Dacks and Toga Active Life August Issue For Web

Lotus
in headstand
Padmasana
Few things are more relaxing
than being on a board, out on the
water, and enjoying nature.
“I always say that doing yoga on a paddleboard
is like doing yoga on a mirror because
your movements are reflected back
at you immediately,” she explained. “The
transition from one posture to the next is
really focused because you can’t move on
a paddleboard without mindfulness, because
you’ll fall, so it kind of forces people
to really stow down and pay attention to
their movements.”
Despite the challenge, she said that a total
of only about eight people fell in during
their yoga classes last year.
“It’s much more doable than people
originally think,” Stallard said. “They see
people standing on water and they think,
‘That’s crazy, I could never do that!’ This is
a great place for beginners because it’s flat
and calm.”
Yoga classes on Fish Creek start with a
roughly 15-minute upriver paddle, followed
by a 1½-hour class in the lily pads, then
15 minutes of paddling back to the launch.
SUP 101 classes teach technique. Keep in
mind that SUP is weather-dependent so on
a questionable day, check to see if classes
are still on. Also, search “SUP” or “paddleboarding”
on meetup.com for paddle-board
get-togethers in your area.
As challenging as SUP yoga may look,
no one can deny the exhilarating experience
of being out on the water, especially
at sunrise or sunset. The upside is that on
days where the water is calm, doing yoga
on a paddleboard will have a calming effect
on you. Since “yoga” means “union”,
what better way to practice it than outside,
on a paddleboard, taking in what nature
has to offer?
As Patty Pensel says of her passion for
SUP, “It’s water therapy for me. You go out,
especially early in the morning or in the afternoon
after you’ve had a stressful day,
and if it’s calm out there, you forget about
everything. It just puts you in this really relaxed
state.” n
SUP Pointers:
Wear a PFD (always a good idea, and
the U.S. Coast Guard requires that you
have one onboard. Children under 12 are
required by law to wear them in New York
State.) Inflatable belt packs are an option
for experienced paddlers.
Wear a leash, which is attached to the
board, around your ankle for safety.
Start out in a calm bay or stream
with minimal-to-no current. Avoid wind
and boat wakes, and motorboats in general.
Paddle close to shore.
Carry a phone in a waterproof case or
dry pack, which can also include a small
first-aid kit.
Wheel
Urdhva
Dhanurasana
Some local SUP shops
offering rentals & lessons*
LAKE GEORGE:
• Patty’s Water Sports:
pattyswatersports.com
• Lake George Kayak Co.:
lakegeorgekayak.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS:
• Kayak Shak:
kayakshak.com
HADLEY:
• Sacandaga Outdoor Center:
4soc.com
LAKE PLACID:
• High Peaks Cyclery:
highpeakscyclery.com
SARANAC LAKE:
• Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters:
adirondackoutfitters.com
*These shops offer SUP lessons, but not all
offer SUP Yoga. Call ahead.
As soon as you stand up, put your
paddle in the water and start paddling.
“That paddle is your third point of contact,
and it helps keep you balanced in
the water,” Pensel says.
The blade of the paddle should angle
forward. The shaft of the paddle should
be straight up and down.
“Look up, stay up.” Pensel explains
that keeping your head up and eyes on
the horizon will help you stay upright.
Place your feet shoulder width
apart, point your toes forward and use
good posture (stand up straight and keep
your knees relaxed/slightly bent).
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