Thinking about getting into SUP yoga? The first thing you are going to need is a board that can keep you sturdy during all those amazing poses. I have to say, the art of blending stand up paddle boarding and yoga is pretty amazing. Connecting with your body and nature at the same time is something that I find pretty unbelievable. Just think about the feeling you get during a good yoga session inside your local studio. Now imagine having that same feeling out in the middle of a big, open body of water. Sounds great…because it is.
SUP Yoga is something that any yoga enthusiast should try. Instructors modify traditional yoga poses and stretches so that it can be done, balancing on your board, in the water. Not only are you balancing in your pose, you are also balancing on your board – twice the fun! I tried SUP yoga for the first time last summer and fell in love. Thru some trial and error, I have found that some boards are better than others based on their shape and size. In this article I will give you a small list of boards that I would recommend using for SUP yoga. You will see there are two major qualities that are the same throughout each board on this list, a wider profile and higher volume. These two factors add stability, which you will be needing. Read on!
The Tesoro from Rogue is an excellent option for any beginner looking to get into SUP yoga or just paddle boarding in general. Great stability thanks to the 32″ width and at 250 liters, this board will hold steady in the water, allowing you to move around comfortably on the board. The deck pad is soft and comfortable and covers a large area of the board, giving you a good amount of space to move without slipping. The best part of this board? The price tag. Weighing in at just 30 pounds, this board is a whole lot of board for your buck. Easy to carry, wide, sturdy and comfortable – the Tesoro has everything you need to get started in SUP yoga.
My personal favorite option for SUP yoga is always an inflatable. Inflatable SUP boards are less rigid than regular boards and therefore are extra comfortable for any lay-down stretches. The Bic Inflatable is offered in two different sizes so no matter your build, there is one that will work for you. The 10’0 has a 30″ width and the 10’6 jumps up to 33″ across giving the rider a nice wide, stable platform for all your favorite stretches and poses. Thanks to the super soft deck pad and light weight feel, this board will be easy to maneuver on and off the water. When you’re done with class, roll it up and tuck it away in the sweet bag it comes with and off you go. Comfortable, stable and best of all – very easy to transport – the Bic Inflatable SUP boards are a great option to consider!
I always refer to the C4 Waterman Beachboy SUP as the ‘Cadillac’ of SUP boards because of it’s big body profile and sturdy build. A dream board for both beginners and experienced paddlers, this board is as stable as a small boat yet paddles smoothly thru the water. This stability that makes it easy to learn to stand up paddle will offer major benefits to the yoga enthusiast as well. A ton of room to move around with a hearty 32″ width and a high-quality extra soft deck pad will give you a comfortable platform for your upward dogs. Despite the size, this board only weighs 23 lbs so carrying it from your car to the beach will be a breeze. It’s a beautiful classic looking board with a nice wide shape and extra stability. Who knew the Beachboy was such a fan of yoga.
A classic shape that is certainly keeping up with times, the Bic Classic may look like your old-fashioned longboard but with a little extra width and just under 5 inch thickness, this board is extra sturdy and ready for some SUP yoga! At 31 inches wide, this board will give you a nice size platform for stretching and poses while the 4.75″ thickness will feel stable and help you keep your balance while moving from pose to pose. A light weight board at just 31 lbs, this board paddles quite smoothly and is a board that anyone in the family (even the non-sup yoga enthusiast) can jump onto and enjoy. Comes with a large deck pad that gives you plenty of room to shimmy around and at 200 liters you can bring your pup if he or she happens to be into yoga too. 🙂
And finally, my personal SUP yoga board (so maybe I’m a little partial) is the Mana Air from Naish. This board comes in a 10′ 0″ or 11’6″, and is a whopping 33″ wide, this board is as sturdy as any board on this list. With it’s 6 inch thickness and 230 liters for the 10′ (whoa!) or 260 liters for the 11′ 6″ this board has enough volume to hold a rider up to 230 pounds or even 280 pounds on the 11′ 6″ which means a ton of stability for a smaller rider and a large, comfortable platform for all your stretching and posing needs. Plus, my favorite part of this board is the bungee tie down at the nose that can keep your paddle, PFD, sunglasses and anything else you might bring along nice and secure during your yoga class. Plus, as I said earlier, inflatables really are always the most comfortable when it comes to stretching out on your back and offer more cushioning than a regular board.
Stay tuned to our social channels for the most up to date info on all the amazing SUP Yoga we will be doing this summer! And when you can’t get out on the water – get your butt on balance board and start training! See you on the water!
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