Welcome to Trancalmate

A week dedicated to ladies surfing with breast cancer, where women came together to explore the waves, breathe deeply, share stories, and embrace the ocean’s energy. My name is Angie, I am a surfcoach at NOMB Surf and co-founder of NOMB Changes and once more this year I had the honor of being part of the 4th Trancalmate camp in Galicia.

What a week it has been! Trancalmate felt like stepping into a bubble where everyday worries faded and the ocean set the rhythm. From the very first welcome coffee and trip intro, curiosity and excitement filled the air. Everyone arrived with their own story, but we quickly discovered how much we shared – the wish to try something new, the courage to get into the waves, and the openness to enjoy whatever adventure the week would bring.

Sunrise Yoga and Ocean Adventures

While I spent my mornings preparing for surf sessions, the group started gently with Anna’s sunrise yoga. Watching them stretch into the day, breathing together as the sky turned orange, was a beautiful reminder of how important it is to find calm before the rush of the day. Later, they rolled out mats again – sometimes on the roof terrace, sometimes directly on the beach at sunset. I might not have joined the sessions, but I could feel their effect: more relaxed faces, more laughter, and an energy that carried into the lineup.

Surfing with Breast Cancer – Riding Waves, Finding Joy

And then there was the surfing. Oh wow, the surfing! Galicia spoiled us with beautiful waves at different surfspots. Each wave had its own character – some gentle and forgiving, others cheeky and challenging. From the first surf intro and material hand-out to our geeky surf theory sessions about tides, forecasts, and sandbanks, we learned to see the ocean with different eyes. For many participants, surfing with breast cancer was not only about learning to ride waves but also about rediscovering trust in their bodies.

Surfing with breast cancer, just as surfing without cancer, is about the joy of feeling the board glide, about reclaiming space in the ocean, about celebrating the small wins that actually feel huge. One of my favorite moments was watching the women paddle out, look back at the beach, and then give it a try – standing up for the first time, arms wide, faces lit up. The cheers from the lineup, the giggles after a wipeout, the determination to try again: it’s hard to put into words what that does to you.

Food Made with Love by Campchef Ray

After so much saltwater, it was Chef Ray who brought everyone back to shore. Her breakfasts became legendary: colorful fruitplattern that made sure we had energy for hours in the water. Dinners were a festival of flavors, with pesto nights, fresh veggies, and plates that made us linger at the table long after the food was gone. Food at Trancalmate was more than nutrition. It was comfort, community, and a reason to laugh and chat until late.

Little Moments That Made It Big

Yes, we surfed and practiced yoga – but the magic also happened in between. A cafecito at the “Abierto todo el año” café after a chilly morning session. Long walks through dunes where conversations flowed as easily as the tide. Time-lapse sunsets filmed from the rooftop. Shopping trip to Pontevedra and the tourist market in La Toxa. A pool party that had everyone getting wet, and a silly Schabernackwichteln gift exchange that left us in stitches. Even the flat tire became a story we’ll probably laugh about for a long time.

These little adventures made the week feel real, layered, alive. This camp wasn’t about ticking off a programm for women surfing with breastcaner; it was about letting life unfold, and enjoying both the calm and the chaos together.

Why Trancalmate Matters

Trancalmate showed me something powerful: when women with or after breast cancer come together in a setting like this, something shifts. The ocean challenges and rewards, yoga offers a way back to the body, food nurtures, and shared laughter builds invisible threads between people who might never have met otherwise. By the end of the week, I could see it – the sparkle in their eyes, the way they carried themselves differently, the sense of belonging that had grown wave by wave. I feel honoured that the chicas gave me their trust in guiding them through the waves.

Join Us for Future Camps

Again Trancalmate has left me deeply grateful and inspired. It confirmed what I’ve always believed: surfing can open doors to strength, joy, and community in ways nothing else can. Breastcancer is horrible just by itself, surfing with breastcancer can promote so many positive experiences.

If you’d like to know when the next camp is happening, sign up for our newsletter – that’s where we’ll share all updates. I can’t wait to welcome more women into this journey of waves, emotions, and moments that last a lifetime.

Sea you in the ocean soon, Besos Angie

Surfing after breast cancer is more than just getting on the board – it’s reclaiming your body, your freedom, and your joy. It’s a radical act of self-empowerment. Across the globe, more and more women are finding healing and strength in the ocean, using movement, community, and nature as tools for recovery and resistance.

Trancalmate is one of the few surf & yoga camps created specifically for women with or after breast cancer. It’s not about bouncing back – it’s about moving forward, with honesty, humor, and heart.
At the center of this empowering space stands Anna Götz, yoga teacher and visionary organizer who knows exactly what it means to start over – and how powerful it is to do so together.

We spoke with Anna about the deeper meaning behind Trancalmate – how yoga and surfing can support women affected by breast cancer, what empowerment looks like in practice, and why this camp is about so much more than sport.

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Anna, you are part of the Trancalmate Camp as organizer and yoga teacher – in what moments do you see/experience female empowerment?

In many, actually – but it really starts with the registration. We have quite in-depth preliminary conversations with each participant. The women need to check what still needs to be clarified medically, how things are going with medication, scars, the port. Maybe there’s family, small kids, pets, a partner, a job – how will that work out, what do they think about it? Vacation after such a long illness. And then also far away.

When participants have sorted out all their questions at home and then say to me on the phone: Hey, I’m doing it, I’m in! – I can hear in their voice that their eyes are sparkling, they’ve just grown a little taller and are standing a bit prouder, and something inside them is jumping and dancing.
With or after breast cancer, real female empowerment happens in that moment when women take back their life!

What motivated you to become a yoga teacher and to found Trancalmate?

Surfing or yoga are often marketed as part of a fancy lifestyle, and at the same time, classes rarely offer space beyond the norm.

I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. After treatment, I felt like I didn’t really fit in anywhere with my 1½ breasts: I had insecurities while swimming, pain while jogging, couldn’t lie on my belly in yoga class, and then came the medical recommendation for senior rehab sports… I went twice and never again.

Somewhere between defiance and curiosity, I then completed a multi-year training in therapeutic yoga. With knowledge of anatomy, effects, and traditions, I learned how to adapt movements to people’s needs and abilities. A request from the Tumor Center in Bonn got me into teaching “yoga for wonky veggies.” I still absolutely love designing movement sequences tailored to individuals and observing how it helps them better deal with chronic illnesses, amputations, or during aftercare. Conventional yoga studios usually don’t have the space, time, or expertise for that.
Angie from NOMB Surf has a similar approach to mine. In both surfing and yoga, there are movement patterns that can be unpleasant or even painful after breast surgeries. It’s just an amazing feeling to work together with her to address this and support the women in growing beyond themselves through their own movement patterns!

NOMB Changes is focusing on female empowerment in 2025. More generally speaking: How does yoga support the empowerment of women?

Through a positive body image, self-acceptance, inner balance and resilience, physical and mental strength, and the connection and exchange with others that makes us feel united. Yoga doesn’t just consist of asanas (physical poses), but also breathing techniques, meditation, and reflecting on how we want to treat ourselves and others.

In Sanskrit, yoga means “to connect” or “connection.” Looking at social injustice, connection is probably the superpower of empowerment!

Are there any specific yoga techniques that help women build their self-confidence?

Haha, I bet Instagram, YouTube and AIs would suggest the so-called “strong asanas” like warrior poses or headstands. That’s too much of an optimization lifestyle for me.

Long story short: Exhale. And then sincerely observe what happens. Don’t worry, inhaling is a survival reflex – it happens on its own. Letting everything go and being able to/must/allowed to endure yourself in the process – that strengthens our self-confidence. Don’t give a damn how you or others look while doing yoga.

How do you practically implement female empowerment at Trancalmate?

By creating a safe space for breasties. These women have usually been through a lot. They don’t just bring a wounded, insecure body, but also fears and deep exhaustion. We coach the women in a way that lets them try things out without having to do anything. Sometimes gently feeling their way in, sometimes hollering and jumping into cold water, melting into relaxation on the mat, or sinking into a cozy soreness in the evening.

Effort, pain, fatigue – somehow everything gets recoded! We’ve never explicitly formulated it as a concept, but it happens all by itself: the women feel that they are regaining control over their lives, they develop new plans, become cheeky, bold, and demanding. And they take that home with them.

And I also think the camp strengthens female empowerment within our team. We’re three very different, very strong women doing our thing. We often have to change or rethink things, but we don’t let others interfere. Because it works and it’s fun. Because it feels right. Because the experiences with the participants warm our hearts and make us proud to be able to have a positive impact!

What can women take away from this for everyday life?

Well, if one of the women hears the loud banging of the breast MRI and it reminds her of her first washing machine in Weißwasser – and while lying there, she’s already planning her next vacation or a new sport – then she’s basically flipping a lively, empowered middle finger to cancer!

A big hug thank-you to Anna for this honest and inspiring interview — and for the incredible work she does to empower women through movement, community, and courage.

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Support Empowerment in Action
The upcoming 4th Trancalmate Camp will once again be joined by Angie, our co-founder and professional surf coach, whose inclusive approach makes it possible for every woman to connect with the waves on her own terms. Also joining the Trancalmate crew is Ray, NOMB Changes active member and Head of Communication & PR — she’ll be bringing her leopard crazyness and creativity to the kitchen, nourishing everyone with delicious, soul-fueling meals.

Projects like Trancalmate create life-changing spaces for women affected by breast cancer — spaces of healing, strength, and solidarity. With your support, we can keep making them happen. Every contribution makes a wave of difference.

👉 Donate now to help us fund inclusive, empowering surf and yoga experiences.
💜 Find out more about our mission and how you can get involved.

Surfing is not only a thrilling water sport but also a source of inspiration for techniques that can benefit us in various aspects of life. In a recent workshop held by us at Luise von Marillac Clinic in Bad Überkingen, Germany, 15 women undergoing rehabilitation for breast cancer had the opportunity to explore breathing techniques derived from the world of surfing. The workshop, facilitated by Angie and Annette, two of the founders of NOMB Changes, aimed to empower these women in their recovery journey by teaching them adaptable breathing techniques that can be applied not only in challenging breast cancer treatments but also in everyday life situations.

Beyond the Waves

Annette personally experienced the benefits of these breathing techniques during her breast cancer treatment. As Angie planned to visit her during her rehabilitation stay at Luise von Marillac Clinic Annette encouraged her Angie to apply her knowledge beyond the realm of surfing. Angie, being passionate about empowering others, gladly agreed to pass on her proficiency. Together, they tailored the techniques to suit the needs of the breast cancer rehab participants, ensuring their applicability in everyday life situations.

A Surfer’s Breath

Angie, a professional surf coach, shared her knowledge and expertise with the participants, highlighting the importance of breathing in surfing and how it can be applied outside the ocean. The workshop focused on four different types of breathing techniques:

• preparation,
• performance,
• recovery,
• and an emergency breath.

These techniques were designed to enhance overall performance, well-being and resilience, not only in surfing but also in the face of life’s challenges.

The Basics of Breathing

Before diving into the specific breathing techniques, the workshop covered the fundamentals of breathing. The participants learned about the concept of a full breath, which involves utilizing the diaphragm to inhale deeply, filling the lungs to their maximum capacity, and exhaling fully to release any tension or stress. Emphasizing the significance of deep, diaphragmatic breathing for relaxation, stress reduction, and improved mental clarity, the participants learned to understand their ´oxygen tank`. This fundamental technique formed the foundation upon which the other breathing techniques were built.

Interactive Neuro-Centered Brain Activations

Recognizing that the brain sometimes needs a little coaxing to cooperate, the workshop also incorporated fun and interactive neuro-centered brain activations.

These exercises were designed to help participants stimulate their brains and enhance focus, especially during times when the brain may feel uncooperative, especially due to the effects of treatment or recovery.

The women enthusiastically participated in these activities, discovering newfound levels of concentration and mental clarity and the potential to improve their overall cognitive function and mental well-being.

The room was filled with laughter, a bonus of these easy to remember activations.

Taking it to the Streets

The true test of the workshop’s effectiveness came the following day when the women took their newfound knowledge to the beautiful Nordic walking trails surrounding the clinic. Equipped with their breathing techniques, they embarked on their routine, expecting nothing more than a pleasant workout. What they experienced, however, was nothing short of astonishing. The participants reported increased focus, reduced fatigue, and all of them kept within the optimal range of heartrate. The women highlighted the performance breath, which enabled them to tap into a newfound reserve of energy, powering through their workout with ease. The recovery breath brought a sense of tranquillity, as they released any physical and emotional tension after the workout.

Beautiful experience with an impact

The workshop on breathing techniques derived from the world of surfing was a great experience for the 15 women. Under the guidance of our founders Angie and Annette, they discovered the power of the breath as a tool for empowerment and resilience.
These techniques, originally designed for surfing, proved to be adaptable in everyday life situations and also during challenging breast cancer treatments. By incorporating these breathing techniques, the participants unlocked a new tool to stimulate their mental and physical well-being, reinforcing their strength and determination. These techniques, along with the interactive brain activations, empowered the participants to embrace their challenges head-on and discover new strengths within themselves.

To the 15 remarkable women who placed their trust in Angie & Annette, and the power of breath, you are true inspirations. The workshop was a testament to your strength and resilience, hopefully reminding you that you really rock your journey of recovery and beyond.