Howdy ho! Greetings from Boston, MA! Yep, I'm here for a bit catching up with family and with my best surfing buddy, Jackie (aka "Blanket). Blanket and I have been friends since 2007 when I met her on a surf trip to Costa Rica. We've been best surfing buds ever since. In addition to being one of the Brown Girl Surf TM team members, Blanket lives in New England and surfs the Atlantic through the icy winters. BRRRRRRRRRRR! As I'm visiting her this week, I thought it would be neat to share with you a glimpse into her life as a New England female surfer. Watch as she slips into her 6-5-4 wetsuit, with all the grace of a ballerina. BIG UP to New England's surfers....you guys gotta have some BIG cojones for getting in that really cold water (or really shriveled up ones because it's so damn cold). Anyways, enjoy the video!
Bye bye!
Today I presented a BLUE Marble to my dear friend, Mahea Uchiyama of the Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance. www.centerforinternationaldance.org
Kumu Mahea has spent her life teaching and preserving various dance forms, drumming and music of the Polynesian Islands. As the ocean is central to many themes within Polynesian dance and music, when she teaches, she is passing on important stories and messages about honoring, caring and loving the ocean. As a surfer and fellow dancer, I wanted to pass my BLUE Marble on to her to say THANK YOU for what she does for the ocean.
It feels like I’m making progress on the personal training front with James of Jamz Trainings. For one thing, I did not feel like I was going to hurl my rice cracker this week, which is progress in my book! For another, I didn’t have the sensation that I was going to have a mild heart attack either. Progress again! I paddled out on Monday and felt like I was whipping through the heavy, cold, NorCal surf with some newfound core strength, a feeling I haven’t had since my 3 month surfing stint in Indonesia. It felt good and I could feel my body strengthening. But I was also tired.
The day after last week’s session, I showed up to a weekend meeting in Davenport, CA with friends looking like I just came home from my first horseback riding lesson (ie. I couldn’t walk). My friends and fellow neuroscience practitioners were worried for me. Given their backgrounds in dance, movement and neuroscience, they encouraged me to look into something called Somatic methods of training (I’ll share with you more about this as I learn more). Part of the Somatic method involves integrating rest into a core part of your training in addition to learning how to develop awareness of your body from the inside out as opposed to the outside in. What does that mean? I have no clue either, but I'll let you know as I find out. It’s hard to know how to balance everything sometimes. So out of curiosity, I decided to poke around and see what Laird does on a regular basis. It was interesting to note he doesn’t surf everyday, but rather, breaks up his training between surfing, circuit training, cycling and other types of cardio. So I figured maybe I shouldn’t try to get in the water everyday and then do these workouts on top of it. Besides, it’s making me walk like Quasimoto.
I wrote to James, my trainer, about this and we are now working on some ways to integrate some of the Somatic concepts into my regiment, which includes designated periods of rest. Yes. Rest. I know - how un-American of me! I actually started to wonder why rest isn't valued more in our culture? It feels like it’s always move, move, move and if you’re not busy and fully booked up, you might as well be in the loser category. Busyness has somehow evolved into a function of one's importance. Who really has leisure time these days anyways, I guess? That’s it. I’m moving to Italy! Oh yeah, and apparently I need to up my protein intake and iron intake, as lack of those substances can make one tired as well. Anyways, my rant aside, here’s a re-cap on the surf training workout for the week, focusing on core strength/ ab work, stability, neuro-muscular coordination, glut and quad power and strengthening. (I made sure to REST over the weekend too, which really helped in this week’s session).
Step up Curl: For this I used 10 lb weights but I think you can also use a lighter or heavier weight according to your body type. I did a rep of 15 followed by a sprint and then continued with another rep of 15. I think I remember significant burning in my quad, but using my core to really get me up on the platform. I also developed a newfound love of elevators. Moment of silence for the elevator inventor.
Knee Tucks: These work your core ab strength. I did 1 rep of 20 of these suckers after the step up curls…then a sprint down the gym…..and then at some point again another rep of 20. I did this whilst watching another girl in the gym who got to sit on the floor and throw a ball back and forth with her trainer as an exercise. I was like, "are you kidding me?" But I was secretly jealous. I asked James if we could do that instead. He wasn’t amused by my request.
