Rob Barber caught up with multi-world champion Dave Hubbard to break down the five bodyboarding maneuvers he loves most.

Across all five maneuvers, a clear theme emerges.

Hubbard's favorites feature the classic height and rotation characteristics but also rely on the timing, control, and rethinking of how sections can be approached.

It's a 360-degree vision of how modern bodyboarding should be addressed, embedding experimentation to raise the level of the sport.

1. The drop knee floater

Hubbard began with what he calls "probably my favorite": the drop knee lip floater.

"So, it's like an off-the-lip, but like you're grinding the lip line while you float," he explained. "And I just love the functionality of that maneuver."

For Hubbard, the move carries history.

"It was pretty iconic as I was coming up to see guys like Roach doing such controlled lip grinds in the drop knee stance."

While he enjoys doing them prone, he says performing them drop knee is "just so appealing, so visually stimulating."

Part of that appeal lies in its subtlety.

"You don't need a ton of spray to come off your rail. But even just a little bit while your board is perfectly on the lip just looks so amazing."

Still, the maneuver demands precision. "Takes a lot of control, takes speed, of course, and a perfect line. You have to get your timing perfect."

Technically, Hubbard stresses body position at the moment of contact.

"You're going to want to get your hand on the rail kind of right as you make contact with the lip."

More advanced riders may release midway down: "I like to kind of touch it at the top and then let go. Let go and float."

Holding the rail keeps you compact; releasing allows the shoulders to level out for a more stable landing.

2. The air reverse

From there, Hubbard moved into the air - specifically, air reverses, but not the standard variety.

"I really like doing them kind of loopy, kind of almost back flippy," he said, particularly out of the bowl, where "you pretty quickly go upside down as you're doing the reverse air rotation."

For him, the loopy reverse is one of the most satisfying ways to finish a wave.

"To me, it's kind of one of the best ways you could complete a barrel ride... You just hit that bowl, and you do a nice air reverse out of the bowl."

He admits his versions are typically more inverted than most.

"I've noticed my air reverses are typically just a little bit more inverted, like upside down, loopy kind of."

The difference comes down to approach.

"Sometimes we're hitting sections, we're already upside down while we're hitting it. We can work with past vertical and find lift off."

Rather than staying confined to a vertical plane, Hubbard sees the lip as a three-dimensional launch ramp.

"I just think that's a more dynamic approach to lip maneuvers."

3. The straight-leg forward spin

His third favorite maneuver is far less explosive but arguably more technical: straight-leg forward spins performed deliberately slow.

"They probably look silly and probably look like I'm fooling around, which I am getting a lot of enjoyment out of them," he admitted.

Unlike a standard forward spin - driven by bottom turn, head throw, and leg lift - Hubbard strips the mechanics back.

"You keep your legs straight. You almost just disengage your rail... I don't do any of those." Instead, the move becomes "kind of a patience game and balancing while you just manage the rotation."

The slowed-down rotation forces a deeper understanding.

"Removing some of the functional pieces to doing the spin kind of helps you to understand how the spin works more."

Riders are "flying blind for a few seconds," he said, but the exercise builds awareness of rail control and balance. "You get to know a little bit more about basic moves when you do them in an unorthodox manner."

4. The Kama flip

The fourth maneuver is something of a mythical project: the Kama flip. 

"I've known it as the Kama flip," Hubbard said, crediting "this guy named Kama from Hana in Maui" for explaining it to him.

The concept blends an air reverse with a front flip exit - starting in one rotational direction and finishing facing forward.

"It's pretty functional in that you will complete the maneuver facing forward," Hubbard noted.

But he was candid about the difficulty. "It's really difficult. I've never completed this maneuver."

The key lies in initiating rotation from the back half of the body. "Your back half actually needs to kind of lead the rotation... your legs and back torso are going to be leading to complete it."

Though versions have appeared over the years, Hubbard says the maneuver has remained just out of reach.

"It's been in the realm for 20, 30 years. Maybe longer. I've never seen it landed." For now, it remains one of bodyboarding's great unfinished challenges.

5. The reverse invert

Rounding out the list is the reverse invert, an evolution of the already dynamic reverse rollo.

Hubbard describes reverse rollos as "one of the most functional maneuvers of the counter rotational lip moves," but the reverse invert adds an extra layer of deception.

"You start to go into a counter rotation like a reverse rollo... and then you counter that rotation and go back," he explained. "It's like you're double juking anyone watching that."

He has landed a handful - "I've landed a couple" - though he admits style points are hard-earned. "It's pretty unlikely you're gonna get perfect style or like it looking great in a photo," he said.

"But it'll look fun on video."

Kauai is putting a stop to a familiar beach item that often shows up broken, battered, and abandoned along the shoreline.

On Wednesday, December 10, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed Bill No. 2976 into law, banning disposable polystyrene foam bodyboards across the island.

The measure passed unanimously in the Kauai County Council and was introduced by Councilmember Fern Holland, with Council Vice Chair KipuKai Kuali'i as co-sponsor.

