A gaggle of six women and men regarded secure on their paddleboards on Lake Padden on Tuesday afternoon, July 11 – till it was time to enter tree pose. After one stand-up paddle (SUP) competitor splashed into the lake, two rapidly adopted.
The remainder of the group clapped for his or her classmates, who crawled again onto their boards. Tuesday’s SUP yoga outing was the primary of 5 summer season courses hosted by FLUX Energy Yoga and Metropolis of Bellingham Parks and Recreation.
Melissa Longfellow, proprietor of FLUX, leads the classes at Lake Padden. She introduced SUP Yoga to Bellingham in 2012 and labored with varied organizations to offer the service earlier than founding FLUX in 2017.
SUP yoga originated in Hawaii within the Nineteen Forties and has since grown in recognition around the globe. Longfellow traveled the nation instructing SUP yoga and coaching different academics.
The boards themselves are designed for yoga, being longer and wider than a typical paddleboard and flatter on each the highest and backside of the board.
Teacher Melissa Longellow (left) makes use of paddles to steer contributors right into a backbend. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Day by day Information)
The yoga, nevertheless, is basically the identical. Whereas stability may show a little bit harder, as evidenced by the a number of contributors who fell into the lake throughout Tuesday’s session, the physique actions and postures are just like these of yoga on stage floor.
Longfellow, who has taught yoga within the US and Mexico, stated taking the observe to a paddle board was particular to her.
“I am a water particular person. i really like the water Each time I get the possibility, I am going someplace that I can surf,” she stated. “And for me, it brings collectively two of my loves: being on the water on a board and doing yoga. So it goes with out saying that we are able to simply benefit from the pure environment of the gorgeous place we dwell in.”
Cathie Badalamenti, 62, tried SUP yoga twice in Michigan earlier than attending Longfellow’s class for the primary time on Tuesday. She shared a few of Longfellow’s ideas on the lake and the character that surrounds it.
Teacher Melissa Longfellow leads paddle boarders within the Sphinx Pose on Lake Padden. Longfellow runs a weekly summer season course in affiliation with Bellingham Parks and Recreation.
(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Day by day Information)
“I particularly like it right here as a result of the surroundings is breathtaking. You are out on the water – which water I like finest – and you’ve got a view of the mountains and the gorgeous evergreens and it is so calm and peaceable,” stated Badalamenti. “I began yoga seven years in the past and it has actually modified my life. It is a very calming and peaceable expertise and teaches me to combine my thoughts and bodily being so I can keep calm.”
The remaining classes will happen on Sunday 16 July; Sunday, July 23; Tuesday, August 1; and Tuesday, August eighth. Every course lasts one hour and begins at 10am on Sunday and 12pm on Tuesday. Admission is $40 per class.
If you’re unable to attend any of the dates listed, or have a gaggle who want to attempt SUP yoga, you may schedule a non-public session by contacting Longfellow via the FLUX web site.