Single Leg Touchdown Press: Taxi! Taxi! By this time I was about ready to set sail to Tahiti for a month long sabbatical from my personal training regiment. Touchdown presses apparently are supposed to help your balance and glut strength but I kept feeling a burning sensation in my ankle and that this workout was not for a surfer, but rather, for a ninja in training. This seems to work some of the small muscles and tendons in that area. I did 15 reps of these on each side broken up with more step up work and ninja sprints.
Core Ab Work / TVA stability: This reminded me a lot of pilates, lifting a weighted ball and then placing it between my legs on table top. I didn’t do any set amount of reps on these but probably worked on this for about 1.5 minutes or so. By the way, if you ever want to build serious core strength, pilates is highly recommended, especially if you're a dancer.
Box Hops: When James demoed what he wanted me to do here, I just looked at him, panting hard from the previous exercise and thought to myself “are you f*** kidding me?” Ask me how the hell I got my body to pop up on that box and I’ll say I have no clue except for one thing. Each time I jumped, I visualized I was popping up on my surfboard on a big wave at Ocean Beach, hoping my muscle memory would kick in. I told myself that if I didn’t make the pop-up, the wave would clobber me. (A little mind over matter motivation). Muscle memory did kick in, and I got up which I was so happy about because I literally thought I was going to kill myself. This exercise is good to work your gluts, quad power and developing that explosive pop up energy you need for surfing or for flying in mid air as you do a roundhouse ninja kick aimed at your assassin's neck. I did 15 reps and then after breaking it up with more step up work and sprints, did another 5. They got much easier as I went along. My friend Maashy boycotted this exercise. I was jealous. As James said: “Quickly pop up on that surf board Lil brown girl.” (heh heh)
Battle Rope Slams: I thought we were gonna play a game of double dutch and I was excited to do this with my friend Maashy. It would be just like back at school on the playground. However, we were not so lucky. The battle rope slams really work your core power. I found myself really having to squat to stabilize my core while I let the up and down motion of my arms build momentum in the rope. Eventually I got into a rhythm but today my shoulders are very sore. I did 15 second intervals of these 3 times and highly recommend them as a great core building exercise. Giddy up!
Now, just resting and am hoping this rain lets up so I can hit the water this weekend!!! But fun sesh overall.
Who thought India was all Bollywood and ludoos? You did. I know you did! Stop lying. Well, I bet you didn’t know that India also has a new and growing surfing community, AND a first female surfer! I know – how cool! Hooray! Ludoos for all.
Ishita Malaviya, India's first female surfer Photo Credit: Shaka Surf Club
I can’t describe what it’s like being a Desi female surfer trying to find your way as a surfing “immigrant” here in America and then learning about a fellow sister on the other side of the world pioneering surfing in her own country. It’s like finding part of your tribe. My dad is from Barisal, Bangladesh and my mom from Lahore, Pakistan but technically it was all India when they were born. I was born here in the states, but since nobody in my family ever surfed, I sort of feel like a surfing immigrant at times. So it feels good to find connections with others in my culture doing something that so few of us do!
When I learned of Ishita, India’s first female surfer, I was excited to learn more about her and she was excited to have made contact with a Desi surfer in America. So we set up a Skype call (ain’t globalization grand?) last week. Below is a short video I made of the call. I figured it would be fun to capture the moment, me brimming with enthusiasm looking all ready to take your Big Mac and vanilla milkshake order. I apologize but I’m technologically challenged and couldn’t figure out how to record her voice at all on the video. Next time.
Anyways, I was stoked to speak to her for about 45 minutes. Of the cool, highly top secret, renegade surfer girl ninja things we chatted about, these were the most interesting highlights of our conversation: - Though she grew up in Bombay, Ishita moved to Manipal after getting the surfing bug. It’s a quiet fishing village on the West coast of India, where she is building up her surf school and surf club with partner in crime Tushar.
- There are only 70 surfers total in the entire country of India.
- According to Ishita, most people in India do not swim and there is a general culture of fear around the ocean (except maybe in Goa and Kerala).
