Are you one of the many people who have grown tired of spending your time indoors, during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns?
Does the thought of another dreary exercise session – within the confines of a gym or yoga studio – give you a headache?
Well, we’re right there with you.
There’s only so much indoor-time a person can take. And we’ve had more than our fill of home and hearth, over the past year or so.
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The Benefits of Open Spaces
Regular exercise is a very important thing, for your physical as well as mental health.
However, your workout sessions will only do you any good if you’re putting some real effort into them. Just going through the motions is not enough. As you’re already aware, yoga is about more than holding a complicated pose for as long as possible.
Your body, mind, and breaths have to be in harmony with one another, for you to get the most out of your yoga sessions.
And such harmony can be hard to achieve, when stuck inside a dank studio every day of the week.
So why not switch things up a bit?
Take the exercise out into the lap of nature. Practice your yoga poses on the surface of a beautiful, serene lake, in the great outdoors.
Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Well, for once, luck is on your side. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) yoga has been gaining popularity among health nuts and water sport lovers around the world.
In fact, many fitness experts and gurus are now hopping on board with this trend. SUP yoga has been hailed as one of the best innovations to take the fitness industry by storm in recent years.
The enthusiasm makes much sense when you realize that, in some ways, SUP and yoga are very similar activities.
Both practices demand balance, focus, and peace of mind. Moreover, when done right (and consistently), both yoga and SUP can be very invigorating, strengthening, and stabilizing – both mentally and physically.
So what can be better than to take the healthful qualities of yoga, and combine them with the soothing, uplifting effects of a fun water sport?
Also read: How to Stay Healthy While Working from Home
Getting Into SUP Yoga
For experienced yogis, getting into the stride of SUP yoga will be no great hurdle.
There’s no need to point out that balancing on the water is more difficult than doing so on solid land. For this reason, holding a complex yoga pose on a floating paddleboard will improve your posture and enhance your balancing skills. It will also help build up your core and leg muscles.
Additionally, you will benefit from the healing properties of the open air (and the cool waters below you). There are few things that can help the mind focus better than the soft lapping of the water at your feet, and the sound of birdsong all around you.
SUP yoga is perhaps one of the best and most natural ways to get over the lockdown blues and regain your productivity – all without risking an infection by visiting some crowded gym or yoga studio.
After all, maintaining the recommended two-meter distance from your fellow humans isn’t hard, when you’re traversing a huge water body on a tiny paddleboard.
Packing for SUP Yoga
To do SUP yoga right, you need to invest in high-quality gear or equipment. Without the right gear, all the beneficial properties of this activity will be for naught, because you will not feel safe and comfortable in the water.
And you can’t properly focus on your yoga poses on a wobbly and unstable board, with the leash chafing at your ankle, can you?
So you need to pack reliable pieces of SUP equipment for every session of SUP yoga. Some of the most important equipment you will be using is as follows:
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Inflatable Paddleboard
A large and stable inflatable paddleboard, made from military-grade PVC, will be ideal for your first SUP yoga session. The longer and wider a paddleboard is, the more stability it will provide on the water.
And stability is the one thing you can’t do without, when trying to Downward-Facing Dog pose on a liquid surface.
Moreover, inflatable paddleboards can be easily deflated after the yoga session and stuffed into a backpack for easy conveyance.
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Electric Pump
A good electric pump is essential, for quickly and efficiently inflating your paddleboard and getting it ready for the water.
After all, you want to get your workout on the water, and not in the parking lot trying to operate a rusty old manual hand pump.
When buying an electric pump, do make sure that it has the right adapter to fit the air valve of your paddleboard.
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Quick-Dry Workout Clothes
When setting out for your first SUP yoga session, try and choose loose, comfortable clothing made from stretchy and water-resistant materials.
You can try quick-dry yoga clothing combined with a pair of flip flops or water sandals, for maximum comfort (and minimum water-logging).
A wide-brimmed hat – and a pair of sunglasses with retainers – are some of the accessories that you can’t go wrong with.
- Ankle Leash
Before you start your SUP yoga session, tether the paddleboard to yourself with a tough and resilient ankle leash.
This will keep the paddleboard from floating away from you, if you ever happen to fall into the water by accident.
The ankle leash will also keep you safe when the tide is high or the waters rough.
In Conclusion
With the right equipment and accessories, there is nothing that can keep you from achieving your fitness goals with SUP yoga – and having fun while you’re at it. Just be sure to purchase your gear from a reputed seller or manufacturer, to ensure the quality and durability of the products.