The new law makes it illegal for businesses to sell, rent, or give away disposable foam bodyboards anywhere in the County of Kauai.

The goal is simple: reduce waste, protect wildlife, and keep beaches cleaner.

Kauai is the second Hawaiian island to ban disposable bodyboards, following Maui's 2022 prohibition.

Disposable bodyboards are usually cheap and lightweight. They are often used once or twice and then tossed aside.

Over time, they crack into smaller pieces that scatter across sand and water.

Those fragments add to litter, fill up landfills, and create serious risks for marine animals and birds that can swallow them or get tangled in them.

Other Alternatives Encouraged

The ordinance creates a new Article 29 under Chapter 22 of the Kauai County Code.

It clearly defines what counts as a disposable bodyboard, what materials are banned, and which alternatives are allowed. Polystyrene foam boards are out.

More durable options made from high-density polyethylene or polypropylene are encouraged instead. These boards last longer and are less harmful when they wear down.

Mayor Kawakami noted the change addresses a problem that many people overlook.

"Disposable bodyboards may seem small, but their impact has been anything but small," he said.

"By eliminating polystyrene foam boards from stores and rentals, we are protecting our beaches, our ocean, and the wildlife that calls Kauai home."

The ordinance gives businesses time to adapt. It will take effect one year from the date it was approved.

That window allows shops and rental operators to sell remaining stock and shift to longer-lasting boards that meet the new rules.

Once the law is in effect, enforcement will fall to the Public Works Solid Waste Division. Businesses that break the rules will face civil penalties that increase with repeat violations.

One Goal Only: To Protect Marine Life

The County Attorney also has the authority to pursue additional legal action if needed.

Councilmember Fern Holland said the ordinance reflects a broader responsibility to the island.

"This ordinance reflects our responsibility to care for Kauai's environment. By encouraging durable alternatives, we are reducing waste, protecting marine life, and ensuring our islands remain beautiful for generations to come."

Kauai has a long history of local laws aimed at cutting down single-use products and protecting natural resources.

The latest move targets an item closely tied to beach culture, tourism, and daily life on the island.

Hopefully, more Hawaiian islands and nations across the world will embrace and adopt similar ordinances.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Armide Soliveres has taken out the 2025 Annaëlle Challenge in France.

It was France's only international bodyboarding contest, and from now on, it will only be part of the history books.

The eighth edition of the prestigious Annaëlle Challenge crowned its champion and podium finishers under the sun and with perfect conditions.

The invitational event returned to the slab located off the coast of Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau, in Finistère, Brittany, for one last hurrah before the organizers and volunteers wrap up their mission for good.

After 15 years of hard work and navigating the logistics associated with hosting a contest in a remote environment, co-founder Gwen Renambot and his team are ready to move on.

But the end was sweet and epic.

What a Way to Say Goodbye

The final had Armide Soliveres, Pierre-Louis Costes, Yann Salaun, and Morgan Le Quellec exchanging great waves and solid scores.

Despite being predominantly a right-hand slab, there were also a few lefts available for the most curious and creative riders.

The decisive matchup was very tight, with all competitors taking off as deep as they could and giving it all.

Soliveres won by just 0.03 points, stitching several barrel rides with massive el rollos. At one point, the Canarian bodyboarder even performed a 360 inside the tube.

"It's incredible to be here on an island without anything. Viva bodyboard! Bodyboard is life!" expressed the last champion of the Annaëlle Challenge.

Hopefully, this is not the end.

Perhaps Renambot and his team can pass the torch to a younger generation willing to continue this impressive legacy and keep France on the world bodyboarding map.

2025 Annaëlle Challenge | Final

1. Armide Soliveres (CNY) 16.00
2. Pierre-Louis Costes (FRA) 15.97
3. Yann Salaun (FRA) 14.20
4. Morgan Le Quellec (FRA) 12.13

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Let's be clear. Teahupoo has taken the lives of a surfer and severely injured dozens. It's one of the heaviest and most brutal waves on the planet.

It's actually quite surreal how, since it was ridden for the first time in 1985 by local surfer Thierry Vernaudon, the infamous Tahitian liquid beast only claimed one soul: Briece Taerea.

Thousands of take-offs at the death-defying bone crusher and only one death. Impressive, indeed.

Despite the scary wipeouts, where we see surfers getting slammed against the shallow reef, breaking bones, losing consciousness, and free-falling from the wave's lip, the "End of the Road" has not been the metaphorical fate of many athletes.

Mike Stewart was one of the first to surf Teahupoo, alongside Ben Severson. They were also responsible for sharing the news about this gorgeously dangerous surf break with the Western world, even before we had dial-up internet access.

The nine-time world bodyboarding champion has quite an experience in potentially deadly waves.

His portfolio of XXL surf includes Pipeline, Nazaré (before it made it to the mainstream), Jaws, Shark Island, Shipstern Bluff, and many other elite big-wave spots.

