SUP yoga is all the rage these days.
It blends two massively popular activities and makes them both more interesting.
It’s not easy, but it’s fairly accessible—if you have a stand up paddle board then you’re good to go.
Can You Do Yoga on a Paddle Board?
Of course! A stand up paddle board is basically a long and wide surfboard.
It will support you as you stand, move, and fluidly shift from one yoga pose to another.
Whether you can personally do it is a different story.
If you don’t have any balance and struggle to perform basic yoga poses on solid ground, you’re going to struggle with SUP yoga.
If you watch the pros do it, you could be forgiven for thinking it was easy.
They are so stable and graceful as they move, and they don’t have any balance issues.
But once you’re on the SUP board you’ll realize that it can be quite tricky.
In such cases, it’s best to stand with basic poses just to get a feel for being on the water.
How Wide Should a Paddle Board Be When Doing Yoga?
The best paddle boards for SUP yoga are stable, wide, and feature a non-slip deck.
The latter is particularly important, much more so than an extra inch or two in width.
What Are the Benefits of SUP Yoga?
Practicing yoga is great for core strength.
It also relaxes the mind, stretches the muscles, and can reduce stress and anxiety.
Paddle board yoga takes things even further.
The serene waters help to calm the mind and relax the body while the added instability of being on a SUP board will force your legs and core muscles to work even harder.
How to Do SUP Yoga on Paddle Boards
For the best yoga experience every time, keep the following tips in mind:
- Look for Calm and Warm Days
- Paddle Out to a Quiet Location
- Start Slow with Simple Poses
- Maintain Two Points of Contact on the Board at All Times
- Take Your Time
- Stay Out of the Way of Boat Traffic
- Keep Your Stance Wide
The Best Yoga Poses for Paddle Board Yoga
The Best yoga SUP poses are often the simplest ones.
To get started with paddle boarding yoga, try the following poses:
Downward Dog Pose
A common yoga pose that requires you to keep the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands on the SUP board at the same time, with your backside pushed up into the air.
Cobra Pose
Lie face down on your SUP board and place your palms by your sides, as if you are about to perform a push-up.
Push down to raise your upper body while keeping your lower body on the SUP board.
Warrior 1 and Warrior 2 Poses
These poses are performed by assuming a lunge position and either raising your hands above your head (Warrior 1) or placing them out to the side (Warrior 2).
Boat Pose
Lie flat on your back and then raise both your upper and lower body so that you’re forming a “V” shape, with your backside resting on the SUP board.
Grab your legs with your hands and hold.
Corpse Pose
A simple pose performed by lying flat on your back and keeping your arms down by your sides with your legs extended.
