You lie on your mat, fully immersed in the present, moving from breath to breath. Each inhale and exhale connects you to the moment—just like when you’re fully geared up, ready to plunge into the ocean. The world fades away, and it’s just you, your breath, and the vibrant life surrounding you. Yoga teaches the strength of staying grounded in each breath, each moment, revealing the power within and the beauty all around. Diving teaches the same, but with the added gift of peace, quiet, and a deeper connection to both the water and yourself.

For me, practicing hot yoga in the studio and taking that giant stride into the ocean feel like two sides of the same coin. On the mat, I breathe using the ujjayi technique, calming my mind through the rhythm of air flowing in and out of my nose. In the water, it’s my regulator that brings life-giving air into my lungs. Both practices are my sanctuary—my saving grace and serenity—and I couldn’t imagine life without either one.

But the ocean gave me something yoga alone couldn’t: a renewed sense of life after heartbreak. While yoga helped me channel strength and focus through my daily practice, I still found myself struggling with depression, unable to fully stay in the present. It wasn’t until I combined my yoga practice with my other love—scuba diving—that I found my way through one of life’s toughest challenges. The moment I was back in the water, I felt a shift. Rolling into the underwater world, I became fully present again. Down there, surrounded by life, I couldn’t help but feel renewed. The ocean’s energy flowed into me, and when I surfaced, I had a new lease on life. I could breathe, eat, and live again, with joy and vitality I hadn’t felt in a long time.

The ocean’s beauty and strength are beyond words. It’s the kind of presence that yogis strive for—a sense of oneness with the world around you. Exploring it is truly breathtaking, and it offers a gift that’s incomparable: life itself. The ocean is a treasure we can’t take for granted, a force we must protect as fiercely as it nurtures us.