The former pro snowboarder-come-yoga-teacher talks traveling the world and opening your heart

Interview by Anna Langer, photo by Vanessa Andrieux

I live in the south west of France in Hossegor. My family is around and it was the best compromise: Pyrenées for snowboarding in winter and waves for surfing all year long!!!

I love the south west, it’s a peaceful place.

I’ve been doing yoga for seven years now, in which it has become my way of life. It gives me an open heart and a healthy lifestyle. And it helps me to learn more and more about myself everyday. And I really love teaching yoga! I learn so much from every person in my class and I meet such beautiful people through it.

My professional snowboard career ended two years ago, after 12 years of travelling the world, competing, filming, shooting – in short just living my passion. The last two years of it I was back into competition though, which brought me less fun on my board. At the same time, I fell in love and married my husband Gary [Zebrowski] in Vegas. That was a time when my live naturally flowed into new horizons.

In the very last year, I was thinking more about yoga and surfing than snowboarding and it was the very first time that I was looking forward to the end of a season! So I listen to my heart and choose a new path, this new life. So the transition was a very natural one for me, I didn’t ask myself too many question, it was just the time to move on. I started teaching yoga and I loved it, I surfed everyday and I got pregnant. So it was the divine time to go for new adventure!

Boardsports will always be a part of my life though. Surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding. Just now I’m doing them with my family! We try to surf everyday, it’s my therapy and everyday meditation. You feel so good after a surf session, I think doctors should prescribe a surf session to all their patients!

Born in the Pyrenees, I started skiing at the age of two. And since travelling was a way of life for my parents, I lived in Corsica, Cyprus and in a camper van for two years when we travelled the world. I was home schooled with a different playground every day. I loved how I grew up and think it helped me a lot with every step of my life!

I want our little Tya Kailani to grow up with the ocean as a playground and in a peaceful environment. I am still looking for a school where you can go barefoot! We want her to travel around the world meeting different cultures, playing with and enjoying nature. Me and Gary both grew up near the ocean, fishing, swimming…. So we try to offer her the same lifestyle that we have. We always move a lot and she follows us everywhere.

I love this phrase by Souza: “There is now way to happiness – happiness is the way.”

Live your life to the fullest, enjoy each moment with your loved ones!!! Follow your heart….

Make sure to check back for more insights from Caroline in our upcoming ‘Detox Week’ and visit her site on carolinesyoga.com