Stand up paddle boarding and yoga are awesome activities with numerous health benefits. When you combine them, you get one of the best physical exercises ever! And this is not an exaggeration.
More and more people are getting into SUP yoga and they can’t stop talking about it. There are tons of tutorials and guides online to help you get started.
But there’s one thing that people don’t seem to address when talking about SUP yoga: what to do with the paddle.
You can’t hold it and you can’t place it just anywhere on the deck because you need the surface. In most photos and videos of people doing SUP yoga, you never see a paddle in sight.
So where should you put it?
Well, here are your options.
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Key Takeaways
- A paddle holder on the side of your SUP gives you a place to store your paddle and leave your hands free.
- Almost every paddle board has bungee storage. You can place your paddle across the board at the front, secured under the bungee cord.
- If you don’t have a paddle holder or bungee storage, you can use your leash to wrap around the paddle shaft a few times and place the paddle beside your board.
1. Paddle Holder
This is the best option.
A paddle holder on the side of your SUP gives you a place to store your paddle and leave your hands free. It keeps the paddle out of the way and you can use the entire deck as you please for your poses.
This, plus a full-length deck pad, gives you a large platform, suitable even for the complicated poses.
Something else that makes this a great option is that your paddle is always within reach. You may need it for a certain pose or to just paddle for a few minutes before you resume the session.
Some yoga paddle boards like the Gili Komodo come with a paddle board holder already attached.
If yours didn’t come with one, don’t worry. You can buy an aftermarket paddle holder and attach it to your board (the suction cup works only on rigid boards).
ALSO READ: SUP Yoga Certification: How to become a certified instructor?
2. Front Bungee Storage
Almost every paddle board has bungee storage. Some have two, at the front and back, while others only have one at the front.
When you get to your SUP yoga spot, place your paddle across the board at the front, secured under the bungee cord.
This is a simple option and you don’t need to customize your SUP in any way. The downside is that you won’t have a clear deck for your poses. But this shouldn’t be a problem if your SUP board is big enough.
3. Use Your Leash
What if your yoga SUP doesn’t have a bungee cord or paddle holder, then what?
In this case, you can use your leash. Wrap your leash around the paddle shaft a few times. Place the paddle beside your board and begin your yoga session. It won’t float away.
The problem with this option is that it means you will not be wearing your leash.
You need to wear your leash to prevent your board from drifting away if you fall in. So you can only try this method if you are on calm water, close to the shore, and around other people.
Wrapping Up
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So, what do you do with your paddle when doing yoga?
You can place it on the paddle holder if your board came with one. If not, buy a paddle holder and attach it to your SUP.
Alternatively, use the front bungee storage to secure your paddle and free your hands.
If you are close to the shore on calm water, you can use your leash.
Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask us below. Happy paddling!
