Wing Foiling, SUP and Surf SUP Yoga Technique
Adho Mukha Svanasana Variation -Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog
A little more challenging than the regular downward facing dog, this pose requires core strength, flexibility and courage! Start in downward facing dog with your navel positioned over the centre of the board (over the handle). Spread the hands on the board to cover as much board surface area to ensure a strong foundation. Slowly lift one leg, keep the...
Anjaneyasana / Low Lunge
Lunges are great to try on a paddleboard as they are relatively easy to get into, but remain quite challenging for both body and mind. Here in this low lunge, the knee is down on the board providing a stable base. The front knee is bent at 90 degrees. The eye gaze is forward gazing at a fixed point of...
Bakasana - Crow Pose - Advanced
Not for the faint hearted! Make sure you only try this pose if you are competent with it on land because, on water, it’s definitely more challenging! The positioning of the hands is key to having a strong, stable foundation. Hands are placed parallel evenly on each side of the handle on the centre of the board. The best tips...
Dandasana - Stick Pose - Beginner
This seated pose has low gravity therefore is stable on a Stand Up Paddelboard making it accessible to all levels. To achieve this pose, ensure you are seated directly over the handle in the middle of the board. Extend the legs out straight pushing through your heals engaging the quad muscles. Sit up straight with a long spine, extending the...
Dandayamana Bharmanasana / Balancing Table pose
Start on your hands and knees making sure you are central on the board, over the handle and your shoulders are stacked over your wrists. Extend your right leg behind you, keeping the hips square, the leg is parallel to the board. Keep an active back leg with the toes pointing towards the board. Your eye gaze is towards your...
Dandayamana Bharmanasana / Balancing Table pose Variation
Begin in balancing table pose placing yourself over the centre of the board facing the nose. Next bend the back leg holding onto the ankle or top of the foot. Try and gain some lift with the back leg by pushing the foot into the hand. Watching out for loss of balance so keep breathing and focus on your front...
Dhanurasana / Bow pose
Bow pose can be done facing either the length of the board facing the nose or on the short edge as demonstrated. Lie on your stomach with your feet apart, bend your knees and hold onto your ankles or the top of your feet, which ever you can reach! Breathe in and lift your chest off the board and pull...
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - Mermaid Pose - Advanced
Unleash your inner mermaid with this beautiful mermaid pose. This more advanced pose, is for Yogis who like a challenge. From pigeon pose, bend the back knee and cradle the toes into the crease of the elbow. Making sure you are positioned in the middle of the board with the bottom foot pushing down firmly and ground the hip onto the...
Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana / One legged wheel pose
An advanced Yoga posture which requires back flexibility, strength and a lot of balance on a SUP! Set yourself up for bridge pose by lying on your back with bent knees with the handle positioned in the middle of your back. Placing your hands on either side of your head fingers facing your shoulders and your elbows pointing upwards. Lifting...
Hanumanasana/ Splits pose
This is well and truly an advanced Yoga posture, so don’t attempt this if you have tight hamstrings, hips or any injury to the pelvis, knees or ankles. Begin in a low lunge with the right leg forward making sure you are central over the handle/middle of the board. Pressing the palms into the board, slide the right foot forward...
Mandukasana - Frog Pose - Beginner
This luscious hip opener is perfect for beginners as its low gravity on the board and very stable. Start by straddling the board positioning yourself over the centre of the board, generally where the handle is located. Slowly extend your arms forward walking your fingertips towards the nose of the board. Your hip flexibility will determine how deep you can...
Marichyasana / Sage Pose
This spinal twist is ideal for beginners new to SUP Yoga as it is low to gravity and there’s not much chance of falling off the board. Position yourself over the handle or center of the board bending one knee and aligning the foot with the hip. With the hand or fingertips on the board for support behind you, twist...
Matsyasana - Fish Pose - Intermediate
This pose opens the back, shoulders and chest. Make sure you position the lower back over the handle so you are central on the board. The modified version of this pose is with the knees bent and feet firmly on the board hip distance apart. The arms are bent at 90 degrees with the forearm is flat on the board...
Phalakasana - Plank Pose - Beginner
This is a good pose for beginners as it is low to gravity and a relatively stable SUP Yoga pose. It’s perfect for building shoulder, arm and core strength. For those still building up strength, try a modified version by dropping your knees on the board for more support. In either version, it’s important to have a long spine, to...
Purvottanasana / Upward plank pose
This is a great SUP Yoga pose for tight shoulders and chest and to build core muscles. Initially try it on the long else of the board facing the nose and for an added challenge try it on the short edge. Begin seated with your legs extended out in front of you. Place your hands behind you with fingertips pointing...
