Paddleboard Yoga

Fun, adventure, and therapeutic benefits…

Stand-up paddleboard yoga (SUP) is my version of nature therapy!!

My first SUP Yoga class was life-changing. I left the class truly happy. The breathing, the water, the movement… what had I been doing wrong in yoga the last 10+ years? I knew then that SUP was legit and could lead to a path of happiness.

While I didn’t realize it at the time, that night inspired me to become a yoga teacher, move to Europe, and start a career as a yoga therapist. After I became certified to teach a few years later, I was hired as an instructor and now manage the SUP Yoga program on Canandaigua Lake. This work makes my summers incredibly special.

Before this, I didn’t even really like the outdoors (besides drinking on patios!).

Hear me out when I say that this might be the perfect class for you.

… especially if you have an aversion to yoga in traditional settings.

Do regular yoga studios seem too quiet and pristine for your often-hectic pace of life?

Does your head spin in quiet?

Paddleboard yoga, even though you’re floating on the lake, looks more like real life.

The lap of the waves under the board and the fresh air offer a physiological soothing. Yet, just like real life, there are factors you can’t control or predict that might grab your attention. Obnoxious music driving by in a Jeep? Kids screaming, “MOM!” from the park. Someone new to kayaking accidentally floating through the class. We’ve got that some days. There’s plenty to keep you entertained and let you practice coming back to your own body and breath.

While we get plenty of repeat clients who get hooked, you very much need to come to this with a beginner’s mind.

Some conditions – wind, waves – are out of your hands. It’s not like throwing your mat down and staying in one spot for 60 minutes. Just like life, the board will change directions with the wind. One moment you’re looking at the park; a few minutes later the other end of the lake.

If you do already enjoy yoga on land, you can grow stronger here physically while challenging your mind to accept there can be grace in imperfection, including falling in.

Getting there and getting ready…

After pre-registering, park at Seager Marine (811 S Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424) to check-in and store your keys with the staff (dry and secure). Restrooms and changing rooms are available.

At Seager Marine, you will have a board waiting for you that is at least 10 feet long and extra-wide for added stability. I wouldn’t recommend trying this on a narrow paddleboard designed for racing, as the added challenge might frustrate you.

Pro tip: Don’t wear cotton as it gets heavy when it gets wet. Even if you don’t take a full dunk, you will still get your hands and feet wet. You can wear bathing suits, gym clothes, or yoga pants – whatever your preference.

For class, your board is anchored, and you are a one-person island.

On that island, you’ll soak in the view. The puffy clouds over the lake, mother duck and her babies swimming by, the green (and sometimes orange in September!) foliage.

You’ll move on to the board as you listen to the teacher’s instructions. There will be simple movements like running your fingers through the water, gentle stretches, and traditional yoga forms like warrior pose as well as some playful movements like playing with shifting your weight on the board. (Your brain likes to learn new things!)

The class will end with a rest. Either floating on your back for 5-10 minutes or taking a quiet seat on the board, looking out at the south end of Canandaigua lake – watching the clouds, ducks, and sailboats.