SUP Yoga Comes to Manchester

SUP Yoga has been around down south for a little while, but this class run by Magda of Love & Do Yoga, is the only place offering this new form of exercise in the North West. 

'But what is it?' I hear you cry. Well, wonder no more...

SUP stands for 'Stand Up Paddleboard' and Yoga is, well, yoga. Combine the two and you get a fun and challenging exercise class with a difference: yoga on top of a paddleboard, out on the open water under the blue skies of Manchester. The idea is that practising yoga on the water instead of the more traditional mat on the floor helps to improve your balance further while also using more of your core muscles. It also increases strength and flexibility, while being out in the open air is a more calming experience which helps you to de-stress.

If this all sounds a little daunting - don't panic! It's much easier than you think and first timers and beginners are more than welcome. During the class Magda offers simplified versions of poses and you don't even need to have tried yoga before to give it a go. The emphasis here is very much on having fun and learning.

The class starts with some warm-up yoga on dry land, before an explanation and short tutorial on paddle boarding. Then it's on to the water as you practise standing up on the paddle board and getting used to using your paddle. Once confident, the class paddle out together and attach the boards to the wall and each other for extra stability. A yoga session on top of your board then follows, lasting for about an hour, before relaxation on the board as you float on the water. 

Running every Sunday in Salford Quays, the sessions last for an hour and a half and the price includes buoyancy aid and wet suite hire, as well as the paddle board. With autumn coming, the classes will eventually move inside to the pool at Clarendon Leisure Centre so you can continue to practise all year around.

And don't worry about falling in the water - it's all part of the fun! If you do, have a laugh and get back on your board. 

SUP Yoga, Sundays, 12noon. Helly Hansen Watersports Centre, Salford Quays. Costs £12.50. 

This post first appeared on Time Out Manchester. Click the link on left to see more of my posts for Time Out.

A return to Yoga - Crandon Runs Friday photo #36

A round up with of Crandon runs in one weekly photo

With all the triathlon training, yoga seems to have fallen by the wayside recently so I was really excited when I found The Yoga Lounge was holding a 3 hour alignment and technique workshop on a day which I was actually free!

I'm not at all advanced in yoga; I find some classes way too quick (read: hard) for me and I'm often unsure whether I'm practicing and holding poses correctly. A workshop focusing on technique sounded perfect for me, especially as it was being run by my favourite yoga teacher Eleanor who has recently left Manchester to live in Bristol.

Yoga workshop - view from my mat

Over the three hours we warmed up with some flow sequences before breaking down about 10 basic poses found in many yoga classes and looking at them in detail. What I really took away from this was focusing on your individual alignment and technique rather than what you think might 'look' like the 'proper' yoga pose. We also used belts and blocks to help us further and handouts to make handy notes for future yoga practice.

It was great. I felt that I really learned a lot and know now that it's much better to get the basics straight before attempting more advanced postures. A good life lesson there too! Making notes felt like I was in yoga school (does such a place exist and if so can I go please?!) and teas and nibbles kept us going throughout the class.

Now I just need to find some time to head to yoga and put what I learnt into practice.

If you live in Bristol, count yourself lucky and go and seek out Eleanor's classes. You will love them!

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Pool-side Yoga - Crandon Runs Friday Photo #20

I'm back from holiday! Huge thanks to the mighty Katie Chappelle for holding the fort while I've been gone, and giving us lots of lovely recipes, ideas and running chat!

Like running, yoga is a great way of exercising without needing much, if any equipment so you can really do it anywhere. If you've been going to class and instructed properly, after a while you might feel confident enough to try your own sequence.

After a cramped 6 hour flight and a new bed my back was all out of whack, but I knew a little yoga would help. Especially when you can hold your yoga practice in the morning sun on your own pool-side veranda.

morning sunshine yoga

I have never done my own practice before without at least a YouTube video to instruct me. But I really loved it and made sure I did some of the poses I hate but would be good for me, as well as my favourites.

After just twenty minutes my back felt much better and I was raring to take on the day. A busy day of lying by the pool and going to the beach that is...

Happy Friday folks!