SUP Yoga Tips by Dashama

SAN DIEGO, California - Dashama, a Starboard ambassador, is one of the leading voices in the SUP Yoga movement and we had a chance to catch up with her. Some of her credentials include: hosting Yoga and SUP Yoga retreats around the world; having her own SUP Yoga board made by Starboard; and being a contributor to several media outlets. To help others connect with this exciting new discipline and to help them grow through it, we’ve picked Dashama’s brain for some Standup Paddle Board Yoga Tips. Here is what she had to say.

Learn more about SUP Yoga on Supconnect.

Top Tips for SUP Yoga:

1. Use an Inflatable Board

Dashama has her own inflatable SUP Yoga board with her sponsor Starboard. 

An inflatable stand up paddle board will make it more comfortable when you fall off your pose. (And yes, you’ll fall if you’re trying hard enough as you should.) And don’t worry about inflatable boards not being stiff enough. It’s true that they’re not as stiff as the fiberglass constructions, but you’ll find them surprisingly stiff. The drop-stitch and cross-stitch technologies have drastically increased their stiffness to the point that inflatable boards are now used for surfing, running rapids, ocean rescues and beyond. The trade-off’s for going with an inflatable are definitely worth it.

2. Be Playful

Have fun and don't worry about falling in, that's half the fun!

Have fun with it. Don’t worry about falling in the water, trying a more difficult move, or how you look to the people around you. Being loose, relaxed, and connected to the board and water around you will help you perform that much better. The ease of the water and the movements of the board are all part of that fluid experience that makes SUP Yoga so pleasant. So, fall in the water, get back on it, smile, laugh, and have a great time.

3. Let the Board Be Your Coach

Pick a calm, flat-water location so that you can find your connection with your board.

Unlike the floor at a Yoga Studio, the board does not offer a firm, uniformly balanced platform. If you are too far backward, or to the sides, or forward, there will be no forgiving: you’ll likely fall off. Here is the beauty of SUP Yoga, “let the board be your coach.” Find its center balance and work with that, framing your poses around it and connecting with the board. That’s one of the reasons you must first pick a very calm, flatwater location. You need to find that intimacy with the board before you venture into choppy, more challenging waters.

Read more SUP Yoga Top Tips from other experts like Dashama!