Stewart knows Teahupoo very well. He literally felt the Tahitian monster claim his skin while bodysurfing.

So, someone who has thrived and paid his dues here should be entitled to have their say on this freak of Nature wave.

"I have an idea why there aren't more grave injuries wiping out at big Teahupoo," says Mike Stewart.

Safe Zones in Hollow Waves

In a curious analysis, the champion bodyboarder shared an illustration that aims to prove his theory.

In it, the Hawaiian waterman showcases a snapshot, cross-section of a hollow wave's lip impact.

"Imagine this moving from left to right," he notes.

"The water at the center of the lip [shown as red] generally gets driven down the deepest, as water on the outskirts [shown in yellow) generally gets deflected."

"While riding hollow waves, your positioning relative to the falling lip [impact zone] and/or how you fall into this zone will affect the odds of a collision with the bottom."

"There are only a few spots that are relatively safe [shown in blue]."

"Accessing the blue safe area in the lower right is the low-pressure zone while paddling out towards the wave; accessing the blue safer zone in the lower left is just behind the shock wave."

"A common strategy is staying in the barrel for as long as you can to minimize getting stuck in the lips' red section, which is a common consequence of trying to escape the barrel too quickly from the inside of the tube."

"Caution when falling too quickly towards the trench - the shallowest part of the wave - as you can easily hit the bottom," concludes the veteran surfer.

Stewart adds that various techniques can be implemented, depending on your location on the Tahitian wave.

The bodyboarder believes that of the "innumerable ways of getting hurt in the surf, when it comes to hollow waves, there are only a few places that are extremely dangerous from the wave itself.

"The challenge becomes avoiding these areas."

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Mike Stewart has claimed the 2025 Shark Island Challenge in Cronulla, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The most successful bodyboarder of all time won the prestigious event at the age of 62, a feat unmatched in water sports.

In the highly competitive final, Stewart beat three Australian powerhouses: Lewy Finnegan, Dave Winchester, and Jase Finlay.

The Hawaiian rider celebrated a historic win on July 4, America's Independence Day, adding another trophy to his stellar career, which also includes 14 Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic titles.

The nine-time world bodyboarding champion was able to advance through the event, witness all types of conditions, and find the exit in all sorts of barreling waves.

The competition kicked off with average-sized waves and concluded at dusk with a fading swell.

A Historic Day for Bodyboarding

An emotional Mike Stewart heard the verdict from the judges hours after the final and was carried on the shoulders of athletes present at the announcement ceremony.

"In the final, I just felt out of body. I got a couple really sick ones, with everybody encouraging me in the lineup. The energy was so positive," said Stewart.

"I'm so humbled by these guys. They're such amazing athletes. I can't even explain to you. It's got to be the highlight of my whole life!"

"It's been a long time since I won a contest.  And so, it was kind of my dream. How old could I be, or how far could I push it? So, I kept doing it.  Don't give up on the guy that doesn't give up."

The greatest bodyboarder of all time was a last-minute replacement for Jeff Hubbard. Stewart was in Brisbane, Australia, as a keynote speaker at The Design Conference.

Just before leaving the country, he got a message from the Shark Island Challenge inviting him to enter and replace his fellow Hawaiian bodyboarder who couldn’t make it.

Shark Island is one of the most challenging wave-riding spots on the planet and the home of the legendary bodyboarding contest.

The Shark Island Challenge started in 1997. Mike Stewart has conquered it again in 2025, exactly 25 years after his debut win.

2025 Shark Island Challenge | Final

1. Mike Stewart
2. Lewy Finnegan
3. Dave Winchester
4. Jase Finlay

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

A group of surf industry veterans officially announced the creation of the Universal Waveriding Alliance (UWA).

Patti Serrano, Arturo "Arlo" Serrano, and Sol Morey founded an online forum to revive and promote wave-riding and bodyboarding, in particular, in the ocean, rivers, and wave pools worldwide.

UWA plans to get all members together to share knowledge, real-life stories, and experiences and ultimately boost wave sports participation.

Patti has been called the "Mother of Bodyboarding."

She was the first on the beaches, turning beachgoers onto the newly created bodyboard in the late 1970s.

Serrano went on to publish the pioneering Bodyboarder International Magazine (BIM) in the early 1990s and founded a competitive organization and tour, the Bodyboarder International Association (BIA).

In 2021, she was instrumental in setting up "Let's Boogie! 50th Anniversary," the jubilee of Tom Morey's historical invention - the boogie board.

In 2024, along with bodyboarding world champion Guilherme Tâmega and the team, they sought to promote the sport through a series of Boogie Fests.

Her dream today is to recreate that same stoke on beaches, rivers, and wave pools throughout the world.

Patti's son, Arturo, was raised on the beach and enjoyed boogie boarding and surfing before falling in love with skiing.

He is now living in Colorado and assembling events to spread the stoke on the local rivers and waterways.

"Arlo" took his business expertise to help formulate the creation of the UWA nonprofit status.

