Paddle-boarding and yoga? What does one have to do with the other? A lot more than you’d think, according to Riverhead native Kelly Spence, who recently tried paddle-board yoga with April Yakaboski of Aerial Fitness.
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I first tried paddle boarding about a year ago in Fire Island. I loved the power of propelling myself forward with a paddle, of standing on water and taking rejuvenating, deep breaths of fresh air.
I’ve always been into fitness and trying new things, but not once did I think I would be trying out yoga on a paddle board! When April asked me to join her class, I was immediately nervous. What if I fell off my board? Surely I would embarrass myself. The class would be out of my depth. In the end though, my adventurous side got the better of me. I decided to face my fears and just went for it.
The class paddled out from the bay and into the inlet. It was extremely peaceful, although I was so nervous I had to keep reminding myself to relax and breathe. Once we reached the inlet, we all put anchors in the water and our paddles on the side of the board and started the class.
We did yoga poses such as the warrior, downward facing dog, seated twist and plank pose. At first I watched everyone else in the class to see how they were doing it, but then I realized that I was there to try something new – I wasn’t going to let my nerves get in my way. “Focus on your board and the poses,” I told myself.
I must admit my legs shook most of the class, but I am proud to say I kept my balance – most of the time. I even tried some poses that I thought I wouldn’t be able to do, and was able to finish the class with my pride intact. At the beginning of the class, my biggest fear was losing my balance, but I learned that I needed to fall and realize it wasn’t bad in order to gain the confidence that would let me put my full effort into it.
The main goal of the class is to challenge you and leave you feeling more connected to nature and the water. In such a fluid and dynamic environment, I couldn’t help but leave feeling invigorated and relaxed at the same time.
The practice offers a new definition of balance and, in my case, an incredible lesson in letting go of how things are supposed to work, yoga or otherwise. It’s a fun way to take yoga outside – it blends the water, athleticism, nature, balance, focus and the ability to be present together in a beautiful and fun way. Practicing yoga on a stand-up paddle board brought a whole new perspective to being fully present in the moment, facing new challenges, focusing and accepting of Mother Nature’s mood – and of course, her sense of humor!
