Mary Ann Hayes

Having practiced yoga for years, I’ve been interested in the concept of practicing on a paddle board in a calm body of water. Imagine the added balancing challenges this could present! I recently had the opportunity to take a SUP (stand up paddle board) yoga class and it proved every bit as challenging as I’d ever imagined.

The water and weather were warm in Scottsdale Arizona last week and I was game to finally give the class a go. Unfortunately, I was the only person in the entire resort willing to embarrass myself. I was surprised by the non-existent turnout as we had experienced overflow classes every morning in regular yoga.Surely, there would be many adventurous yogi’s joining me in the pool. Yet, this was not the case.

Upon arriving in my swim suit, I observed my instructor jump into the pool in yoga capris, sports bra, and tank top. Oh, well, I thought. Maybe she forgot her suit today. I jumped in.

First challenge was to get on the board in five feet of water. I bounced up and down counting to three, then lunged up out of the water and pulled my ancient self onto the board using all my might, with my butt in the air, of course. Whew! I certainly hoped I wouldn’t have to do that again.

I found my comfort spot balanced in the center of the board, then followed breathing and stretching instructions. It was time to advance to our knees, stretch to the sky and do a gentle back bend. I was under water before I realized I’d even lost my balance.

Bounce, one, two, three, push off from the bottom of the pool, grab the far side of the board, and lunge up onto it – again. Okay, I’m doing great. Not dead yet! Did I hear laughter? Yes, there were a number of ladies hiding behind books and laptops having a good laugh at my expense. Oh, well. At least I was brave enough to try something new.

Now we’re getting settled into plank, back to down dog, up on toes and back in the water. Bounce, one, two, three, reach for far side of the board, lunge up and out and again settle on the board. Shake it off and get into position flat on my back. Following my instructor, I raised both legs into the air, took hold of the inside of my feet, and split my legs as far apart as possible. As I gazed through the huge V made by my split legs, I caught the bug eyes of a pool side observer directly in front of me.. “Sorry” I said sheepishly peering through my legs. So this was why my instructor was fully clothed! Lowering my legs, I followed along for a modified bridge (backbend) and landed in the water.

Barely able to pull myself out of the water for about the sixth or seventh time, I managed to finish the class off with another huge dunk under the board. As I surfaced, coughing and sputtering, I announced to my well dressed, well balanced instructor,  that I was done.

As I got out of the pool and wrapped in a towel, three ladies clapped for me, one told me I was brave, and my instructor hugged me. I won’t ever try that again.

Later,

Mary Ann