Good talks to Michael Frampton from Surf Mastery about holistic wellbeing, his view of beauty, and the importance of keeping daily living and beauty rituals simple.
Michael is a dedicated surfer, holistic coach and driving force behind Surf Mastery.
Q Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A I am a solo dad of three boys currently living in Hawkes Bay. I host and produce The Surf Mastery Podcast – a podcast that helps passionate lifelong surfers to catch more waves, surf with more speed, style, grace and gain confidence in the water.
Q What are some of the most important guiding principles you live your life by?
A Family comes first, have fun, be kind, and contribute
Q What is beauty to you?
A Grace is beauty and the way water moves is graceful as well as a healthy balanced body and glowing skin.
Q How do you take care of your body/mind/soul/spirit?
A I train my body hard with exercise, and I focus my mind softly with meditation. I practise Kelee Meditation, and it only takes five minutes—so there are no excuses!
I set daily (sometimes hourly) reminders of things bigger than myself: the ocean, family, contributing to society, long-term projects, and writing a book. I aim for 7.5 hours of sleep, at least half an hour of exercise, and I love having good music playing throughout the day.
When life gets bumpy, returning to surfing always grounds me. I think it’s the combination of reconnecting with nature and the single focus required to surf that resets me. It reminds me that this too shall pass.
Q What’s your eating philosophy and style?
A I eat a carnivore-style diet 80% of the time, paleo 15%, and “anything goes” 5%.
If I eat late, I breakfast late, keeping within a 12-hour window followed by a 12-hour fast. I have been studying nutrition for twenty years and have tried almost every diet there is. Carnivore suits me best, paleo adds easy calories, and “anything goes” keeps me social.
Q What does Surf Mastery offer?
A I have a background as a personal trainer, life coach, and surfing coach, so I work in a very holistic way.
Surfers who want to deepen their connection with surfing and the ocean come to me for inspiration and education, with the aim of creating a better surfing life. For some, this means focusing on performance — for example, refining technique and improving skills in the water. For others, it’s about developing a surfing philosophy that can guide their journey, helping them to release any shame or self-doubt they may feel when surfing. And for some, it’s simply about designing a practical workout routine that prepares them to be surf-ready for an upcoming trip.
Q What do you think are the most important fundamentals for human and planetary health?
A Respecting rhythms means having a good sleep routine and eating seasonally. It also includes time spent outdoors, in reflection and contemplation for self-awareness and growth, as well as time with others to foster a sense of community.
Q What’s your beauty routine?
A Hydrate after a long sleep, then use a hot flannel and coconut oil. Coconut oil is all you need, and for a glow, get some sun, exercise daily, and smile.
Q As a dad, what are “the rules” in your house?
There are no rules, as rules just get broken — especially by three young boys. We have principles that we agree upon in our family meetings. I believe kids don’t follow rules set by authorities without drama, but they do adhere to principles they have contributed to.
I openly talk about everything and anything with my kids — from emotions to emery boards. And if they give me one-word answers to any questions I ask, then it’s on me to ask better questions.
Oh, one rule: always flush.
Q What makes you most proud of them?
A Their resilience shows in how they always look for the positives in life.
Connect with Michael’s podcasts, coaching and courses at surfmastery.com
