Natalie Fox
- Zennor Glass
- Mar 24, 2020
- 8 min read
Surf coach, yoga instructor and environment activist, you lead a busy life! What does a typical day look like for you?
Ha! Well at the moment I feel like I'm rich in time, so I'm making the most of that... but its not usually the case. I've just had 2 weeks where I was between jobs which gave me some space and flexibility to travel and explore new places. It wasn't planned, or maybe in the back of my mind it was, as I find November one of the most difficult months to be in the UK.
So right now I'm in Nias, a small Island off the West Coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, putting together the last finishing touches for a Drift retreat we're planning here in October 2018.
Everyday for me is kind of different (I’m a very “vata” person and thrive off change), but I try to make sure there's some sort of yoga or a surf, or a bit of time in nature, which helps keep me grounded. At the moment my days consist of a couple of surfs (we’re at an epic point break which is always offshore and works on all tides!!), doing work on the retreat (planning/filming/articles/social media), juices and jaffles, a spot of yoga and crawling into bed at 9pm. Work wise it really does depend on the season! I'm heading to the French Alps next week to run a chalet in Morzine so that's going to be a different experience entirely!
Tell us a little bit about what inspired you to become a surf coach, and the importance of getting more women into surfing.
I tend to do things by process of elimination, I studied media at Uni but by the end of it wasn’t enraptured by the mainstream industry and knew I really didn't want to live in a city. I'd done some hospitality and office based work, but really enjoyed moving my body and being of service. Basically I find it hard to sit still and hate being bored!
Finally after doing about 2 years of surf travel - Morocco, Australia, Fiji - I came back to Cornwall with no idea of what to do. All I knew was that I loved surfing! And I wanted to do something I loved. I decided to do the BSA coaching course (now ISA), even though I wasn't confident in my surfing ability. Of course, I passed no problem and the rest is history, but it gave me my first taste of teaching, which I really love.
Being a female surfer it's hard not to notice we're a minority. I've been through my fair share of challenges and have tried to push the limits of my comfort zone - mainly surrounding surfing alone, at new breaks and in foreign lands. I can't help but feel the difference in atmosphere when there are more girls surfing a break, it's just less competitive and more relaxed. I think it's important that all women and girls realise their potential, and take the opportunities available to them these days, whether it's voting, in business, social/lifestyle scenarios or in the water. We've come a long way in terms of equality but we still have a long way to go, and we’re carving the way for the next generation. We can be strong AND feminine, intelligent AND beautiful, athletic AND compassionate, driven AND nurturing… these are the dualities that make our sex so complex. We don’t have to stick to tired old stereotypes anymore, orchestrated from the male perspective, we always knew that we were so much more. I believe the ocean helps us find our voice and encourages us to understand the many layers of who we truly are as individuals.

(DTL Photography)
Where is your favourite beach (if you can pick one!) and why?
Wow! Yeah, it’s so hard to pick one but I would have to say Gwithian. I love the iconic view of Godrevy lighthouse, the vast expanse of sand at low tide, the peeling waves, the dunes.. it still has a sense of wilderness to it thanks to the National Trust and attracts lovely people walking or surfing, people that really appreciate nature. I recently saw footage of dolphins surfing there which blew my mind, so I think I’m going to keep surfing there forever until they return!
What does living a happy and healthy life look like to you? And how does being active fit into this?
Well, I’m definitely still figuring this one out! I love surfing, SUP, yoga and snowboarding, because they all entail being outside, involve moving my body with a certain feeling of flow and require being completely present. They allow me to tune into the rhythms of Mother Nature, which is just so grounding and important for keeping things in perspective.
Happy and healthy means enough time to practice these activities and freedom to be outdoors in nature. Being active outdoors is absolutely integral to my overall well being. Through yoga I’ve learnt way too much about the dangers of bad posture and sitting for too long (cue everyone reading this to sit up straight and engage their core ;)
Also as someone who has suffered from overthinking, anxiety and panic attacks in the past it has helped me regain clarity and renewal through fresh air, open spaces and breathing more presently. The most important thing is actually sleep. Sleep will always come first for me, it is so important to rest and allow adequate time to reenergise. Then comes diet, eating as healthily as possible, using food as fuel and not an emotional crux. Then comes the people and activities that I give my energy to, which I try to make sure are as positive as possible.