Keeping Morey's Legacy Alive

Sol is Tom Morey's oldest son. He had the privilege of growing up around all of Tom's inventions, including the iconic and original Morey Boogie.

Living between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, he brings his innovative mind to bring environmental and product ideas to the UWA forefront.

"We're looking for those inspirational groups and individuals across the globe," underlines Sol.

"Our waters don't end at the shoreline. We are going to look for and invest in these people. So bring in your ideas, your froth, and your fervor to the forefront."

"You bring your intelligence and your questions, and we hope, in consultation, we can bring you together or put on events."

"Then, we'll further the prosperous means of individual financing, like being an entrepreneur, in the way of doing something in your garage like Tom Morey, our forefounder of bodyboarding and beyond."

Apart from promoting the sport of bodyboarding and all forms of wave riding, the Universal Waveriding Alliance will also dedicate its time and resources to safeguarding Tom Morey's name, image, and intellectual property rights and ensuring that all commercial uses of his creations respect his legacy and artistic vision.

The UWA plans to officially kick off the group on May 17, 2025, with a live 12-hour Telethon-type event that will gather bodyboarding stars, manufacturers, and historical media content shared by people from all over the world.

Riders interested in joining the UWA ring can follow the organization on social media.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Churchill announced their swim fin line is officially transitioning back to Malaysian rubber.

The company, established in 1936, kicked off the internal manufacturing process with the launch of the Pierre Louis Costes signature Makapuu fins.

But what exactly is Malaysian rubber?

Malaysian rubber refers to natural rubber produced in Malaysia, one of the world's leading rubber-producing countries.

It is primarily derived from the latex of the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is cultivated extensively in Malaysia due to its suitable tropical climate.

Malaysian rubber is known for its high quality, purity, and consistent supply, making it a preferred choice in various industries.

There are two main types of Malaysian rubber:

• Natural Rubber: Used in making tires, gloves, medical equipment, and industrial products;
• Synthetic Rubber: Produced through chemical processes to meet specific industrial requirements;

Churchill told SurferToday that "while the fins are still manufactured in China, we've imported Malaysian rubber to use in our existing molds to ensure the quality meets the standards riders expect."

"Creating new molds in a Malaysian factory would be too expensive for us right now. But quality is not compromised in any way."

"The goal is to bring Churchill back to its roots."

Tested by World Champions

Churchill is one of the most popular swimfin brands among bodyboarders and bodysurfers.

"We worked closely with Pierre, Iain Campbell, and Amaury Lavernhe, going through multiple iterations to perfect the stiffness and flex ratio," added Churchill.

Two-time world bodyboarding champion Pierre-Louis Costes contributed with his inputs to designing his signature mode.

The French rider provided feedback and helped refine the stiffness of the swimfins.

Each pair features Pierre's signature laser-engraved on the top and is color-matched to his Morey Boogie signature pro board.

The Churchill Makapuu is the brand's most famous swimfin model. They are made from 100 percent natural rubber and float.

The classic template and design were inspired by the powerful propulsion of a dolphin's tail. 

In 2016, InterSport acquired the global rights to Wham-O, the owners of Churchill, Morey Boogie, and BZ.

Since then, the multinational has been committed to reviving the three iconic watersports companies.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Dave Hubbard and Ayaka Suzuki have taken out the 2025 Hawaii Pipeline Bodyboarding Championship at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu.

The legendary Hawaiian surf break enjoyed a 14-day window period and welcomed 152 athletes competing across five divisions.

First organized by the Honolulu City Parks Department in February 1971, this event was originally designed to promote ocean safety and wave awareness.

It featured multiple divisions, including paipo board riders (Hawaii's term for bodyboarders), bodysurfers, and handboarders, and welcomed both men and women.

Significantly, this was the first official wave-riding competition held at the Banzai Pipeline, debuting nine months before the renowned Pipe Masters.

Over the years, various organizations have carried on its tradition, solidifying its status as one of the most prestigious bodyboarding contests in the sport's history.

The 2025 edition enjoyed all types of weather and ocean conditions, from clean, glassy to wind-affected waters.

As always, riders adapted to what is widely regarded as the world's most respected - and hazardous - surf break.

Interestingly, the number of bodyboarders wearing helmets continues to increase, indicating that safety is paramount in the flawless yet unforgiving barrels of Pipeline that crash over a sharp, shallow reef.

Dave Hubbard was the most consistent rider of the event.

His worst two-wave score was 13.40, and he always proved to excel inside the blue cylinder and up in the air.

In the final, Hubbard focused on the Backdoor and wrapped the showdown with a super backflip that left Morretino, Crilley, and Conteras with no choice but to congratulate the veteran multiple-time world champion.

"Hard Work Pays Off"

In the women's pro division, Ayaka Suzuki confirmed her superiority and experience at Pipeline by winning all heats.

In the end, she fulfilled a longtime dream.

