Simply Soulful
SUP Yoga FAQ
SUP stands for Stand-Up Paddle boarding/surfing.
SUP entails standing on a surfboard and paddling yourself around. SUP boards are much longer, wider and more buoyant than 'normal' surfboards, enabling you to comfortably balance on them and propel yourself through the water with the paddle. Aside from being another way of catching waves, SUP is also an increasingly popular way of keeping fit and improving core-stability. Flat water SUP sessions are both a great work out, and a good way to get on the water when the surf is flat.
The benefits you may receive from your SUP Yoga session include:
- Increased relaxation, flexibility, strengthen muscles, weight loss, energy levels
- Enhanced balance, posture, coordination, endurance, body strength, confidence and self-esteem
- Improved blood circulation, lung capacity, immune system, digestive system, sleep patterns, toxin elimination
- Reduced stress, anxiety, blood pressure, emotional frustration
- Enhanced healthy habits, positive thinking, involvement in own healing, confidence, self-esteem
- A sense of tranquillity, calmness and positive well-being
- Greater creativity, clarity of thought and concentration
- Balance of mind, body and soul
- Enjoy the great outdoors – Connect with nature, physically, emotionally and spiritually
I offer SUP Yoga and SUP Retreats in Kingsbridge, Salcombe and further afield through my practise Simply Soulful Yoga. General SUP sessions are available through Waterborn SUP, please contact Waterborn SUP direct
All sessions are open to all levels of ability (both beginners and more experienced yogis and SUP'ers alike) with both less and more challenging options being offered throughout the sessions. If you have any concerns about your health or ability before attending a session, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Visit my website and find the class/ session you wish to check availability for. Each event will clearly display the number of spaces still available.
You can book and pay on my website via a secure online booking system. Your booking is secured with full payment which can be made by either credit/ debit card, a Class Pass or gift voucher code. After you have checked out, you will receive an email confirming your booking. You will be asked to complete a HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE the first time you attend. Please ensure you complete this before your first class. All SUP Yoga sessions must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
If the class you would like to attend is fully booked, please click the JOIN WAITING LIST button, displayed in the event. You will be contacted if a place becomes available.
It is a good idea to wear a 3mm wetsuit, swim suit, old trainers or shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Depending on the weather you may need sunglasses, sun cream or warm clothes. Beginners, expectant mothers, children and nervous participants are invited to wear a personal floatation device (PFD). Wetsuits and PFD’s are included in your SUP Yoga session cost.
You should also bring water in a re-usable water bottle and your own refreshments. You might want a waterproof camera and money. If you have a dry bag in which to put your belongings, this is also a good item to bring along. It is a good idea to leave your valuables at home where practical. Please ensure you complete a HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE before your first class.
Please bring details of current prescribed medication with you.
A SUP Yoga session, includes hire of a SUP board, paddle, wetsuit, leash and buoyancy aid. Safety instruction regarding the water and equipment, guidance, positive encouragement and lots of fun is also included.
Typically, the overall SUP Yoga experience is approx. 1.5hrs
We will begin our session with a meet and greet on land. We will get kitted up into our wetsuits and buoyancy aids for those that wish to wear them, whilst chatting about previous experience and health issues. There will be a land safety briefing before we go on the water. We will launch onto the water from a pontoon and moor ourselves to a line laid out on the water. The SUP Yoga class will last approx. 60 mins and then we will head back in, exhilarated by our time on the water, and change back into warm, dry clothes.
Any age from 12 years up is acceptable (essentially, we may struggle with anyone under 12 years due to the size of boards and paddles). In addition, anyone under 16 years old, must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian and a parental consent form must be completed before the treatment can be carried out. If in any doubt, contact me and we can talk through your requirements.
WSA has a ratio of 1:8 but I reduce to 1:6 or 1:4 if local conditions determine.
You will need some level of water confidence and ideally should be able to swim 25m unaided (i.e. the length of a swimming pool). Please contact me if you have any concerns in this area.
Please avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking caffeine 1-hour before your session. If you need a pick-me-up before, have something light like a banana or a small handful of nuts 20-minutes before the start. Strictly no alcohol or recreational drugs to be consumed before or during the activity. If you have taken prescription medication prior to the session, please let me know.
If you have any health conditions you think may affect your SUP Yoga session, please indicate this at the time of booking AND on your HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE. If your health changes after you have submitted your HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE, please let me know as soon as possible. We can then have a chat about your health and how it might affect your SUP Yoga sessions. It might be necessary to make some modifications to ensure your safety and comfort during the sessions.
Sessions can be tailored to support pregnant and post-natal yoginis. Relax, stretch and breath with confidence, comfort, and support. If you have recently given birth, please wait for a minimum of 6 weeks, before returning to your practise. Please see my blog post called - Supporting pregnancy; before, during and after - and contact me to discuss how to maintain a safe practise.
Essentially, I run the sessions in calm sheltered creeks such as Tackett’s Wood in Kingsbridge and Batson Creek in Salcombe. Our location is dependent on weather, wind and tide so we need to be flexible with our plans.
Classes are held at various locations. Some venues have their own parking. Others have parking a short walk away. Details about parking are listed in individual event listings.
If you think you might be running late for your session, please email or text me in advance. It is important that the whole group go out onto the water together. If I know you are running late, we might be able to wait for you. If you are running very late, unfortunately, it might not be possible to wait. It will depend entirely on the group, weather and tide.
If a class is not going ahead I will endeavour to let you know the week before. If a class needs to be cancelled at last minute I will contact you using the details you provide at the time of your booking or on your HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (therefore please let me know if your details change). You are welcome to call or text me on 07941 508 004 to check if a class is going ahead.
Sessions may be cancelled due to weather, wind or water quality issues. I will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible and reschedule the date of the session. If no suitable date is available, you will be offered a refund.
If you have booked a SUP Yoga class and can no longer attend, please see my Refund Policy.
Yes, of course. You can purchase Gift Vouchers for friends and family by either choosing a specific item or a set price. You can do this by visiting the Shop on my website
Absolutely! Individually tailored yoga, meditation, holistic therapy and Stand Up Paddle boarding activities and packages, suitable for both personal and business clients are available.
Whether your focus is on relaxation and rejuvenation, or motivation and inspiration; the perfect package can be tailor made to suit you. Design your own personalised empowering event with friends, or a motivational company team-building package, for an event with positive impact.
Please contact me to discuss your requirements, after which a non-returnable deposit is all that’s required to secure your booking; you can then sit back, relax and let me take care of the rest!
Please keep an eye on my website for current therapies, workshops, retreats and promotions. You can also Sign Up to my Newsletter and/ or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram