12:00a.m. 3rd May 2008

Belinda Wehner, from Broulee Surf School, and Tammy Pascoe, from Yoga Energy, balance mind and body on Moffat Beach. Photo: Warren Lynam/174400d

Surfing and yoga may sound like a tricky combination, but the two go hand in hand when it comes to balancing mind, body and spirit.

That’s why local yoga instructor Tammy Pascoe, from Yoga NRG, decided to join forces with NSW-based Belinda Wehner, who runs surf and yoga retreats across NSW and Queensland, to create an all-female retreat on the Sunshine Coast.

Tammy said the Sunshine Coast’s climate and environment made it the perfect destination for a health retreat.

“I think in today’s life we are so bombarded with work and so busy that we tend to be human-doing rather than human beings, and people are craving relaxation and time to take care of their health,” she said.

“Yoga and surfing create a healthy mind and body, and combined with healthy organic food and meditation, it allows people to feel great.”

Belinda, who owns the Broulee surf school in NSW, said she started doing yoga 10 years ago and found it benefited her surfing by increasing her stamina and energy levels.

She now hosts retreats across the NSW and Queensland coasts and in Indonesia for women of all ages.

She hopes to stage two or three retreats on the Sunshine Coast every year for women and mixed groups.

This long weekend, the pair will host an all-female retreat at the Raintrees Resort at Moffat Beach, which includes meditation and yoga sessions combined with surf lessons. Gourmet organic vegetarian meals are also part of the retreat, but caffeine and alcohol are banned.

The next retreat is planned for September. For more information visit www.yoga-nrg.com or www.brouleesurfschool.com.au/surfing-australia.html.