"Words can't express how I feel. Hard work truly paid off. Winning at the Pipeline was a goal of mine after I gave birth, and I made it happen," expressed Suzuki.

"It's been a challenge for both Mack and me to get back in the water and train since our baby was born, but our little princess, Mana, has made us stronger than ever."

2025 Hawaii Pipeline Bodyboarding Championship | Finals

Men

1. Dave Hubbard (HAW) 17.70
2. Sammy Morretino (HAW) 16.20
3. Mack Crilley (HAW) 16.17
4. Alfonso David Aguilar Conteras (MEX) 13.30

Women

1. Ayaka Suzuki Crilley (JPN) 14.67
2. Teresa Miranda (ESP) 10.23
3. Valentina Diaz Langdon (CHI) 6.40
4. Karla Costa (BRA) 4.00

Men's Pro Junior

1. Michael Yannce (PER) 14.17
2. Tayden Salinas (HAW) 13.24
3. Nash Burkart (HAW) 10.50
4. Koa Chambers (HAW) 6.17

Women's Pro Junior

1. Aarya Tabalno (HAW) 13.17
2. Sarai Akiona (JPN) 8.73
3. Kaipo'i Koa (HAW) 8.17
4. Aika Ui, 8.00
5. Hannah Saavedra, 7.24
6. Kanani Kuumomimakamae Bustamente (HAW) 6.50

Masters

1. Rich Cooper (HAW) 8.83
2. Ivanhoe Okuda (HAW) 8.16
3. David Norris, 6.60
4. Al Boehm (HAW) 2.73
5. Chris Olayon (HAW) 2.47
6. Edson Vieira (HAW) 0.00

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Experimentation is the mother of innovation, and Mike Stewart is surely naming his bodyboarding company Science for good reasons.

At 61, the nine-time bodyboarding world champion is taking time to further explore the slightly conservative world of bodyboard design.

Stewart dedicated research and development hours to his new warp concept in SolidWorks and shared his thoughts and process with the wave-riding community.

"The warp design came as a result of revisiting the bat tail, which was basically a rounded pin that I added wings to create hold during certain hard carving moves," explains the Hawaiian.

"This new tail variation in the warp has two wings and a rounder tail configuration that creates a very loose feel but with enough traction not to slide out."

Mike Stewart states that his typical design process starts with thinking creatively and problem-solving design issues.

Once he's happy with the outcome, he starts sketching the idea, which typically resolves many design issues and flaws.

"If I feel the idea has some merit, I will bring it into the computer and start making more precise designs again, thinking deeply through functionality," adds the bodyboarder and bodysurfer.

Innovate, Test, Repeat

The next stage is to transpose the CAD drawings into prototyping.

"Prototypes, in the case of boards, are tested in the water in various conditions just to see how they work, what the benefits are, and what the drawbacks are."

Stewart admits that it doesn't take long to figure out if there's a positive trait to a design.

Similar tail and channel designs have been tested on surfboards, and boat hulls also feature identical designs, but bodyboards behave very differently.

Therefore, there is only one way to test the new watercraft's potential: by riding it.

Kelly Slater saw Mike Stewart's warp concept and said it had a shaka-looking tail.

"I think this is part of the innovative process: learning how something actually works compared to how you think it will work," added Stewart.

Overall, the bodyboard innovator believes this is "the kind of board that once you spend time on it and get it dialed, it will respond in some good ways."

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

Mike Stewart has always adopted a 360-degree health vision for his life and professional bodyboarding career.

At 61, the Hawaiian is still competing at the highest level.

In December 2024, Stewart placed third at the Arica Cultura Bodyboard in Chile, proving that age is not necessarily a handicap.

The nine-time world champion bodyboarder has always incorporated meditation and yoga into his daily routine.

As the year 2024 opened the way to 2025, Mike Stewart traveled to El Silencio, a yoga retreat near San Carlos in Uruguay.

"It's a very special place - extremely quiet, very calm setting here," notes the Hawaiian wave rider.

"You go from a state of feeling relaxed once you get here to a state of just continual deeper and deeper relaxation and calm."

At El Silencio, Mike met and interviewed the local yogi Krishna Darshan, a direct disciple of an Indian yoga guru, Swami Vishnu Devananda (1927-1993).

In the enlightening conversation, the duo discuss the transformative power of mindfulness, overcoming fear, and living a purposeful life.

The inspiring dialogue encourages surfers and listeners to explore yoga and meditation, emphasizing the value of small, consistent steps and a connection to one's inner truth.

We at SurferToday organized the transcription into a readable format while maintaining every word spoken by both Mike and Darshan.

"We Don't Need Anything to Be Happy"

Mike Stewart: Thank you for having me here. Maybe you could introduce to everyone who you are and where we are.

Krishna Darshan: My name is a spiritual name, Krishna Darshan, and I run here a small ashram retreat center in Uruguay. We are about 40 minutes from Punta del Este and 20 minutes from San Carlos. So, we have a retreat place where people come from all over the world to take more in-depth studies in yoga, meditation, spirituality, and healing.

