Why yoga on a paddle board you might ask. I have actually had people tell me that it seems gimmicky, and not true to yoga. Well, I challenge you to come find out for yourself.
I started teaching yoga in 2015. My first classes were taught to teenage girls in a mental health facility where I was working as a milieu counselor. I was studying Therapeutic Recreation, and spent my free time on the river behind my house. I was drawn to the idea of teaching yoga on the water. I love being outdoors, and I love yoga… it only makes sense.
When I showed up at my Stoked Yogi SUP yoga teacher training, I realized I had not actually ever taken a SUP Yoga class. I paddled a bunch, and taught yoga a bunch, but I had not actually combined the two. I took my first class during training and my soul was fed with more inspiration than I could handle. It started to make more sense to me as to why we practice yoga this way.
So many people practice yoga. It is so beneficial on so many levels. Yoga is a repetitive practice that helps strengthen the mind body soul connection. In our physical practice, asana, we repeat the same postures over and over again. Sometimes we connect deeper with specific postures, and grow adversities towards others. It is also easy to become passive in postures that we feel we have “mastered”. SUP yoga brings back the basic postures, the most well known postures, and adds a new challenge. You will never experience a warrior l or ll the same after trying it on a paddle board. You activate muscles so deep within your body that you never even knew you were using while in a warrior on solid ground. Core strength has a whole knew meaning when practicing yoga on a paddle board. Balance is improved just by standing on the board alone, and when doing simple postures like plank or chair pose, your arms and legs will be working more to keep you up.
Most times I show up to my yoga mat because I need a break from my own mind. Focusing awareness becomes challenging while practicing yoga on a paddle board because of the variety of distractions that are possible. Fish jumping, the sounds of boats and people in the distance, the buzzing of bugs and chirping of birds. Just like on our yoga mats, we are encouraged to stay present and in our bodies. Paddle board yoga just adds new distractions and ways for us to practice mindfulness and staying present. The second you take your awareness off of your board and out of your body, you can bet there will be a wobble and a reminder that you should stay present, otherwise, you might go for a swim.
It might be hard to imagine the spiritual benefits that can occur while practicing yoga on a paddle board. Well, nothing brings us closer to spirit/source/god (however you name it, if at all) than being in nature. The element of water alone has so many powerful benefits and humbling reminders of our innate existence on earth. TO JUST BE. To take a moment and listen, see, and feel all of the beauty that exists at all times around us. It is truly magical.
Personally, I think I have the best job in the world. Summer’s outside on the water, sharing what I love and seeing people change and grow right in front of my eyes. I can’t imagine why someone would not want to practice yoga on the water.
Have you taken a class on the water? What were your favorite parts? Feel free to share in the comments or questions below!
