another coach. He competed at the WSL for many years, and won the coveted Hawaiian Triple Crown in 1996, finishing fifth in the world that same year.

Jaquias and Ballard were also part of Hawaiian team that took gold in the 2012 ISA World Masters Championship, with Ballard coming home with gold in the Women’s Master division, and Jaquias winning silver in the Men’s Grand Master, where teammate Sunny Garcia took gold. Other surfing coaches include Jeremy Doudt, Anthony Vail and Milo Murguia.

Ballard also teaches yoga, along with Liz Smithers. The massage part has a handful of therapists. Others in the business are nutritionist Tiana Kamen and naturopathic kinesiologist Zack Allen.

Surf Into Yoga. Photo courtesy of Mike Coots

Ballard’s professional experience came from many different avenues. She learned from experts in physical training, wellness and nutrition, and also from traveling, winning surf contests, visiting other cultures and growing up with Kaua‘i roots. She also earned certifications in massage, wellness and sustainability.

“The business aspects and knowledge has come from trial and error, but mostly through my experiences with my parents, who own Brennecke’s Beach Broiler and Nukumoi Surf Co. They have taught me a great deal about business and how to communicate and cater to customers,” she said.

During her years on the world surfing tour, Ballard had a seat on the board representing women’s surfing. She also worked closely with her surf sponsors to build their brands, running surf camps and events, and participated in the production of a handful of women’s surf videos, including the classic Blue Crush movie.

Surfing and yoga, she said, have given her the tools and lessons to learn how to live her best life.

“I enjoy sharing this with people so they can to live their best life,” Ballard said.

Visit surfintoyoga.com or email info@surfintoyoga.com or call (805) 293-1833 for more information. Find Ballard on Instagram at @surfintoyoga and @rochelleballard.