We are in the middle of the countryside, surrounded by nature. It's very silent, as you know. We try to create an ideal place for people who want to really go deep within, tune into themselves, clean their minds from all the noise of the city and the activities, and have a little break to really tune in.

That's the environment here.

Mike Stewart: I can attest that that is exactly what's here. It's incredibly quiet and peaceful. It's somewhat rustic, but it's also just so grounding and very peaceful.

We talked about a couple of things. One of the topics we discussed was happiness. Everyone's kind of looking for this idea of happiness. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Krishna Darshan: That's definitely a big topic. Everybody wants to be happy, right? The thing is, where is that happiness we are looking for? Usually, you see, most people think that in order to be happy, we need to get something that we don't have - either some material possessions, or some person, or living in some place. We always see something we need to do out there and think that if we succeed, it's going to bring us happiness.

But first of all, sometimes you don't succeed - there might be obstacles where you cannot fulfill your desire. And then, sometimes, even if you fulfill your desire, you are happy, but only for a short period. Then again, you feel like you're missing something. Then you have a new desire; you want something else. And like that, we spend our whole life.

The ancient yogis and sages - not only from yoga but even from many other different religions and traditions of wisdom - explain that happiness is our real nature. Happiness is the natural state of the self. We don't need anything in order to be happy.

But why are we not happy? If we are that happy, why are we not happy The big problem is our mind. The mind is so in the habit of going outward, projecting itself to external achievements, that it has completely lost the connection to the inner silence - to what we call the Atman, or the real self.

So, we have a kind of artificial sense of self. More, we can say, our ego says, "I am Mr. So-and-so. I am from this country; I am male or female, tall or short, strong or weak." But those are not really the characteristics of what we really are.

The ancient yogis say: You are that happiness. You are that pure consciousness. What we need to do to experience it is just bring the mind into a state of quietness - stop all this craziness of the mind, shut up the mind a little bit, and just be in yourself.

It sounds easy, but it's not so easy because the mind is in such a long-standing habit that even if you want to sit and meditate, the mind keeps going. So, we need to train this mind gradually, and yoga offers many tools for that.

Beginning from the more physical level, we train our body to be more relaxed, to reduce tensions, and to be able to stay quiet. By removing physical tensions, already the mind starts to feel better. Then, we have breathing exercises, which help to bring the mind into an even deeper calm. That really prepares you for a state of meditation.

There are many different tools - like mantras and chanting of mantras. Yoga has a variety of tools to offer that might be suitable for different personalities or different likes. We have more devotional practices, more philosophical practices, and more physical practices. They are all complementary to each other. What they do is they prepare the mind for the state of meditation.

When you go to meditate, the mind is already relaxed and calm. Then you can concentrate. When you are fully focused, you experience your true self. At that time, that's when you feel, "Oh, I am complete now. I don't need anything. I found what I wanted. I don't need to go anywhere or get anything. I am just myself, and I feel full."

That's the search. Of course, it takes a lifetime journey, but we are getting more and more into it.

Mike Stewart: Just being here the few days that I have been, it's been incredible. I can get into a way deeper state of meditation and a deeper state of consciousness so much faster.

I think this environment - being so quiet and peaceful - really adds to that. By the way, Krishna used to get into the ocean. In fact, he still does - he's a bodysurfer and a bodyboarder.

Krishna Darshan: Well, mostly when I was very young. But I still love it.

Mike Stewart: When he was young, like, last week!

Krishna Darshan: I definitely love the ocean, yes.

The Essence of Yoga

Mike Stewart: What would you say to a young Krishna? What would you say to yourself when you were young? What advice would you give to someone?

Krishna Darshan: Well, I remember when I was a teenager. I had a lot of energy and a lot of desires to explore life, but I wasted a lot of my prana, a lot of my life force, in just doing very intense, worldly activities. And then, when I was about 20-21, I found my health was not good; my mind was disturbed because when I was a teenager, I used to, like most people, go out at night, drinking, smoking, and everything else. And this wears out all your life force. When you are young, you have so much, but you don't realize that you are, you know, depleting it.

Then there's a moment where you realize, okay, all these things that I did, okay, they brought me some experience, but not the self-realization. No. I learned from that environment but had enough of it. No. Now, something else is missing.

And then, you know, you realize that you wasted so much of your life force in all this experimenting with different areas of life. That then, you know, I, I would say, well, I should have been more careful with what I ate, with how I treated my body and my mind, and then it would be easier for me now. But you know, we learn by experience.

It's like you tell a kid, "Don't do this, don't put your finger on the outlet," and then the more you say, the more he wants to put the finger on the outlet, right? Until he doesn't get the shock, he doesn't know. So, you need to get the shock, and you awake. So, life is a little bit like that.

But of course, if you could hear the good advice... I remember I got good advice, but I didn't hear them when I was very young. So, I had to crash myself many times until I started to hear the advice of wise people, experienced people. That's when I started to progress.