Shavasana / Corps Pose
This is the easiest Yoga pose you can do on a SUP. The corpse pose doesn’t require you to do much apart from lay still, so even those with poor balance can do this one! It’s important to lay in the middle of the board with the middle of the back positioned over the handle, so there is even weight...
Sirsasana - Headstand - Advanced
For those who love a challenge and don’t mind getting wet! Not recommended for those who have head, neck and shoulder problems or those who have high blood pressure or are pregnant. This pose requires a lot of practice, good balance and strength. The key to nailing a SUP yoga headstand is to have a strong foundation, to take it...
Sukhasana -Easy Pose - Beginner
A great pose that stretches the knees, ankles and opens the hips. It also focuses on lengthening the back muscles and spine. Usually, this pose is done at the beginning of a SUP Yoga practice, Sukhasana helps to still the body and mind in preparation for other more challenging poses. It instils a sense of tranquillity and a feeling of...
Trikonasana / Triangle Pose
Standing Yoga poses on a Paddleboard are always more challenging because of the body’s gravity pull towards the water and the unstable surface of the board. Start by positioning the front foot with the toes facing the nose of the board and the back foot at 90 degrees. Feet are equal distance each side of the handle or center of...
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Facing dog
Low to gravity, upward facing dog is a stable posture to practice on a SUP. It opens the back and stretches the front of the body which feels amazing especially when you take big deep breaths in. Press both hands evenly onto the board and imagine lifting up and out of the chest rather than simply leaning backwards. Depending on...
Ustrasana - Camel Pose - Advanced
This pose belongs in the category of back extensions, which focuses on bringing the spine into an extension/arch. There are a few modifications to make this pose accessible to all levels. Firstly kneel on the board ensuring your knees are hip distance apart on either side of the handle/middle as this is the widest and most stable part of the...
Ustrasana / Camel variation
A chest and back opening SUP Yoga pose require spine flexibility. With both knees on the board, hip width apart, lift one foot towards your glute and find your balance. Once you have found stability, raise the opposite arm, push the hips forward and start to lift the chest upwards. Don’t simply lean back; think more about opening the front...
Utkatasana - Chair Pose - Intermediate
Great pose to strengthen the entire body and increase stamina. Feet should be placed hip distance apart either side of the handle on the centre of the board. Feet and knees are parallel and so are the arms. Make sure you don’t overarch the back by tucking the tailbone under and draw the ribs under. The best tip for increasing...
Utthita Parsvakonasana / Extended side angle pose
This pose is about extending the arm, legs and stance. Already a challenging pose on land, on a SUP it’s even more of a challenge, so it’s important to take the time to get the foundations right. Start by positioning the legs even distance from the central handle of the board. Front toes pointing forward, back toes at 90 degrees....
Vashistasana - Side Plank - Intermediate
A dynamic and challenging arm balance which builds strength, endurance and a very strong core! This pose aims to give you a sense of feeling long from the top of the head right down to the feet. Press into the heel of the hand, spreading the fingers widely to ensure a steady foundation. The sternum lifts, the hips are neutral,...
Featured
Adho Mukha Svanasana Variation -Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog
A little more challenging than the regular downward facing dog, this pose requires core strength, flexibility and courage! Start in downward facing dog with your navel positioned over the centre of the board (over the handle). Spread the hands on the board to cover as much board surface area to ensure a strong foundation. Slowly lift one leg, keep the...
Shavasana / Corps Pose
This is the easiest Yoga pose you can do on a SUP. The corpse pose doesn’t require you to do much apart from lay still, so even those with poor balance can do this one! It’s important to lay in the middle of the board with the middle of the back positioned over the handle, so there is even weight...
Ustrasana / Camel variation
A chest and back opening SUP Yoga pose require spine flexibility. With both knees on the board, hip width apart, lift one foot towards your glute and find your balance. Once you have found stability, raise the opposite arm, push the hips forward and start to lift the chest upwards. Don’t simply lean back; think more about opening the front...
Vashistasana - Side Plank - Intermediate
A dynamic and challenging arm balance which builds strength, endurance and a very strong core! This pose aims to give you a sense of feeling long from the top of the head right down to the feet. Press into the heel of the hand, spreading the fingers widely to ensure a steady foundation. The sternum lifts, the hips are neutral,...
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Facing dog
Low to gravity, upward facing dog is a stable posture to practice on a SUP. It opens the back and stretches the front of the body which feels amazing especially when you take big deep breaths in. Press both hands evenly onto the board and imagine lifting up and out of the chest rather than simply leaning backwards. Depending on...
Tack Off The Foil
Today’s the day, Ladies and Gents! Your first foray into the world of tacking. If you’re unsure what a tack is, think of it as changing direction 180 by steering up into and through the wind. It’s the opposite of the gybe. The tack has a few advantages over the gybe: if you’re trying to make ground upwind, you won’t...