Spotlight on Yoga For Skaters With Danielle Davis

Yoga for Skaters

Our first spotlight on a yoga-type article features Danielle Davis and her Yoga for Skaters classes! You can book with Danielle on her profile.

Which one did you start first? Skating or Yoga?

I began practising yoga when I was 18, attending classes with my mum at the local village hall. However, it was at university where I found my teacher and developed my personal connection to the practice. When I broke my arm skateboarding, my yoga teacher provided the most support and inspired me with yoga therapy.

She helped adapt my yoga practice to my broken arm, and a lightbulb went off in my head – that yoga was not just asana but also my mindset approach to being resilient and persevering and that yoga could be for all, regardless of what you could do with your body.

How did you end up practising yoga and which yoga?

Living in London, Spain, and other countries, yoga was always a way for me to process emotions and reconnect with my body, which I often pushed to one side. About 10 years before taking the trips, I decided to pursue my yoga teacher training in Central America. When a longboarding friend from Costa Rica recommended a specific training, I knew I had to attend. Having been a dancer for many years, I always loved the flow of vinyasa and Hatha, but Yin and Restorative had also drawn me in, especially appreciating mandatory rest as my brain constantly generates creative ideas.

How/why did you think of teaching yoga for skaters?

Teaching yoga for skaters began because I founded a community in Bristol called Bristol Girls Longboard and was running events with skating and yoga through my business Light Soul Ventures, aiming to help more women get into skating and connect through this shared sport. I experienced the physical toll injuries took on my body and observed even that I, as a yoga teacher struggled to come back to a sport that kept causing harm. I decided that regular, mobility-focused, and tailored sessions would not only create a sense of community but also introduce people to yoga who might have otherwise resisted it.

What injuries do skaters get, and could you give an example of a recommended pose to prevent/fix injuries?

Skaters often face imbalances in leg strength and a generally feeling of ‘wonkiness’ as one leg pushes and the other is at the from of the board. With one foot pushing and the other on the front of the board, hips can become misaligned, causing discomfort. Also very common are twisted ankles, pulled muscles, and broken wrists from regular falls.I wouldn't suggest a specific pose to prevent injuries; rather, a regular full body mobility practice with a focus on hamstrings, hips, and ankles. To address injuries, I would combine professional physio guidance with your yoga practice.

Do you practice Yoga while skating at all, any poses on wheels?

I don't practice yoga while skating as that’s not really possible but I do longboard dancing sessions, which is really creative and visually beautiful.

Do roller skaters and skateboarders (& longboarders) have the same needs?

Skateboarders and longboarders share similar needs as we adopt the same stance and regularly throw ourselves at concrete. Similarly, roller skaters face a high risk of falls, but since both feet are on the same level, the risk of hip injuries and hamstring strains is comparatively lower.