Ela’s adaptive surfing adventure
Having a physical disability of Cerebral Palsy since birth, Yoga and Health Coaching have given me a deeper purpose towards helping those that may have questions, doubts, curiosities (and who doesn't have those)? of "Can I do this? What's my next step, my next Action Step? I sure did (and I sure do) so I am here to guide you, to remind you that the greatest teacher that we all have is already inside you. I also help you learn how to take the initiative for your OWN life to fulfill your most personal desires.
Ela’s after adventure experience
Post Adventure Questionnaire
1. What was your favorite/highlight experience of this LRO Surf Day?
I would say that my favorite highlight of my LRO Surf Day experience was when I was getting ready to go into the water with my team, Team Green! Riding the waves, feeling the tremendous support from everybody there was incredible. I feel so truly blessed and grateful for this empowering experience.
2. What did you feel before/during/after you surfed?
What I felt before I surfed was the excitement of just being back in my MotherLand Golden State. I felt nervous because I had NEVER done anything like this, ever in my life. What I felt as I was surfing was just pure adrenaline through my body, my heart, my Soul...I could not believe that I was actually on the waves, truly one with Mother Nature, one with MotherOcean. It was truly the most exhilarating empowering experience of my life! What I felt after I surfed was just, pure joy. Pure exhilaration. I STILL feel it 2 weeks after and I know I WILL continue to feel that joy for the rest of my life.
3. How did this experience change your life?
This is a beautiful QUESTion because I believe this question and "How will this experience change your future?" really are one in the same and let me share why I believe that. Your life and your future are YOURS to create, to gather, to envision, to be curious about, and to be brave about. This experience has truly been a once in a lifetime experience and opportunity and I really have many people to thank (almost too long for this blog post) but I believe Yoga and my practice and teaching and speaking on behalf of ability and accessibility and being an Accessibility Activist and Ability Activist is what had brought me TO experience being an athlete of Adaptive Surfing. So, to share with you how it has changed my life...it IS changing my life, it WILL change my life...through what I know I am meant to create and inspire with my life.
4. How did this experience change your future?
Going off of what I shared in the previous QUESTion, my life and my future are what I am creating, each and every day with every day that I wake up in the morning and the experiences and opportunities that I say "YES!" to, "Why not?" We only really have this one physical world I believe and I try each and every day for my Cerebral Palsy to not have me...meaning, I show it that I am just like everyone else (but slower...and that's ok) but I embrace experiences and opportunities with excitement, with as much joy as possible. And this experience was and has been so much more than just surfing. It was about SURRENDERING to what is the "norm" or what the "norm" "should" "be". So how this adventure in adaptive surfing will (and is) changing my future is, it has shown me (and I know continues to show me throughout each day since) that I CAN. I WILL. and I AM...capable of living a full, happy, healthy, loving, joyous independent life where I know my Heart is..in my MotherLand Golden State-with my family's love and support, always, and my dear boyfriend's support, but this adaptive adventure has given me the belief and the knowledge from my Heart that I will be ok. If I can travel by myself to California TWICE and adaptive surf in the pristine Pacific on La Jolla Shores, I can (with my Mama, Dad and sisters, and boyfriend's love support and encouragement), live in my Heart Home.
