I don’t consider myself a yogi. I practice yoga as a means of stretching and for the occasional necessary regrouping and centering, but I’m not a daily practitioner, and I’m only “ok” at it. I’ve made several commitments to myself recently: surf more, do more yoga, try new things. I have been surfing more than usual, so yesterday I decided to branch out and combine the “do more yoga” with the “try new things” commitments. This is where being a resident of a vacation destination has its perks. I took a morning stand up paddleboard (SUP) yoga class, and it was a great experience – one I’m still feeling a day later. This particular class was taught by an instructor certified in both paddle boarding and yoga instruction who uses fundamentals of both to enhance the experience. The students of this class were comprised of locals and vacationers of various skill levels.
According to Patricia Dittrick of Aqua Life Fitness and Yoga, the instructor of this particular class, your body uses its muscles 85% more when performing yoga on the paddle board than when engaging in the practice on a stable, flat surface such as the floor. I believe this, and so do my abs, thighs, and shoulders today. In addition to using the muscles to a greater degree, the practice of yoga out on the water is incredibly calming. You may think this is counterintuitive since you’re obviously working hard to stay on the paddleboard, but it is pretty easy to get to your spiritual center once you find your physical center on the board. It’s also nice to be able to reach into the water and give your body a little splash if you get hot or just want to feel it. Speaking of staying on the paddle board, I didn’t. I fell off into the waist deep water while attempting to perfect the tree pose. I wasn’t the only one who fell into the drink, so it wasn’t at all embarrassing. It was kind of funny, actually. And, truth be told, it was hot and it felt good to get wet. It also didn’t take very long to return to my center after I got back on the board.
After SUP yoga, I hit my usual surf spot for an hour. My session was great, and it wasn’t just because of the conditions (which were good but not stellar). Usually, surfing is tough on my back and my shoulders. I almost always get caught inside for at least a little bit because, if I’m being honest, my paddle strength could use some work. Not the case for this session though. I credit the yoga. Surfing and yoga go hand-in-hand. The yoga helps warm the muscles, clear the mind, and stretch all those tight parts of the body that surfing can wreak havoc on. Yoga on the paddleboard takes that a step further.
If you’re on a surf trip or even just surfing at your home break, I recommend a solid yoga session before you surf. If you are in a location where SUP yoga is offered, it is a must do. Even if you only do it once just to say you tried it, branch out and give it a shot. You’ll have a great experience, and your body will thank you in so many ways.
Photo courtesy of Aqua Life Fitness and Yoga.