Intro Offer

Meet Jake ‘Macka’ Mackintosh. Macka is one of the most naturally talented surfers on the Northern Beaches. After winning the local boardriders competition in 2017 Macka has proclaimed that a consistent yoga practice was influential in keeping a strong mind and body which allows him to love and enjoy surfing every day.  One of our longest standing members and regular promoter wearing his  DF merch, here we talk about the benefits of surfing and yoga, and his experience combining the two.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, and your experience surfing and practicing yoga.

I experienced a serious groin injury whilst snowboarding where I ripped both adductor muscles leaving me in constant pain and lacking mobility throughout my lower back. This led to months of rehab. Seeing little progress throughout the rehabilitation process, I was still having many paralysing surfs where my lower back would completely lock up, leaving me struggling to paddle back to shore.

With little confidence that I would ever make a full recovery, Eliza asked me to come and try a yoga class at Divine Flow Yoga. To my surprise after a few short months of practice, my mobility and flexibility started to improve. For the first time in quite a while I was surfing pain and worry free.

Since practicing yoga I haven’t had any issues regarding back pain and I feel that it has further strengthened my core and my overall wellbeing.

Why is practicing yoga beneficial for surfers?

I think yoga is beneficial for surfers in many ways. Not only through providing a strong base and core but also for a more clear and focussed state of mind to help perform at your peak.

Why would you recommend surfing to yogis?

I think yoga and surfing go hand in hand.

To me when I come to class and ground down on the mat, I use that time as “my time” where everything else becomes irrelevant, where I feel the same applies to surfing. It just becomes you, the waves and good times.

Are there any specific yoga poses that you’d recommend to strengthen the body for surfing?

I would say cat-cows have got to be a good start to loosen up the lower back and core before hitting the water.

A low lunge with an open twist is also a favourite to free the lower back, and threading the needle to stretch the shoulders for that extra paddle power is a big one.

Also, focusing on poses that improve balance whilst using correct breathing techniques are going to help in a massive way to increase your stamina and performance in the water.

Any tips for surfers starting yoga?

Definitely go in with an open mind and soak it all up, for a discipline to improve your surfing and strengthen your overall wellbeing can only lead to a positive out come.

I’d say just give it a go, because who knows, you may just enjoy it as much as I do.

Join our Yoga & Surf Retreat in The Maldives

We are Divine Flow Yoga are hosting a Yoga & Surf Retreat in Kandooma, starting June 18th for 6 nights.

We will combine elements of fire and water to get your body moving between yang and yin for an experience and expression like no other. We have tailored this retreat to accommodate all levels of yoga and fitness.

Booking close on the 18th of April so this is your last chance to reserve a spot.

Apply Now
Intro Offer

Radha Vine

Yin | Restorative | Yoga Nidra

Radha is a spiritual aspirant and yoga teacher with over 30 years of practice and teaching, rooted in the Satyananda Yoga tradition. She offers a gentle, embodied approach to every yoga class— including asana, pranayama, meditation, and philosophy — guiding students to explore presence, ease and awareness within their own body, mind and spirit.

Her work as a somatic practitioner naturally flows into her teaching. Drawing on private clinic healing sessions, Radha helps students tune into their bodies and individual needs bringing a compassionate and responsive energy to every class.

Through her life as a mother, mentor, and lifelong student of yoga, self‑study, and spiritual growth, Radha brings warmth, curiosity, and presence to her teaching. She encourages students to move mindfully, feel fully, and connect with their own inner strength, creating a safe and welcoming space for exploration and growth.

Olivia Kerr

Vinyasa | Pilates

Olly has been teaching and practicing yoga on the northern beaches for the past 10 years. She loves teaching and being part of the yoga community and is grateful for the friends, connection and lessons that she has gained along the way. 

Olly is passionate about helping people to move their bodies in a way that is wise and intuitive to them. She believes that movement is medicine and with each class her intention is for students to connect deeply to their body, mind and breath using strong but simple movements.

Olly is also a Chiropractor and has had experience working with people of all ages from all walks of life. During Olly’s chiropractic education she has extensively studied movement, physiology and the nervous system. She loves incorporating her knowledge into thoughtful movement practices. She is trained in Pilates, Vinyasa and Yin.

 

Elise Griffin

Vinyasa | Strength + Soul

With over 17 years of personal yoga practice and a strong background in the fitness and wellness industry, Elise brings a depth of experience, intelligence, and embodied understanding to her teaching. With a Bachelor’s degree in Sport & Exercise Science and more than a decade working as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and movement coach, Elise bridges the gap between strength, mobility, and mindful movement.

Elise discovered yoga as a powerful complement to her athletic training, and over time it became a central pillar in how she moves, lives, and connects. Her approach is informed by both science and lived experience, blending functional strength, breath awareness, and fluid sequencing. Her classes invite students to feel strong, capable, and supported – meeting their edge with curiosity rather than force.

Elise is deeply passionate about the way yoga supports not only physical health, but nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and connection. Her classes offer a space that encourages students to build trust in their bodies and confidence in their practice.

Above all, Elise is committed to creating a welcoming environment where students can deepen their relationship with movement and carry the benefits of their practice beyond the mat and into everyday life.

Jess Verdier

Yin | Vinyasa | Pilates 

Jess is a Yoga and Pilates instructor with a passion for helping people move well and feel supported in their bodies and lives.

With an active background and a long-standing love for yoga and Pilates, Jess’s teaching blends functional movement, mindful awareness, and breath-led flow. Her classes are thoughtfully designed to build strength and mobility while also creating space to slow down, reconnect, and regulate the nervous system.

Jess is known for her calm, grounding presence and inclusive teaching style. She encourages students to trust their own intuition, honour their energy, and meet themselves with compassion, both on and off the mat. Her intention is to support students in feeling strong, steady, and more at home in their bodies.