Experience the bliss of practicing yoga on the water … with yoga props!
You can do yoga almost anywhere — in your living room, on the beach or on top of a mountain. But lately one of the most popular locations, especially in the summer, is to do yoga right on the water. Standup paddleboard yoga, known as SUP yoga, mixes sun and fun with yoga asanas.
History of SUP Yoga
Surfing originated in Hawaii, where standup paddleboards eventually caught on. Rick Thomas brought a board to California in 2004, and the craze began. SUP grew to become a worldwide phenomenon, both for surfers and for recreational non-surfers — you can use a standup paddleboard on more bodies of water than you can use a surfboard.
Shortly after the popularity of standup paddleboarding took off (and certainly by 2010), SUP yoga was “a thing.” Yoga studios with access to a waterway made the investment in equipment and training to begin offering standup paddleboard yoga classes. In 2013, Three Minute Egg® took a company trip to Chattanooga, TN, to visit One Joyful Yoga, which offers Waconda Bay SUP yoga classes and trips. Jayne Cagle led a SUP yoga class for our whole crew. It was such an amazing experience! If you love yoga and nature, you will definitely love SUP Yoga! Jayne schedules regular SUP yoga classes for 1–12 people, always using Yoga Eggs.
Ready to Try SUP Yoga?
You’ll need the basics - a standup paddleboard and a paddle (and don’t forget sunscreen!). Certain boards are better suited for a yoga practice. Generally 10 to 12 feet long and up to three feet wide, SUP yoga paddleboards are very stable on the water. Believe it or not, they are actually quite difficult to capsize and you can safely move around on them once you get the hang of it. Most SUP Yoga classes begin with basic instructions on safety, how to paddle and maneuver with your equipment, and then get into the asana practice. So, you don’t necessarily need to have any previous SUP experience to fully enjoy SUP yoga. SUP yoga classes are often beginner-friendly so you don’t need a ton of yoga experience either. Check with the yoga teacher or studio as to the level of the class before you sign up.
The Best Yoga Prop for SUP Yoga
Yes, you can use yoga props for SUP yoga! Three Minute Egg® yoga blocks are the perfect SUP companion for a number of reasons:
- Yoga Eggs are versatile and support you in both dynamic and restorative postures.
- Get your Eggs wet on the flat side and the surface tension makes them stick to your board.
- If your Egg happens to fall in the water, it's okay. Yoga Eggs float!
- Plus they come in bright colors making them easy to spot in the water.
Taking your yoga practice to the water is a truly unique and wonderful experience. All you need to do now is find a knowledgeable teacher and possibly buy or rent a paddleboard. Don’t forget to bring your Yoga Eggs and then paddle your way to bliss!
Photos belong to Waconda Bay SUP in Chattanooga, TN. Visit WacondaBaySup.com to schedule a SUP yoga class with Jayne Cagle!