- There are 60,000 drowning deaths a year in India. So she is trying to teach people water safety and how to swim, in addition to building an actual beach culture where she lives.
- Many people in the nearby village view the beach and ocean as a place to dump their trash. So she’s also trying to promote awareness around the affects of ocean pollution on our environment.
I know – pretty interesting, huh? And guess what!? I’ll be traveling to India in December with Professor Krista Comer of Rice University to meet this surfing sistah and to bring you the full scoop. Dr. Comer spent 10 years studying local female surfing communities in different parts of the world and is a brown girl surf TM partner as well. Together, we hope to bring you interesting stories and insights about Ishita and her emerging surfing community in India. Keep following!
Surfing requires a combo of endurance, balance and stamina among other things. So last week I started working with James Robinson of Jamz Trainings (my official personal training sponsor - woot!) on developing these very things. James isn't a surfer; he's a basketball player. But he trains athletes. So I figured if he's training b-ball players in their sport, surely he can train a surfer too. So I go to his rad gym in Oakland to work out amidst a sea of ripped and mean looking b-ball players with BIG MUSCLES. I fit right in.
Yesterday's session began with a test to determine my body mass index (BMI). BMI is an (evil) measure of body fat based on height and weight. After James took my measurements, it was determined that I fell into the 'fat' (evil) category. Really!? I only surf like 10 hours a week! What is going on? Who came up with these (evil) categories anyways? What about the 'athletic with some loveable pudge' category? They clearly forgot that one. They're too busy being evil I guess. Here's how the analysis went down:
I was never a 'thin' person and definitely feel I could use a little trimming around the edges anyways, like when you buy one of those deep fryer chickens and you have to cut it up and trim the skin and fat off it so you get a nice piece you can bread and fry. Anyways...... though I was humbled by the analysis, I'm so glad I am getting into a regular training routine. It's important and besides, I feel like a turtle when I paddle on my surfboard sometimes, so I want to build up more core strength in the gluts and abs and develop more stamina and speed. So James began with a royal ass kicking, b-ball style. I started with some basic cardio exercises after which I thought I was either going to have a heart attack or throw up my rice cracker from lunch. But neither happened. Instead, there was lots of huffing and puffing, making faces, grunting, and feeling like I wanted to collapse to the ground. I made a little video below in hopes I would try to capture the awe inspiring footage of my athletic prowess. It starts with me wanting to throw up my rice cracker. Enjoy!
On Sunday I surfed Ocean Beach with my buddies Kia and Dan. And they BOTH had something to say about WOMEN in the water.....check it out! The first clip is of my friend Kia. He has been surfing for 25 years and is always so supportive of me in the water. He's one of my first surf buddies.
Then we hear from surfer buddy Dan. He grew up surfing in the late 70's in Florida where he used to compete as an amateur pro. It was so interesting to hear his thoughts on how he feels women have changed surfing and surf culture.
_ Last night I went to a talk at the San Francisco Patagonia store to learn more about plastic pollution in our ocean. OK, I admit I also went because, well, it was at Patagonia. And since I’m a stoked but broke wanna-be pro surfer, I was on a dual mission to learn more about plastic pollution and to get to know the Patagonia peeps as well. Anyhoo…. After listening to two women give a talk on their plastic research findings from their recent ocean journey, I walked away with a few key points: - Plastic isn’t biodegradable (duh!). It instead breaks up into little particles. These tiny particles are what make up most of the pollution in the gyres.
- Some gyres are as large as 270,000 square miles (I know – holy crap!)
- It sucks to be a creature of the sea.
Plastic and debris from the stomach of a sea turtle. Like I said, it sucks to be a creature of the sea. _ After the numerous slides and Q&A, the ambassadors got to the activism piece. It consisted of the token mantra to refuse, reuse or recycle. It also advocated the need to participate in beach clean ups. By doing so we are helping to clean up the gyres as the ocean and wind currents eventually wash the plastic particles up to shore.
I started to wonder about what systemic movements are occurring to really address the plastics problem at its core. I asked about the anti-plastic lobbyists in congress. Nobody really seemed to know if there were any. So I started to feel like I had just gotten a lecture on how to put a band aid on an issue, but was unsuccessful in digging up much insight on how to really attack the problem from its root….until I met Kathy (that’s not really her name, but for the purpose of this blog post, just go with it).
