Paddleboarding can be a strenuous activity, especially if you’re not used to the movements. But with the right balance of difficulty and intensity, paddleboarding can be a great workout that also helps relieve stress. It’s no wonder that SUP yoga has become so popular, combining two amazing sports into one even better activity. This practice combines elements from both stand-up paddleboarding and traditional yoga, allowing for an invigorating and relaxing experience at the same time. Combining strength-building intervals with stretches and poses, this kind of active meditation is the perfect way to escape the stresses of modern life while hitting all of your body’s weak spots. Sure, it might seem like mixing two physical
activities together results in neither being properly exercised, but trust us; there is nothing more peaceful than doing a series of yoga poses while standing on water surrounded by nature. If you are thinking about trying out such an activity, here are five reasons why you should try SUP Yoga:
activities together results in neither being properly exercised, but trust us; there is nothing more peaceful than doing a series of yoga poses while standing on water surrounded by nature. If you are thinking about trying out such an activity, here are five reasons why you should try SUP Yoga:
Toning and strengthening your body
The active elements of SUP yoga make it a great full body workout that can help you get in shape while also building muscle. Studies have shown that combining two activities actually allows you to burn more calories than if you had just done one of them. Because of the positioning of your body during yoga poses and balancing on your board, you are engaging your core muscles, making them stronger and helping you to avoid lower back pain. Plus, you are also improving your balance and stability, which will help you avoid injury while paddleboarding. Keeping your joints and muscles healthy not only helps prevent injury, but it
also allows your body to better heal once you have been injured. This can be especially helpful if you are recovering from an injury or attempting to avoid re-injuring an area.
Reducing stress and anxiety
Both yoga and paddleboarding can be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, but the combination of the two can be even more helpful, as it combines the mental benefits of each. An important aspect of dealing with stress and anxiety is making time for yourself, and paddleboarding yoga allows you to do just that in a beautiful setting. The combination of the rhythmic movements and meditative breathing of yoga with the relaxing effects of being on the water can be incredibly therapeutic and allow you to fully unwind from your day. This can be especially helpful if you are dealing with an anxiety disorder, as the practice can be helpful in retraining your brain. Combining yoga and paddleboarding can be especially helpful for people who have trouble sitting still during meditations or who find themselves
too restless to remain still. The gentle movement of the water can also be helpful for individuals who have a hard time sitting still because of anxiety or whose anxiety is triggered by being still.
Improving balance and core strength
One of the best ways to improve your core strength is through static core exercises, and paddleboarding yoga allows you to do just that. You likely already have a number of muscles that are engaged during the workout, but the addition of static exercises to your routine will take your core strength to the next level. As you combine yoga poses with standing on a paddleboard, your core muscles will be forced to work harder to keep you stable. This will help to improve your posture and lower back pain while also reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, it will help you to paddleboard more efficiently, which can be especially helpful for SUP racers who want to take their game to the next level. Because the core
muscles are responsible for so many different movements, it is very important to engage them during any physical activity. Doing so will help to protect your back, avoid injury, and prevent you from getting tired too quickly.
Helping you advance your paddleboarding game
One of the best ways to really improve your paddleboarding skills is to learn how to do tricks and tricks on a SUP yoga board can be a great way to start. Paddleboarding yoga boards are designed to be more stable, so they are easier to work with when you are practicing the more advanced techniques. And, if you are looking for a new paddleboarding challenge, paddleboarding yoga can be a great way to up the difficulty and make your workouts more challenging. You can increase the intensity of your routine by paddling in water with waves or currents and standing on a board with a lower volume. While increasing the difficulty of your paddleboarding routine, you can also do yoga poses that are more advanced, like balancing poses on the paddleboard.
Stretching out post-paddleboarding soreness
An unfortunate side effect of paddleboarding is the post-workout soreness that can occur, especially if you are new to paddleboarding. While the good news is that this sensation is completely normal, it can be incredibly uncomfortable. However, yoga can help to combat the post-paddleboarding soreness by stretching out your muscles, increasing blood flow to the area and decreasing the amount of lactic acid build-up. Doing stretches like downward-facing dog, child’s pose, and cat/cow can help to reduce post-exercise soreness and keep you active longer. While it can be tempting to take a break from paddleboarding to avoid post-exercise soreness, it is important to remember that you need to continue challenging yourself. Taking time off from paddleboarding can actually lead to more muscle atrophy than simply doing some light yoga poses while you’re tender.
Conclusion
Some people might say that paddleboarding yoga is a bit of a novelty and isn’t a real sport, but it can be a great way to get in shape and enjoy a bit of meditation in a beautiful setting. There are many benefits to trying out this sport, such as toning and strengthening your body, reducing stress and anxiety, enjoying some outdoor time after work, and helping you advance your paddleboarding game. If you are thinking about trying out such an activity, these five reasons why you should try SUP Yoga should give you plenty of reasons why you should.
(Credit - The Wild Times Yoga)
