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March, 2015

SUP yoga

SUP Yoga

13 Apr 2015
6 Comments
Green Stone Journeys

MARCH, 2015 — SUP Yoga

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Standup Paddle Board Yoga. What a mouthful! Well lately it’s been all the rage, especially here in Rio de Janeiro where the views from your board are some of the best in the world.

So what exactly is “SUP yoga”? It is basically yoga on a stand-up paddle board, in the water. We already know what you’re thinking, “Yoga on a stand up paddleboard? You must be kidding, I can barely stand on one of those and what does that have to do with yoga anyway?” While aside from being a great way for yogis to challenge their on-land practice, it’s really a fun activity for anyone looking to get a good workout. The SUP board is large enough to act as a mat and sturdy enough to support someone standing on it. The world becomes your studio and all the elements have been invited!

IMG_1879But, it’s not just fun and games. The difficulty with SUP Yoga is to learn while adapting to the motion of the board and the constant instability created by energy and weight shifts.

The challenge is to balance using your core strength, with intense focus, with the ultimate goal to be grounded while floating. Although it can be difficult at first, it’s a fun practice with some serious benefits.

Doing yoga on a surface that is constantly moving gets your core muscles going and strengthens muscles that aren’t normally used in everyday practice. Even simple poses like “plank” is more challenging because the added movement activates your core and arms. SUP yoga requires a different quality of focus, not just when you’re doing the poses but also when you’re transitioning between them. For example, moving your foot between your hands from Downward Facing Dog to come into a Low Lunge can shift a board a few inches forward even on the calmest water. The key is to make small movements, adjusting your alignment and fixing your gaze on a point along the horizon or on the shore.

Wondering if it’s worth it to spend your time balancing on the ins and outs of the great blue sea? Most classes begin with a warm-up stretch on the beach. Next, you hit the water and paddle out on the boards to get the heart pumping.

IMG_2490 Once the group is in a suitable area, you move from pose to pose. Like most yoga classes, you finish with a seated meditation and savasana. What makes the harder parts worth it is the feeling you get while the ocean is gently rocking you in savasana, fingers dipped in the water and the sunshine warming your skin. It just can’t be beat!

Here are a few reasons why you should give SUP yoga a go:
1. Find peace, balance, and focus
2. Be in the here and now
3. Enjoy mother nature
4. Challenge yourself in new ways
5. Strengthen your core like never before
6. Learn to roll with things as they come, like a few waves
7. Find new like-minded friends
8. Laugh at yourself a little, or a lot
9. Get that sun-kissed glow you’ve been missing out on from doing yoga indoors

Tips:

It’s recommended that before diving into a SUP yoga class, you should know how to swim and also have taken an introduction to stand up paddling class. It’s also important that you wear clothes that will dry quickly as falling in the water is just part of the experience. If you’re practicing in Brazil, a bikini or board shorts and of course sunscreen will do just fine. Also, rent a board once you entirely sure you are ready to commit! To get you started, here are a few of our favourite beginner poses:

1. Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
2. Plank Pose
3. Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
4. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
5. Navasana (Boat Pose)
6. Marichyasana

Green Stone Journeys offers SUP as an optional activity on most of our yoga adventure tours.

SUP#3

Photos: Green Stone Journeys and Ju Martins

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6 Comments

  1. Diego March 20, 2015 at 1:22 pm Reply

    Although I’ve had years of yoga practice, I’m nervous that I may get flustered in the water after falling in a few times. On your tours, are there beginner classes I can take so I don’t feel like a fish out of water?

    • Greenstonejourneys April 20, 2015 at 9:48 pm Reply

      We receive people of all levels, and most people are just trying it out for the first time too, and falling in the water is just part of the fun! Our teachers will take you through a beginner level and adjust to all styles with options.

  2. Jessica April 13, 2015 at 2:19 pm Reply

    I agree. The best part is the ocean gently rocking you in savasana, fingers dipped in the water, the sunshine warming your skin…. I need to go on one of your tours!

    • Greenstonejourneys April 20, 2015 at 9:50 pm Reply

      It really is one of the best parts Jessica, we took this picture below on one of our tours at Ilha Grande, and we usually go early in the morning when the sun isn’t too high in the sky. It is really a beautiful and peaceful feeling.

  3. Josue Rafael April 15, 2015 at 3:40 pm Reply

    This is big in Miami too. I’d rather try it out in Rio tho

    • Greenstonejourneys April 20, 2015 at 9:47 pm Reply

      We’re sure it is, It’d be great to see you here Josue!

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fabiana "I had great time on the tour, all was very professional and organized and the location and meals were amazing. The yoga teacher was the best I ever had and the whole team was incredible and I enjoyed every minute. It was perfect in all aspects and above my expectations, for sure an unforgettable experience."
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15394_10153090853741291_4377406819819870133_n 2 The yoga teacher was great – she quickly gaged our levels of experience and went at the perfect pace to ensure we felt comfortable. She was friendly, approachable and very calming with her instructions. The beach house was lovely. Spacious, clean, well kept and presented. The cook was brilliant and the quality and quantity of food was first class and we definitely never went hungry! The group of people on the tour really made it special for me. It was so nice to go away as a solo traveller and come away feeling like you had made a whole new group of friends! I will never forget the beauty of the island – the sounds, sights and how it made me feel emotionally. I was able to forget about everything back home and just ‘be!’ The whole experience was brilliant – it really was a journey of discovery!
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10612679_10153196536509358_7755434750267590017_n The personal touch was the most enjoyable aspect of the tour. I felt a thousand times more relaxed and whole after a week. The change was really noticeable and the feeling of being looked after really set me up to have space to nurture myself, which I find hard to come by in daily life.
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1524823_10201236367368117_741238960_n As a custom tour experience with GSJ the programs were adjusted for my preference and for weather, and it felt like I had someone to help me personally organize the things I wanted to do and accompany me along the way. The most I enjoyed about my experience were the yoga sessions. All of the instructors were fantastic and have inspired me to reignite my practice long term. I can't say enough about how amazing the sessions were. The local guide was also very knowledgeable and friendly and locations were beautiful with great breakfasts. The optional massages were also fantastic, it seems GSJ knows how to find all the best people! I would recommend GSJ tours and travel with them again.
Katie Weber, USA April 2014
PjhdL5agodZnvz5zxqUBzUGdwn7Q43axpWco_ZHjASILoved, loved, loved this tour! the perfect combination of fun and adventure with amazing yoga, delicious food and gorgeous location. I didn’t want to come home! This tour is perfect if you live in Brazil and want an escape from the city or if you are coming to Brazil for the first time. It’s an amazing way to see beautiful places and travel with people who have the same ideas about travel.
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