Mike Stewart: There seems to be some confusion right now in this space - it's almost like a fashion. There are big brands built around yoga. Help me understand your perspective on everything.

Krishna Darshan: Well, on one hand, we can say it is good that yoga has spread so much around the world. Everywhere in the world now, there are some people teaching yoga and people practicing yoga. Remember, when I started about 40 years ago, it was quite unknown. We used to teach yoga, and it was completely new, and there were very few who practiced it. In some countries, there was nothing there.

Now, it's the opposite - yoga is mainstream. Everywhere, people know something about yoga. This is good, but the prize for that is that yoga got very diluted and slowly became transformed into something more commercial, and it lost a lot of its authenticity, its original practice.

For example, nowadays, yoga is seen mostly as a form of physical exercise. Most yoga studios just give you some stretching and some workout, which is nothing bad about it. Working out is good, and physical exercise is good. But yoga has a different purpose. The purpose of yoga is not a workout - it's a work-in. It's really to take you inwards, to your soul, to yourself, to your inner silence.

And for that, the practice is different. It's more about finding the right balance between the effort and the relaxation. There is a lot of working with the breath, especially with the mind - how to concentrate during the exercises. There is a lot of spiritual and philosophical wisdom that goes together with it that we need to understand.

So, yoga is not just a physical form of exercise, but it's more like a way of living. It's more like a philosophy, like an aim, something that you really want to progress and develop in your life, which includes all areas of life. This includes your health, of course, your physical body, but also, even in your relationships, even in your work, how you work, and how you dedicate yourself.

For example, we were mostly educated to work to earn our money. So, we work just to see how much we can make. The more we make, the more good we feel about it in the beginning. But yoga teaches, for example, a different philosophy.

It says, "Take your work as a service to the world." Whatever you do - whether you are not only a yoga teacher but an accountant, an office worker, a cleaner, a cook, or whatever it is, do your work with the sense of love that you are helping someone with your work. Even if you are an administrator, you're contributing to the society.

And then enjoy your work as a form of service, like an offering. And then, then your work becomes yoga. We call it karma yoga. It's yoga in action.

One very important topic is stress. There's a lot of stress in modern life. People look for yoga. Yoga is definitely helpful for stretching, releasing tension, and breathing. It helps us a lot to overcome stress. But where does the stress really come from?

It comes from our anxiety about the results of our actions. We want things, and then we take action to accomplish and fulfill our desires. And if our desires are not fulfilled, we get very angry and very frustrated. And then, you know, the problem is - I want something, but you also want, she also wants it. Then we have to compete with each other, right?

Then you start cutting your ground, you start cutting my ground and competition. And then that's the world of today, right? Everybody is struggling to get their piece of cake, right?

And, so, it's really the source of stress. There is so much expectation for the fruit of our actions. That's how the yoga is described. So, what the philosophy of yoga teaches you is "Don't worry." There is something called the law of karma that we strongly believe in.

It means when you do good things to others, good things come back to you sooner or later. Sometimes immediately, sometimes many years later - you never know.

But your actions and your thoughts are like a boomerang. Whenever you help somebody, whenever you give love to somebody, and then maybe you teach something, then the universe will bring it back to you and amplify it, actually. You give one, you get 10, something like that.

And so, the yogis say, "It's not that I need to concentrate so much on what I'm going to get from this, but let's concentrate on how much good I can give, how much I can help others, how much love I can spread."

Then we know this is going to come back to us sometime. There's nothing to worry about - we're going to have our food, we're going to have our shelter, we're going to pay our bills because that's the law of the universe.

So, it changes a person's whole lifestyle. This is kind of being forgotten in modern yoga. That was a very important part of traditional yoga.

Also, in traditional yoga, all the practices, like the yoga asanas, the physical postures, the breathing exercises, and so on, were done as preparations for meditation. The real deep practice of yoga is meditation.

Nowadays, people believe there's yoga and there's meditation.

But meditation is yoga, see? And all the other tools of yoga are just to help you to meditate. Why? Because when you meditate, it means when you silence this turbulent mind, you experience your true self.

When there is no noise, you hear the silence. For example, we speak, we don't hear the bird, but if we make silence - he's speaking, you see.

But we don't realize it. We need to be silent to realize that the bird is speaking. So, like that, our soul, our happiness, is there. There's so much noise in our minds. But when we silence that noise, we experience what's already there.

And this is what happens in meditation. We get to make a silence with the mind and experience the reality of our being.

So, all the other practices are just tools, or like steps, like a ladder. You cannot go straight to the roof - you need to go step by step. So, it's very difficult to just enter deep meditation from nothing. You have to prepare yourself physically, energetically, emotionally, and so on.

And then, when you are ready, meditation comes. We say you cannot even teach meditation. It's like trying to teach somebody how to sleep. Then somebody asks you, "How do you fall asleep?"

What can you say? You can say how to get the right sleep conditions. Go to a nice bed, get a nice cushion, turn off the light, and make a nice temperature. And then, you fall asleep.

