Picture this: practicing yoga on a paddleboard in the middle of a beautiful, serene lake with the majestic Rocky Mountains as your backdrop. Intrigued? So was I. When I stumbled upon this unconventional yoga class while living in Colorado Springs, I knew I had to give it a try.

This yoga class takes you out into the heart of nature, where you can feel the warmth of the sun kiss your skin. Standing atop a paddleboard, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of tranquility and balance, both physically and mentally.

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi seeking a new challenge or a curious adventurer looking to expand your horizons, paddleboard yoga is an awesome recreational activity to try out. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable experience next time you’re in Colorado Springs.

Did I fall off? Was it hard? How do you even do yoga on a paddleboard? All these questions and more will be answered in this post.

About Stand Up Paddle Yoga (SUP Yoga)

After originating in Hawaii in the 1940s, stand up paddle (SUP) yoga has grown in popularity across the world in recent years. SUP yoga combines the practice of yoga with stand-up paddle boarding to create a unique form of exercise that challenges your body and mind.

SUP yoga takes traditional yoga poses and adapts them to the unstable surface of a paddleboard. The water adds an extra element of challenge, requiring you to engage your core muscles and focus on balance and stability. It is also important to be mindful of your breath to get the most out of your practice.

There are all kinds of benefits to paddleboard yoga including: improving your balance and coordination, an increase in mindfulness, a stronger connection to nature, and of course the strengthening of your core.

About the Company

I signed up for this class with a company called Dragonfly Paddle Yoga. They are one of the only and the first paddleboard yoga studios in the Colorado Springs region. 

Founded in 2017, this company emphasizes the benefits of being near water for stress reduction, peace, and health, while integrating yoga’s focus on breath, mindfulness, and physical empowerment. 

Yoga on a paddleboard might sound like it would be impossible to do but I can assure you they make it easy and give you clear directions on how to do everything. 

Something else I appreciated, was that when I originally signed up for a sunset class that got cancelled due to inclement weather, the instructor offered all of us a free makeup class in the morning just 3 days later.

I was glad to take her up on that offer and came back a few days later. Luckily, that morning was a beautiful sunny day.

Where is the Class?

As of 2024, each class with Dragonfly Paddle Yoga takes place on Quail Lake in Quail Lake Park which is located in the southern half of Colorado Springs. The mountains make for a gorgeous backdrop to this lake.

It’s very convenient for anyone visiting or living in Colorado Springs, as it is just a 10 minute drive from downtown.

Quail Lake Park is also situated next to a few major highways that run through the city so no matter where you’re coming from you can get there easily.

Some areas of downtown Colorado Springs can get a little sketchy, but I felt completely safe at this park. There were several people walking the trails around the lake and enjoying the outdoors.

About the Yoga Paddleboards

When everyone had arrived to the class, we gathered around and the instructor began to teach us a little bit about how to paddle board and how to use the oars. We were all also given a life vest to use as we went out into the water. I appreciated this because this was my first time ever getting on a paddleboard! 

She taught us that the paddleboards we were going to be using were specifically made for doing yoga. The boards are called stand up paddleboards or SUPs. Some SUP yoga boards are inflatable but others (like the one I was using) was a hardboard.

Each board is equipped with a 3 pound dumbbell which is used to anchor the board and keep it still while doing your yoga flow. There is a string attached to the paddleboard which is tied around the weight. 

My SUP Yoga Class Experience

After instruction, we got on our boards and began to paddle out into the center of the lake. Once we were all in a circle together, we were instructed to push the dumbbell off into the water. This is how the paddleboard gets anchored and stays still.

After that, we just got acquainted with the board and started out with a few simple stretches, working our way into yoga poses. 

We started off with an easy flow, and then the poses got increasingly more difficult. I am a regular yogi, at this time I was doing yoga almost everyday of the week, so I knew how to do most of the poses. 

But as you would’ve guessed, it is much harder to balance and hold your poses on a paddleboard in the water than it is on the ground. This invites you to use more of your core strength to keep you centered. 

The board stays relatively still on the water unless a gust of wind comes by moving it slightly. However, the anchor does a great job and is the sole reason that yoga is possible on these boards. 

I did not fall off my board at any time during the class, and out of the 7 other women, only one of them did. So I feel like those numbers are pretty good! Even if you do fall off, it’s not a big deal. You can easily just get right back on.

Throughout the class, the instructor was kind, understanding, and supportive. She really strived to empower all of us and feel strong in our bodies.

Cost & Class Duration

From start to finish I’d say the class was about an hour and a half to two hours long. 

Depending on the day you book your class, prices will vary. 

If you decide to go with Dragonfly Paddle Yoga they price their classes at the following:

• Monday- Thursday classes are $32 per person 
• Friday- Sunday classes are $35 per person

They usually have classes all throughout the day, the most popular ones being their morning and evening classes.

Classes are also only available during the summer months. They start for the year in late April and end around mid-September. 

You can click here to view their calendar of all their upcoming classes.

I would totally recommend a yoga class with Dragonfly Paddle Yoga. It was such a unique experience that I know I’ll remember forever. I loved being able to practice one of my favorite hobbies in such a beautiful setting.

If you’re a lover of yoga, this class would be a great way to practice a little bit differently and challenge yourself. You are guaranteed to feel renewed and more connected to yourself and nature after this class.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you were able to get some valuable insight from this article!