Is it difficult to practice SUP YOGA?

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It is Difficult to Practice SUP Yoga?

Starting the Stand-up Paddle-boarding (SUP) Yoga may sound difficult to you. SUP Yoga demands strength, balance, and focus at the same time. In comparison to land yoga, SUP yoga is a little difficult to master.

But, with the right mindfulness and training, you can achieve this goal. Did anyone mention how fun and cool it is to practice SUP yoga? Yoga is a healthy practice that has been in our world for hundreds of years.

Paddle boards are continuously swaying on the water. You need to be patient and go with the flow while practicing this technique. The proper knowledge of poses and moves over the board is a must for every beginner SUP yogi.

This article will prepare your body and mind by considering a greater sense of balance. At the same time, compatible equipment is also very crucial. You don’t want your yoga session to convert into a swimming one, do you?

Take a head start for SUP YOGA

What makes SUP yoga difficult to perform is the maintenance of balance over the board. There are countless resource data available for performing your first yoga session. The first thing is to prepare your body and mind for SUP yoga.

As a beginner, you may feel embarrassed after falling into the water again and again. But, that is ok as failure is also a part of the process. I recommend you make your body acclimatize to the poses on land before you even step into the water.

Take Beginner SUP YOGA CLASSES

It is always ideal to be led by an experienced yogi if you find SUP yoga difficult for you. The SUP yoga classes are available all around the world in major countries. You can choose between these classes by searching on major search engines and social media platforms.

By joining a SUP Yoga session, you will also learn some valuable tips. That includes breathing control, and balance maintenance on the board. It is also crucial to start at a quiet and serene place as crowded areas induce nervousness and less confidence.

Try Different SUP YOGA POSES

You can try several different poses and exercises to start from. Cow face pose and warrior III pose are some of the popular ones. The basic aim of the cow face pose is to train your chest, triceps, thighs, ankles, and hips.

Cow Face pose in SUP Yoga

Cow face pose is more like a stretching exercise that begins from a staff pose position. You have to balance your body in an upright sitting position. Besides, your thighs must stay flat along with your hands.

In this posture, start lengthening your spine and bring your shoulder blades towards each other. Now you are in a staff pose. To change it into a cow face pose, all you need to do is to bend your knees and place your left foot beneath the right knee.

When the foot is beyond the right hip, repeat the process with the right knee and foot. Slowly sit on a block and extend your hips. The final step is to lift and bend your arm over to the higher back up to the midway and roll your shoulders. Repeat it with the other arm towards the back.

Adho-Mukha Svanasana in SUP Yoga

Adho-Mukha Svanasana, also known as the downward facing dog pose is another challenging pose. In SUP yoga, Adho-Mukha Svanasana is beneficial for your back, shoulders, calves, and hands.

This pose helps to regulate the endocrine and digestive systems. The pose comprises initial hands and knees adjustment on the paddleboard. By keeping the hands and shoulders wide apart, tuck the toes under.

Then you need to lift your hip bone towards the sky and straighten your legs. The final step is to relax your head and neck so that you can see your knees below. By keeping this pose, your spine will get relaxed and your arms and legs start gaining more strength.

Adho-Mukha Svanasana is fairly easy to perform with good balance on the SUP Yoga board. You can easily normalize your posture by slowly leaning down into the child’s pose. In my opinion, this pose will help you a lot if you’re new to SUP yoga training.

Necessary Equipments

Bringing the Yoga compatible equipment is as important as learning poses. Below is some necessary equipment you must have to make SUP yoga easier and more fun for you.

Good Quality Paddle Board
Paddles
Paddle Board Leash
Balancing Anchor
Emergency Whistle
Floatation Device

For starters, invest in a better-quality paddle board with a flat and wide structure. Such boards stay balanced while providing enough room for various yoga poses. You also have the option to try out SUP yoga-specific boards at affordable prices.

A paddle is necessary equipment to take your board in the water. Make sure the paddle you choose is lighter in weight and takes less space on the paddle board. There is a certain type of leash-supported paddle available so you don’t lose it while you are doing yoga.

A paddleboard leash helps you stay on the paddleboard. The concept is just like Velcro wristbands of boogie boards. But, you should only use a leash during paddling and remove it from the ankle once you are at the right place to do SUP yoga.

Balancing anchor is an optional choice in the case of SUP yoga. If you have enough budget, you can get one as it helps your board to stay in one place. The paddle board works well against movements when it is stabilized using an anchor.

A whistle and personal floatation device are must-to-carry items on the SUP Yoga list. The whistle is mandated by the Coast Guard and used in case of an accidental emergency. A floatation device is better than a life vest because of its leaner structure and less bulkiness.

Conclusion

As a beginner, SUP yoga demands practice, patience, and training. The goal is a gradual improvement over time while paying dire attention to your focus. With the right type of techniques and equipment, you will enjoy a lot of fun and a healthier body at the same time.

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