Paddle Board yoga or otherwise known as SUP Yoga, is a form of yoga that has been growing exponentially in popularity over the last 5 years. The main reason for this explosion in popularity is due to yoga being at its peak popularity and paddle boarding being one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. But what is paddle board yoga, and what makes it one of the most popular water activities?
In this blog post we will be discussing everything that you need to know about paddle board yoga. This includes: paddle board equipment, poses, and the difference between regular yoga and paddle board yoga. So that you can leave this article being a paddle board yoga pro!
The Benefits of Paddle Board Yoga
Paddle Board Yoga has many amazing benefits to your health and to your yoga skills and in this section we will go over each of these different benefits in detail.
Health Benefits Of SUP Yoga
One of the many reasons why you would want to try paddle board yoga is because of the amazing benefits it has to your health. But what are they?
Builds Strength
If you have ever tried regular yoga, you know that it is no walk in the park and actually works up quite a bit of sweat in the process. But when you take those different yoga poses on a paddle board it completely changes the game by significantly increasing the difficulty. This is due to the lack of stability on a paddle board which will force you to use more strength to balance yourself in these tricky yoga poses.
Relieves Stress
To many people, yoga is a great way to relieve stress. But when on a paddle board it can be an even great way to relieve stress due to being out on the water and one with nature.
On the flipside, many beginners may find it more stressful due the lack of stability of the SUP board and being worried about falling in the water. But if you are a fine swimmer and understand that falling in the water is a risk with SUP Yoga then this should be a great way to relieve some stress in your life.
Increases Flexibility
Just like regular yoga, paddle board yoga will significantly improve your body’s overall flexibility. This is due to the fact that you are still doing regular yoga poses designed to help with flexibility.
Improves Balance
As we spoke about a few times in this article, SUP Yoga is less stable due to being out on the water. Which in turn, will help you improve your overall balance and yoga skills.
Yoga Benefits
After learning about the health benefits of paddle board yoga, we want to talk about the benefits it will have to your overall yoga skills.
When most people start incorporating SUP yoga into their routine we have seen signs of improvement in their yoga skills and form on land. The reason for this is that because of the added difficulty being on a paddle board they tend to increase their strength and form significantly.
Being One With Nature
The last main benefit of SUP yoga is simply being able to enjoy nature while you improve your yoga skills. And this is one of the main reasons why people decide to try it for the first time. Because who wants to sit in a sweaty yoga studio when you could be doing yoga out on the water!
Yoga Poses For SUP Yoga
When it comes to learning poses on a paddle board you first need to take into account your skill level when it comes to yoga. If you are brand new to yoga, you will want to start with the easiest possible poses or even start by learning yoga on land before making the jump to the water. But if you are already an expert on land, you should be able jump right on into some difficult poses.
Beginner Paddle Board Yoga Poses
Here are some great beginner yoga poses that you can start practicing right away! For more information on these poses check out these 10 sup yoga poses for beginners.
- Easy Seated Pose
- Upward-Facing Dog
- Low Lunge Variations
- Half Camel
Intermediate Paddle Board Yoga Poses
If you already have some yoga experience here are a few intermediate poses that you can get started with. For more information on these poses check out the blog: 5 Moderate SUP Yoga Poses.
- Mountain Pose
- Crescent Lunge
- King Pigeon
- Downward Dog
- Child’s Pose
Advanced Paddle Board Yoga Poses
Experienced Yogi’s will want to jump ahead to these poses to give them something a little more challenging.
- Forward Bend
- Side Angle / Warrior 2 Pose
- Advanced Downward Dog
- Headstand
What To Wear For SUP Yoga
Picking the right outfit to wear for yoga can make a big difference in how difficult it is for you to properly practice your form. So in this section we are going to discuss what you should wear to get the most out of your paddle board yoga session.
Women’s SUP Yoga Clothes
For both women and men it is nothing too complicated to find for dressing properly for your next SUP yoga session or class. Here is a list of the correct attire to wear:
- Regular Yoga Clothes
- Bathing Suit
- Rashguard
Men’s SUP Yoga Clothes
Like always, men have it easy when it comes to clothes. Here are the best options for men’s SUP yoga clothes:
- Swimsuit
- Rashguard
- Regular Men’s Workout Clothes
Best Paddle Boards For SUP Yoga
If you have made it this far into the blog, you might be ready to find the right paddle board. But actually picking out the right board can be tricky due to a variety of factors including: paddle board material, size, weight, and other uses. If you want to get an estimate on your paddle board size, try out our Paddle Board Size Calculator.
That is why in this section we will help you find the right board for your situation.
Inflatable SUP Yoga Boards
Because many people do not live right by a body of water you may want to consider purchasing an Inflatable SUP Yoga Board for easy transportation. Here is our list of the best inflatable SUP Yoga Boards.
- Sea Gods Infinite Mantra
- GILI 10’6’’ Komodo
- Bluefin 10’8’’ Aura Fit
- Thurso Surf 10’8’’ Tranquility
- Bay Sports 11’ Mandala
- NIXY 10’6’’ Venice
- iROCKER 10’6’’ Cruiser
- Red Paddle Co 10’8’’ Activ Yoga
Solid SUP Yoga Boards
If you do live near the water or don’t want to deal with inflating or deflating your paddle board everytime you want to take it out, consider one of these great Solid SUP Yoga Boards:
- Starboard Whopper Zen
- Red Paddle Co. Activ
