SUP Yoga is the latest craze among yogis today. The SUP yoga (stand-up paddleboard yoga) practice takes place on a paddleboard in the middle of a lake. Many people who want to learn SUP yoga wonder where to practice SUP Yoga.

Where to Practice SUP Yoga:

You can practice SUP yoga in a pool, lake, and seawater. You need calm water to practice SUP Yoga. It’ll help you balance on one leg in a tree pose or get stable in a headstand. 

When selecting a location, ensure that the following factors are considered:

• Wind conditions 
• Water depth
• Water temperature
• Other people or vessels in the area

Paddleboard yoga is most commonly practiced on calm lakes. As an alternative, you may practice yoga in ocean waters, harbors, and bays.

Make sure you check tide times and maintain a stable balance. The mindset and physical abilities required for SUP Yoga are different from traditional yoga.

Secondly, you need to know kayaking and swimming before you try SUP yoga. There is nothing like wearing a yoga suit and starting to practice SUP yoga.

There are several factors to consider, which we will discuss later in this blog. In addition to that, we’ll teach you SUP Yoga at the lake, pool, and sea so you can start practicing right away.

 

Practicing Yoga on land vs Water:

If you only practice yoga on the ground, you would be unfamiliar with the settings that are required for Hatha and vinyasa flows during standing yoga with a paddle.

For example, when you are on land, you are constantly rooted to the ground; however, when you are on a paddle board, you are constantly moving with the wind and current, while simultaneously maintaining balance.

Due to these limitations, SUP yoga requires high concentration and balance to stay stable while shifting from position to position. Ultimately, you will be able to improve your grounding technique and work muscles that have never been used before. 

Additionally, practicing above-ground water yoga will allow you to exercise outdoors in a beautiful and peaceful environment.

With every pose you perform, you will breathe fresh air and when you open your eyes, you will be able to enjoy the magnificent scenery surrounding you. Overall, outdoor yoga is a relaxing and calming activity.

Different Environments to Practice SUP Yoga:

SUP Yoga can be practiced in a variety of environments, including pools, lakes, and the sea. Each environment has its vibe. The next section provides a more in-depth discussion of each of these topics.

Practicing SUP Yoga in Lake:

A SUP yoga session on the shore of a lake is a wonderful way to get in touch with nature and revitalize your yoga practice. Additionally, yoga on a paddleboard offers a great way to train your core and stabilizer muscles.

During the process of staying on the floating board, these muscles are activated. The more you practice, the better you get at improving your balance.

What should you know for your practice of SUP Yoga on the Lake?

There are a few things to consider before paddling out to sea. The first thing to do is to ensure that the conditions are suitable for SUP Yoga. I wouldn’t recommend this if the water it’s too windy, or there’s a storm coming.

For SUP Yoga, you should wear flexible clothes. Yoga poses should be easy to switch between, just like on land.  It’s common for people to yoga SUP in swimsuits on hot summer days so they can cool down between poses.

If you wish to protect yourself from the sun, we recommend that you wear a rash guard.  It is advisable to wear workout clothes over swimwear on cooler days to provide an additional layer of warmth.

This is particularly helpful if a cold wind is blowing across the water. Whatever you choose to wear, you should be prepared to get wet if you fall.

Check out these SUP Yoga accessories for a better experience:

• Paddle Board Anchor: This keeps steady while SUP yoga and allows you to fully relax.
• Sunscreen: UV rays are reflected off water, so ensure that you apply sunscreen under your chin as well.
• Dry Bag: A bag that is used to store valuables, keys, and water and is secured with bungee cords.
• Leash: You can use an ankle leash to keep your board close by if you fall, or you can use a paddle leash to secure your paddle.
• PFD: life jackets are required at some lakes and parks.
• Inflatable Paddle Board:  iSUPs can be used for yoga poses because they sit higher off the water.

How to perform SUP Yoga in Lake:

The SUP yoga workout engages multiple muscle groups while moving from one exercise to another. Keep your pace slow and relaxed. You can try this detailed sample workout.

1. 1. Starting with the butterfly stretch, move the body left and right while performing a seated spinal twist.
   2. Move into the knee-to-ankle pose, also called the fire log pose. It’s a great stretch for your outer hips.
   3. Stretch your spine, shoulders, and hamstrings with a seated forward bend. The benefits of this pose include improved digestion.
   4. Stretch your spine and lower back with the cat-cow stretch, followed by both left and right modified side planks.
   5. The following step involves cycling through a series of movements. Begin with the downward-facing dog, move to a plank, then the upward-facing dog.
   6. First perform a standing forward bend, then perform a chair pose, then a mountain pose, and finally finish with a standing forward bend.
   7. Afterward, go into the plank and switch to side planks.
   8. Take a moment to relax in the child’s pose

Practicing SUP Yoga in Sea:

The various poses and managing the drift of the board and the waves are fantastic ways to strengthen your core through SUP Yoga on the ocean. A strong water current and high wind speed are challenges of practicing yoga in the sea.

The practice of yoga in the sea requires you to challenge yourself and maintain your balance. There are a large number of centers that offer SUP yoga classes.

If you are fortunate enough to have one in your area, I strongly recommend taking part in these classes.

During a typical session, you will stretch on the sand, perform gentle movements, and perform relaxation and breathing exercises, as well as learn how to paddleboard.

Afterward, the teachers take their students out to the sea where they begin a 60-minute class on a board. Meditation is included in the class as a means of bringing the body, mind, and spirit closer to nature, as well as Hatha yoga.

The teachers adapt the difficulty of positions and exercises to the level of experience of each student. With the sounds of the sea and the birds and the refreshing sea breeze, complete body relaxation is the normal end to the practice.

At the end of the activity, you can socialize or take photos. Then paddle to shore where instructors assist you in getting out of the water safely.

Practicing SUP Yoga in Pool:

An excellent alternative to practicing SUP yoga in a natural body of water is to practice it in a pool. There is only one requirement: you must locate a pool that allows this type of use. 

Paddleboard yoga in a pool is not only fun, but it can also serve as an excellent introduction to your first experience with the sport.

It is especially beneficial to practice SUP yoga in a swimming pool if you wish to improve your balance when you paddleboard.  No matter if you are a novice, a pro, or simply looking for a challenge, SUP yoga in a pool is worth trying.

Conclusion:

A SUP yoga session (stand-up paddleboard yoga) offers an excellent opportunity for practicing yoga on the water.

Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for some time, SUP yoga will provide an assortment of great benefits that will enhance the quality of your practice and encourage you to spend more time outside.

All you need is a paddleboard and a body of water. SUP Yoga can be performed on calm water bodies such as pools, lakes, bays, and harbors. Additionally, some schools and clubs offer yoga classes at sea.

This activity improves balance, strengthens muscles, sharpens technique, and allows you to relax outdoors. SUP yoga may be practiced individually, with friends, or as part of a class.