So lets imagine your the kind of person that loves to do with anything "outdoorsey", you love the water and then not to mention the whole fitness thing like Yoga. You might even be someone who wants to get back into shape but have not found that fun exercise regime you crave. Let me introduce to you the world of Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga. This new craze will help you improve your balance, mind and give you back that great shape.
As we all know floating on the water is a fantastic feeling and so relaxing. So why not allow the water to become your free space and the board become your new Yoga mat and lets found out the 10 reason why you should give this a go.
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| Source - http://www.the-house.com |
It's a much more all around workout.
As you can imagine a board on water is not a stable as your normal Yoga mat but this is the secret to the workout. While you try and keep your balance on the board you are using all you core muscles. Yoga instructor Dice Lida-Klein was recently quoted in Men's Fitness as saying "Your whole midsection will have to work to keep you balanced and afloat. You have to work harder and focus more on the water."
It will improve your Yoga technique.
You will become much more aware of you balance within each pose. The Paddle board can be unforgiving and a simple shift of weight in the wrong direction and your going to get a little wet.
This Paddle Board Yoga is calming.
I dont know if its got something to do with our internal wiring but floating in water feels so relaxing. You will find that practicing Yoga on your board floating in water will remove all those stresses life just loves to throw at you.
It will help you focus on your breathing.
Have you ever seen or heard those CD's you tend to find on the shelves where you can press the button and hear rain water or the jungle. One of these has the sound of the ocean waves. This is no coincidence and many believe the sound of the ocean will soothe your mind to help concentrate more on your breathing. This method is referred to as Ujjayi Pranayama, or Ocean Breath.
It's empowering.
Just standing on the board with you, your paddle, the water and the horizon is a powerful feeling. Some would even go as far to say as its like walking on water itself. Teresa Van Eyk, owner of Satya Yoga in Saugatuck, MI, recently told the Holland Sentinel. "It's about letting go of the fear. You get off the water feeling really rejuvenated. It's empowering."
It's fantastic fun.
How many times have you joining a gym with all the best intentions in the world only to stop after a month as it just simply was not fun. Having fun and enjoying what you are doing helps you want to keep going and Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga is just that tons of FUN!!Watch out for the water.
The idea that if you get things a little wrong you might fall in helps keep you focused and motivated. You might even find that worrying about falling in could produce some adrenaline. And that, explains Men's Health, could help you fight the ill-effects of stress in your everyday life.
It teaches you to never give up.
Yes you might fall in and yes you might get a little wet, well ok very wet. However you are forced to climb straight back on that board just like a knock back in life. You get knocked down but you get back up again. Yoga-instructor lida-Klein says that conquering the fear of falling in is essential. "The quicker you become okay with falling into the water," he told Men's Fitness, "the better you'll feel and the easier it will be."
It's a Yoga Challenge.
You might be one of those people that find there current Yoga has become a little easy and boring. Well then you should take up Stand Up Paddle board Yoga as the board becoming you mat adds a new element. There is no room for error on this mat.
It's beautiful.
Between breathing fresh air, soaking up vitamin D and enjoying the natural landscape, it beats just about any gym or studio out there. "Yoga means 'union,'" Hilary Kimblin, owner of Yoga Under the Trees in Beverley Hills, CA, told Yoga Journal. "When it's practiced outdoors it seems like the union with nature, humanity, and the universe is truly felt."