(Nick Pumphrey)
What are the five yoga asanas that you couldn't live without?
Savasana!! We live such a yang existence in the Western world, we really have to train ourselves to relax. What better way than corpse pose!
I love arm balances as they really play with that feeling of flight and help build strength for surfing. I’m particularly fond of flying pigeon at the moment as it’s so challenging.
Plough is one of those love to hate postures! It’s so good for stretching out the rhomboids after surfing but sometimes it makes me aware just how tight I am in the shoulders.
Since finding yin, my favourite pose is saddle. So, so good for the knee joints and psoas (hip flexors), its a variation on heroes pose and yin style means staying in it for at least 2 minutes, simply observing the sensations that come and go.
And of course, inversions. I’m always working on handstand, I try to do one every day. It always feels so good to go upside down.
What is the best way to unwind after a long day?
A long day for me can usually involve lots of running around and generally being on the go, so I need to find stillness and calm in order to unwind. I’ll head to the cliffs, take a view of the big blue and just sit and focus on my breath. I used to approach meditation as another chore on my “to do” list that I needed to complete. It made it unenjoyable. It most definitely didn’t help me relax or make me a better person - it just wound me up more.
Now if I’m a bit overwhelmed, I just choose to sit in nature for a few moments, not force anything and see what happens. It doesn’t take long for a sense of calm to wash over me, for me to get perspective on my thoughts and to process the day. Of course this has come from many years spent exploring different types of meditation, learning what works and what doesn't work for me. Another option, if I’ve had quite a static and boring day, is to go for a wave and let the saltwater wash away any tension.

(Mike Cotton)
Tell us a little bit about what the next few years have in store for you.
Yikes, well I’m pretty excited about heading back to the mountains, to be working for Cold Fusion Chalets and running snow specific yoga classes. My dream is to open a yoga studio with a majestic mountain view one day, I love how the mountain energy makes me feel very balanced.
I’ll make my way back to Cornwall via Portugal in Spring, where I’ll be researching yoga and permaculture projects, as I want to gain some more experience with eco building. I’ll be back in Cornwall for the summer, running yoga, SUP yoga and a local female surf club. Then I’m heading back to Uni to study an MA in Conservation and Biodiversity at Exeter Uni’s Penryn Campus. I’m looking forward to building more of a permanent base, well, 2 bases - one in the mountains and one on the coast. Although I’m not sure where yet. I’d like to get to work converting a van that'll be a home on wheels taking me between the two. I’d like to transition to more of a zero waste lifestyle and have some land to grow veggies. Drift retreats is something that continues to grow and we’ll be running them in Jersey, Cornwall, Chamonix, Nias and the Mentawai’s next year! I’ll be tying together the three themes of eco, yoga, surf, so they are more intricately woven in my life - they just bring me so much joy! Hell, I may even write a book!
As an advocate for Surfers Against Sewage (among many other marine conservation organisations), what advice can you give us on how to look after our oceans and keep them clean?
We all know by now that plastic pollution is the biggest issue currently facing our marine ecosystems and animals - it is most definitely #notwhalefood. Reduce, reuse and recycle is a great starting point, however, I believe we also need to evolve this notion, get creative and add in refuse, repurpose and reinvent. Our old system of a linear economy just doesn’t work - single use plastic packaging has a major design flaw: its made to use used once and thrown away, yet it doesn’t decompose for 500 years. I mean, it’s just crazy!! We can all make a difference by choosing alternatives, easy examples are: 1) saying no to plastic bags and using a cloth/canvas one instead 2) buying veggies from markets, without packaging and lobbying manufacturers to change their current plastic packaging style 3) using a reusable drinking water bottle 4) using a reusable coffee cup and 5) saying no to straws (or buy a reusable one). Whenever you go to the beach, if there’s rubbish, collect it. We’re in this together and we’re all responsible for cleaning up this planet. We’re all connected by the oceans and this is such a key point in unity humanity to tackle this global issue. I’ve cleaned plastic off the beaches in Morocco, Costa Rica, France, Indonesia, the UK… and I would much rather do that over sunbathing any day! As surfers, we can step up to the role of custodian of the coastline - a concept which was introduced to me by Surfers for Cetaceans - if we make an effort. Every step we take can be towards being a more conscious and caring person for the planet, its natural habitats and inhabitants.

(Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society)
What motto do you live by?
I love the mantra “tread light, shine bright”. As a travelling surfer and yoga teacher, I’ve become more and more aware of the impact my choices have on people and the planet. The more I’ve learnt about permaculture and sustainability, the more I feel we have the creative solutions to “tread lightly”. It involves radical change from the ways I’ve previously been operating, it includes being aware and conscious of every action. It entails no longer being apathetic and standing up for marine life, such as whales and dolphins. I am by no means an expert and I love learning from people who are pioneering in this area, there is much inspiration out there.
Can you describe in one sentence how being in the sea makes you feel?
The sea makes me feel unending gratitude for being alive on this wondrous, bountiful, beautiful, blue planet.
Follow Natalie's Adventures:
Instagram: @yogarama_uk
Website: www.ecoyogasurf.com
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