How About a New Paddle Board Yoga Technique this Weekend?

THIS WEEK'S WEEKEND PRO RIDER INTERVIEW
Anne Marie Reichman's Paddle Board Yoga
How About a New Paddle Board Yoga Technique this Weekend?

Hello Faithful Reader,

It's almost the weekend.

You should be making plans to paddleboard.

If you're not going out this weekend to paddle waves, rivers, and lakes…

Then I've got one question for you…

Why the HECK not? ; )

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

That's me quoting one of our stand up paddle board pro's, quoting Wayne Gretzky.

When I first took this job I was promised the opportunity to interview some of the most amazing people in the Stand Up Paddle Board Industry and Anne Marie Reichman is the epitome of an amazing rider. I got the chance to interview her the other day at her home in Maui. She is super positive and definitely pushes to ride every wave, even if it is "out of my league." She said that the first step to becoming a pro rider is…duh…riding waves but also getting some amazing balance and stability through yoga.

That night she gave me a great technique to get 100% more stability and balance on my board (I'll tell you it in a bit, it's really good) and she taught me an amazing mental attitude trick for stand up paddle board yoga because 60-80% of Yoga is your mind and the rest is your board it is a non-physical act respecting your bodies limits.

I never knew that mental attitude and the right board mattered so much but by doing what Anne Marie said I got more flex from my Vinyasa paddle board routine than I ever had before and I never forgot this simple technique.

You can see Anne Marie Reichman teach that technique and all the lessons she taught me about waves, yoga, and picking the right board soon on the Official Starboard Stand Up Paddle Board Blog's Video section along with my upcoming interview with Scott McKercher.

http://star-board-sup.com/blog

Now let me tell you about that mental technique she taught me… : )

THIS WEEK'S WEEKEND PRO RIDER INTERVIEW

Anne Marie Reichman's Paddle Board Yoga

Tips and Techniques

The technique that Anne Marie taught me that night was a technique originally created by Joseph Pilates, that's right the guy who invented Pilates. Also who I am sure is not a big fan of getting out of crowded classrooms and spreading out on your portable yoga mat (aka the Whopper) in a free class room.

What you need:

A board with super stability: Anne Marie recommends the 10'0"x 34" Whopper, a board with super stability that you can still ride in the waves.

A good paddle from a reputable shop

A body of water: lake, bath tub, ocean, pool, lake, river, it doesn't matter with the Starboard Whopper every drop of water just got a lot more stable.

How to do it:

Grab your your paddle- now grab your board: Mr. Pilate's was a big fan of a few well-designed movements…. and will Anne Marie is and I am, so that makes three. As you approach the patch of water you plan to stake out as your own Yoga temple.

Start by working with balance with the stroke not thinking too much more in the moment; with the current, with the wave, with your timing, with your own endurance.

This sounds super easy right? But it's a little bit harder than that.

Approaching Zen:

Focus on the approach to the patch of water you will use and being 100% in the moment by the time you reach your destination if you have one.

Make your paddle strokes smooth, as though your paddle is searching for nothing. With one last stroke take the paddle in your hand and glide to your target spot. Take a moment to be inspired by the water around you and it's fluidity and let that set the tone for your routine.

Play:

"Play with the paddling on the board and try out new yoga poses, it is the next challenge to either develop your balance and stability better by using one of Anne Marie's Ultimate 8 Yoga Poses for Paddleboarders or you can play completely surrounded by water, ocean, and/or turtles on your board.

A big part of this technique is don't be afraid to laugh if you can't chill out on the water and have a good time where can you?

Notes:

Paddleboards no matter how stable they are… even our 2011 Whopper can't give you balance it takes physical and mental work so don't bring your mp3 player out for the first couple of times.

If you're going out with a group remember you don't have to speak. There are no noise issues.

Doing Yoga on your paddle board is a creative extension of yourself the paddle and the instrument of all things you want to do for your body.

Remember even if you can't do a head stand on your paddle board the first trip out that Yoga is in its roots unifying the mind, body, and breath. Being still is the hardest mediation.

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Let me know how it works out!

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Send me an email on Monday and tell me how this technique worked for you. With your feedback we can probably make this e-mail/blog even better.

-Benton Kerchner

P.S. If you want to get more Paddleboard Tips and

Techniques and a Subscription to Starboards Paddle Board E-Mail

post a comment or e-mail me and I'll add you to the list.
Cheers,

Benton Jones

Online Marketing Manager
STARBOARD International

Skype: benton.starboard
www.star-board-sup.com
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