Is SUP Yoga Worth It
One of the latest trends in paddle boarding is SUP Yoga. If you haven’t figured it out already, it’s basically taking traditional Yoga and moving it out onto your SUP. SUP Yoga classes are popping up anywhere that water is found. I’ve even seen SUP Yoga occurring in pools. Let’s take a look at why SUP Yoga is worth a try.
Is SUP Yoga worth it? Absolutely! The many physical and mental health benefits that come from traditional Yoga are numerous. Adding Yoga to SUP just enhances the whole experience. Here’s a quick list of why it is worth a try:
- Build a Connection
- Core Workout
- Improve Flexibility
- Better Balance
- Mindfulness
- Enjoy the Scenery
- Stress Relief
- New Experience
- Challenge
What makes SUP Yoga Beneficial
The benefits of Yoga have been insurmountable for those that have been actively involved with Yoga. As someone who has worked in the mental health field for several years, I’ve firsthand seen how Yoga can be a great coping skill for reducing things like anxiety, depression, fear, and trauma.
We all have or will experience some of those challenges at some point in our lives so having something like Yoga to help us cope will make all the difference.
Here are some of the ways SUP Yoga is great:
Build a Connection
SUP Yoga provides an opportunity for you to connect with the world around you in many ways. With an inner focus throughout the Yoga workout, it helps us to connect with our spirituality.
Being immersed in nature connects us with our environment. Taking part in a yoga class with others unites us with a community.
Core Workout
Participating in SUP Yoga creates another fitness workout for paddle boarders. If you’re looking for calorie burns, supplemental workouts, or staying fit through SUP, then try adding SUP Yoga to the mix.
The various poses that you maintain for duration’s of time through SUP Yoga engage the recruitment of your core muscles to strengthen them.
Improve Flexibility
Yoga helps to keep your muscles stretched and your body limber. This helps to prevent various muscle injuries that can occur, especially in the lower back area.
Keeping your body loose will help your overall quality of life.
Better Balance
It takes a more determined SUP rider to balance while doing Yoga poses. Balance is so critical to everyday movements and tends to deteriorate as we age. Check out my post Balance Training to Improve Your Ability for SUP.
Mindfulness
As a SUP Yoga student, mindfulness is one major component. Mindfulness is so beneficial for improving our mental health.
When we recognize our feelings we can gain a better perspective on why we are feeling a certain way and be able to cope.
Mindfulness helps the brains neuroplasticity or ability to adapt and change. Check out this Free 7-Day Mind and Soul Cleanse .
Enjoy the Scenery
Yoga can be great in a studio or our living room, but there is just something different about being in nature, specifically being out on the water.
The water just brings a soothing presence into our lives. Often there is another beautiful scenery surrounding the water as well.
Stress Relief
Things like deep breathing techniques, being more physically fit, and mindfulness will help reduce stress.
We all have different challenges that can cause us to feel stress and it’s how we respond to that stress is going to determine stresses impact on our lives.
Engaging in activities like SUP Yoga can help us to cope with those daily stressors in a healthy way.
New Experience
Paddling around the water on your SUP is awesome but adding more unique experiences while enhancing your SUP life.
SUP Yoga can be one of the many amazing activities to try to further your horizons.
Challenge
Maybe you’re looking to push yourself in a new way on your paddle board. SUP Yoga provides a bit of a challenge to master.
Balancing on your paddle board while doing different yoga poses takes a little bit of skill. It may be a good idea to master some of the Vinyasa poses on land prior to trying them on your SUP.
What can you expect from a SUP Yoga Class
Ok, So you may be thinking that SUP Yoga seems like it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge, but what’s the worse that’s going to happen, so you may get a little wet.
Going in with limited expectations and to just have fun will make all the difference. Although not all SUP
Yoga classes will be exactly the same, this is a general overview of what you might expect from a traditional SUP Yoga class on the water.
- Make sure that you are working with a certified SUP Yoga instructor to ensure that they have the necessary training to help guide you on your SUP Yoga journey.
- A Typical class is anywhere from 60-90 minutes long.
- Most classes consist of a small group. A lot of times you have the option to set-up a small group of family or friends or join an existing group by yourself or with someone.
- You’ll typically start by paddling on the water for a period of time to get comfortable with being on your SUP and on the water.
- Your instructor will help you to work on your breathing to get into your flow.
Get into your Vinyasa based Yoga poses. - Finish up with meditation.
Things you should get for SUP Yoga
If you intend to do SUP Yoga on a regular basis there are a few things that you should consider purchasing. Although you can do SUP Yoga on many different types of paddle boards, one that is geared towards SUP Yoga will be beneficial. These boards tend to be wider and able to help you maintain better balance.
Here are a couple that I recommend:
Merax Inflatable Paddle Board- This is the paddle board that I own and love it’s versatility.
What to wear:
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To summarize, SUP Yoga is gaining steam for a reason. SUP Yoga provides another uniquely enjoyable experience for SUP riders or just water lovers in general. The many benefits of SUP Yoga make it worth trying at least once, but you’ll probably be going back for more.
Please comment below on anything that you’ve enjoyed from this post or your experiences with SUP Yoga.
photo credit: widiwici stand up paddle Yoga via photopin (license)
photo credit: widiwici stand up paddle Yoga via photopin (license)
photo credit: hmmlargeart Surrender via photopin (license)