But maybe you have all the conditions, and you still don't fall asleep. So, with meditation, we create all the conditions, and when the conditions are right, then the mind is ready, and then we enter into that state that you were saying you were experiencing the days you are here.

That's how all this practice suddenly brings you to these moments of deep silence where you can experience something new, something deeper. And this is really the goal of yoga.

And it's missing a lot nowadays in modern yoga, which is mostly a form of physical exercise.

"The Surf Fills You With Prana"

Mike Stewart: So that was the original intention, for the quieting of the mind?

Krishna Darshan: Yes. The body, breathing, and mind are very interconnected and inter-affected. When our body is tense, our energy, our prana, is blocked. And if the prana is blocked, the mind is in a state of stress and tension.

So, when we release the tension from the body, then the prana, the life force, can flow. Then, when the life force flows, it energizes the mind and cleans the mind, and then you can concentrate and meditate. That's the process.

You like surfing, for example, right? Why do we like the ocean so much? Because it's full of prana - the waves get very charged with prana.

Mike Stewart: Explain prana to me.

Krishna Darshan: Prana is translated as life force. This is what brings life to everything. Everything that is alive, and everything that has some beauty, that has some power, has prana.

What's the difference between an artificial flower and a natural flower? It might look the same, but one is plastic, and the other has prana.

See? Which one would you choose? Would you choose to surf in the ocean or in a swimming pool of chlorine and all that?

So, prana is more abundant where there is water motion. Whenever there are waves, rivers, and cascades, they get very charged with prana. There, in the mountains, in the hills, and also in nature, the trees and the plants also have a lot of prana. So, sometimes you just sit under a tree, like we are now, you just relax for some time, and you get some life back.

Suppose you go to the ocean, but you don't relax. Suppose you're angry because you didn't win the competition, or you didn't catch the right wave, or whatever reason. Then you cannot really take that prana because you need to be relaxed in order for this prana to flow to you and through you.

So, when you are in the water, relax and let it happen, then it just fills you with prana. That's why people like it. That's why you feel attracted to the ocean.

The topic of the ego - what happens with the ego? The ego makes us believe that we are a separate individual. This is me, and this is the res - you are different than me, nature is different than me, the sun is different than me.

But, in fact, we are all one. We're all connected. There is one cosmic being - you can call it - that we are all part of. It's like we are the different cells of the different body. There's just one organism, one body.

So, everything is connected. But it's the ego that disconnects us - we isolate ourselves, and we want to take things for ourselves: "I want my will to be done. I want the best part."

But when we understand that we are one, allow it to happen, you surrender; it's not that you need to be taking all the time. Things come to you and go from you to the rest of the universe, and the prana flows.

The wealth of life is just flowing. So, when we put our ego aside, then everything flows naturally.

But the ego is really a big obstacle. Of course, we need a certain amount of ego to function in this world, like a personality. It doesn't mean that you need to have a weak personality or something like that, no. You need to have a personality to function as a healthy individual.

But you have to be conscious that we are one, and you don't identify with this personality, with this individuality. And the more you meditate on that, the more the bliss flows because the ego is a big obstacle between us and the bliss.

And then, the other part of your question. In life, there are always some problems. Nobody can avoid some problems. Things are never perfect all the time. It might be perfect for a little time, and then something happens.

First of all, we are all aging. And then, we start to feel the changes.

This is natural. And then there are people around us that have problems - maybe your family, relationships, children. And this, of course, creates some amount of stress in our life.

And sometimes, all kinds of obstacles kind of happen. But we cannot avoid it completely. We need to be like surfers. Because what does the surfer do? There are waves in the ocean, currents, but he goes on his board on the waves.

So, if the wave goes up, he goes up. The wave goes down, he goes down. He's not resisting or fighting against the wave. He's dealing with the wave and flowing with it, right?

So, we need to be surfers in all aspects of our life - not just in the waves, but in those waves of life. Like the ups and downs of life and the different currents of life. Problems happen. Things come all of a sudden without us expecting it.

We need to be like the surfer. Understand it, do the best you can, but don't let yourself get drowned in that wave. You don't want the wave to get you drowned. You want to remain on the surface and flow with it.

Like that - there is life. We need to surf life.

Mike Stewart: That's awesome. How good is that? It's a good example for surfers. That's interesting. That's Tom Morey's motto as well. You live in a very basic, but very rich, in a lot of ways, environment. You grow all your your own food here. How does that process work for you?

Krishna Darshan: It's not always easy because it's a lot of work. It requires a lot of work. We work a lot. But it was a choice at a certain point in life where I said, "I don't feel satisfied in the world of business, and city, and running." I was already teaching yoga, and I wanted to go and live in nature and dedicate myself to that and live in nature.

But a lot of work was required - building this place and planting all the trees took many years of hard work. But it is also very rewarding because, first of all, when I wake up, I feel I'm in the middle of nature. I feel like I'm so blessed, you know?

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com