TRY PADDLEBOARD YOGA
Greene County Parks & Trails: Call 937-562-6440 for class details or email info@gcparkstrails.com for information.
Innerlight Yoga & Wellness: Class information at www.innerlightwellness.net.
Whitewater Warehouse: Class information and events at www.kayakdayton.com/
Sunshine, a gentle breeze and cool water, a perfect setting for yoga – think floating downward dog.
Practicing yoga on a stand up paddleboard (SUP) can be a fun addition to your fitness routine or a good way to enhance your existing yoga practice.
Local businesses, parks and yoga studios, alike, offer classes this month that can help you get fit and stay cool at the same time. Whitewater Warehouse offers a “Stand Up Paddling Yoga Series” and Greene County Parks & Trails recently added paddleboard yoga classes at Spring Lakes Park. Innerlight Yoga & Wellness, in Beavercreek, will also soon be adding a paddleboard yoga series. Classes include use of a stand up paddleboard.
SOAKING IN THE ELEMENTS
“I’m a water person, I love being by the water — any body of water,” yoga instructor Jen Ater said. “It’s so fun to be on the board, moving through the water and feeling it underneath you. The elemental mindfulness is what makes this practice so special.”
The sensation of floating can add a calming element to the practice and the fresh air and beauty of the surroundings also adds to the overall experience.
“The water is a moving platform, so you literally have to go with the flow,” instructor Amy Anslinger said. “I just love the final relaxation on the board when your finger tips dip into the water.”
A cool dip might also be a nice addition and, sometimes, inevitable.
“A lot of people do fall in, I actually encourage it because once you fall in you realize it’s no big deal,” Anslinger said. “The water is not cold, it’s not hard to get back on the board and you feel less inhibited because you can focus on the practice, not worry about falling off.”
Making a splash, however, is not required.
“It’s definitely more fun if you’re willing to get wet, but you don’t need to,” Ater said. “It’s a nice workout for your body mind and spirit, just being in nature.”
FLOATING FITNESS
Balance and alignment are more important in paddleboard yoga than in a traditional studio setting. Yogis need to be in tune with their poses.
“You really can’t get away with not having good alignment,” Anslinger said. “The biggest difference is that the core is really engaged when you’re on the board because it’s the core that helps you stay balanced.”
Having yoga and/or paddling experience is helpful, but not required, and the classes appeal to a wide variety of ages and ability levels.
“You can enjoy just sitting on the board, laying on the board and the meditative aspect of yoga or you can have a more challenging practice,” Ater said. “Like any yoga class, there are modifications.”
The paddle can also be utilized as a helpful prop.
“It’s nice to have more than one point of balance,” Anslinger said.
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