Kathy is a bright-eyed young woman with a warm smile who came up to chat with me after the event. She told me she was in a sustainable MBA program and reluctantly admitted that she happened to work for Nestle. She wanted to inform me that corporations like Nestle and Pepsi are the real active and influential voices in lobbying around plastics. She shared that it was hard for her to work for Nestle because the company does not do business in line with her values. She was struggling to reconcile these opposing value systems in her work life. And that’s when it hit me. The solution to this issue (at least partially) was in someone like Kathy.
_ I had once seen Indra Nooyi, the CEO of Pepsi, speak at an event a few years ago. (Side note: Indra is a brown girl from India– EAST SYEEEEED!!!!). Anyways, her talk focused on leadership and learning to manage a workforce comprised largely of Generation Y employees. According to her, Gen Y (sorry I know that sounds like a brand of suppositories) peeps tend to have a greater awareness and need to link social values to their work than their Gen X predecessors. I know HR departments and corporate philanthropy departments invest millions of dollars trying to “do good” in the name of keeping their employees engaged and happy. There’s nothing more costly to a company than having to hire, train and replace workers. Trust me, I KNOW. And let’s face it, if someone like Indra Nooyi based an entire speech on leadership around managing Gen Y folks, she knows the value of making her employees happy. Happy employees mean more productive workers (or so they say).
It made me think that employees, if anyone, are actually in a perfect position to be internal lobbyists for the anti-plastics movement- to demand the companies they work for have more sustainable practices like making a business, social and environmental case for alternative packaging materials. It made me think that what the movement needs is a cadre of anti-plastic CIA Ninjas, working internally and overtly within Fortune 500 Companies to push the plastics agenda up the corporate food chain. This thought of course flashed through my head in a split second after which I found myself encouraging Kathy to think of herself as a special investigative CIA Ninja, using her role and knowledge of the ins and outs of her company to influence change from within. Her eyes widened. She laughed. But I was serious.
_ Sometimes you need to get in bed with the ‘man’ to beat him at his own game. I’ve seen this tactic work time and time again in James Bond movies. Based on that principle, I propose the world create a Plastics CIA Ninja Coalition comprised of graduating high school students and top graduating MBAs. Get a philanthropist to fund a series of fellowships and curriculum, equipping them with anti-plastic agendas and BLUE values before they secure employment at corporations. Hell why not have a BLUE curriculum in every business school in the world. Teach these BLUE grads to work within the system to lobby for alternative packaging, in the name of making Gen Y happy and loyal employees. I mean, they are going to go work for these Fortune 500 companies anyway.Honestly, how many of my friends who work in corporate America wish they could be doing some good for the world? ALL OF THEM. Corporate employees want more than anything to make a difference in the world. It’s where a majority of our volunteers used to come from at C.E.O. Women (the non-profit I founded). HR is always trying to find meaningful ways to connect the workforce with opportunities to act on their value systems. It could be a win-win situation. Happy employees. Less pollution in the environment. New ideas. Corporation looks good for doing good etc…
_ The solution to the plastics issue, in my opinion, is a lot like hair loss. You can’t just brush your hair, oil it, put serums and hair masks on it to make it grow. You need to also take oral stuff like Biotin. Much like hair loss, you need to treat the plastics problem from the inside out as well…tackle it from all angles. As we learn time and again from our dear undercover agent, James Bond, the solution is often in the problem! Signing off from Oakland, CA farhana P.S. - If you would like me to work for your think tank, I am accepting propositions and may even consider being your pre-IPO secretary. P.P.S. – Since I’m not an environmentalist nor have I ever worked in the environmental field, consider this a litmus test for how well information open sourcing about the plastics issues is being understood by the masses. I am only basing this off what I know and happen to follow. Perhaps sharing my thinking on this issue will give you a sense of how deep to go with public education campaigns. P.P.P.S. – Ok if you liked this post, buy a brown girl surf TM T-shirt in its honor. I promise you they’ll be vintage and you’ll want one when Indra becomes the first brown girl CEO to rid plastic packaging in her Fortune 500 Company because of this post. (OK, fine.)
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