Stand-Up Paddle Yoga
By Geraldine Alphonse
A new trend has emerged in Perth and its turning paddle boarding on its head.
For the first time, a centre is offering yoga classes, not in a gym, but on paddle boards on the Swan River at Matilda Bay.
Perth-born yoga enthusiast Claudia Scalisi launched Precious Breath SUP (stand up paddleboard) after battling joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis. After trying different forms of yoga and a surfing trip to Bali, she learnt about SUP yoga which helped her embrace her auto-immune disease, and appreciate her body again.
This form of yoga can be practiced at different levels, depending on the experience. The teachers are all passionate about SUP yoga and do this with the aim of providing major health benefits for the body and the mind
Benefits from the traditional yoga such as the releasing of Anxiety and Depression are also part of the SUP yoga, because it requires the person to fully sync with their breathing and inner selves, to have a complete focus on the movements on the board.
According to Ms Scalisi, Stand Up Paddle yoga is all about discovering the imbalances of the body and improving stability and inner core muscle practice.
“The sooner we recognise our imbalances the faster we can correct them before we damage our body,” said Miss Scalisi.
Apart from the physical benefits such as providing the right oxygen to the muscles and the joints, it also requires great mental concentration in order to balance the body on the paddle board.
“The more comfortable you become the more you can connect with Mother Nature and get over your comfort zone,” she said.
Precious Breath SUP Yoga will hold an Acro SUP Yoga workshop this year, which involves couples to fully connect and build trust in each other, in order to find the right stability of the mind and the body.
For more videos and images on their multiple workshops go to: https://www.facebook.com/preciousbreathsupyoga/videos/pcb.1947305995491152/1847079008665915/?type=3&theater