It balances the serenity of yoga with one of the fastest growing recreational activities on water, and it’s making a big splash with beach-goers this summer at Punderson Lake in Newbury Township.
It balances the serenity of yoga with one of the fastest growing recreational activities on water, and it’s making a big splash with beach-goers this summer at Punderson Lake in Newbury Township.
“For me, yoga is about unity of mind and body and doing yoga on the paddleboard really allows me to feel connected to nature,” said Samantha Works regarding the increasingly popular paddleboard yoga. “Especially this time of year, it feels good to get out of the studio and just let all of the stress of the day drift away.”
Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga — also known as SUP yoga — with Kelly Pierce, founder and lead instructor of Shaka Fitness, offers classes at Punderson State Park.
SUP yoga is a floating yoga practice designed for all levels, challenging focus, stability and core strength while having fun on the water.
Shaka Fitness classes include yoga specific SUP equipment, on-land paddle instruction and 75 minutes of SUP certified Vinyasa flow instruction while anchored in the calm, secluded waters of the150-acre natural lake situated about two miles west of state Route 44 and south of state Route 87.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age, no paddleboarding or yoga experience needed, and advanced registration is required.
Pierce said there are so many health benefits to practicing yoga.
Yoga guides students through movement patterns that increase range of motion, challenge balance, improve mobility and build stamina and strength.
“However, there is more to yoga than the physical benefits,” Pierce said. “Yoga requires mindfulness and focus, and encourages breathing patterns that help to relieve stress and improve mental clarity.
“When you combine yoga and paddleboarding in one experience, the result is truly magical. SUP yoga is not exclusive to any particular fitness or experience level because the purpose of the class is the mindful focus and not the yoga poses. It is the clear mind and the meditative influences that encourage a connection to nature, freedom of movement, relaxation and playfulness.”
Works said Pierce creates an environment where anyone, regardless of experience, can feel accepted and safe to challenge themselves without judgment.
“There’s a real feeling of togetherness,” Works said. “SUP yoga and paddleboarding are quite the adventure and, of course, the backdrop of Punderson is a breathtaking bonus.”
Pierce said Punderson Lake is one of the cleanest in the state, so when launching Shaka Fitness in 2015, Punderson State Park was her natural first choice for operating her business with her mobile SUP and outdoor fitness studio based out of Solon.
Classes are also at Lake Milton State Park and the City of Berea at Coe Lake.
“But I am especially honored to contribute to the revitalization of Punderson State Park,” Pierce said. “My intention is to restore interest, encourage discovery and contribute to the enjoyment of the numerous amenities and outdoor activities being offered there.”
Pierce said she is excited to share her passion for outdoor recreation and fitness with her hometown community in Geauga County.
She grew up in Montville Township and graduated from Ledgemont High School in Thompson Township. She also served as maple festival princess at the Geauga County Maple Festival the year John Glenn was parade marshal.
Pierce’s enthusiasm is apparent on a recent Saturday as class novices and veterans from across Northeast Ohio begin lining up under the morning’s sparkling sun to get instructions on the sand.
“It’s awesome to be out in nature,” said Christine Murray, of Chardon, who brought along her husband, Scott.
Murrayparticipated last summer and fell in love with the classes.
“I owned a paddleboard while living in Hawaii and did not bring the board back to Ohio with me due to lack of awareness of how or where I could use one here,” Murray said. “When I found Kelly’s class, it reignited how much I love being on the water. The water is calm and relaxing, while there can also be a chorus of birds, frogs and other critters. I love spending time here every week surrounded by nature and serenity.”
The guided movement, poses and yoga “flow” while people stand on the boards challenges and focuses participants, with less of an emphasis on alignment or posture.
“Does it require balance?” Pierce said. “Yes, it certainly does, but the objective is to allow you an opportunity to be present and engaged in the moment.”
The 75 minutes SUP yoga class asks students to clear the mind and pay close attention to the experience of moving and balancing on the board, Pierce said, adding this approach is very different than studio yoga and has more of an emphasis on acceptance and less on expectation.
SUP yoga challenges participants to turn off the inner voice that sometimes pushes toward perfection, she said.
There are few opportunities to look around at other participants or the instructor during class, which intensifies listening skills and turns attention inward to one’s own movement and breath, Pierce said.
More importantly, paddleboarders feel empowered to master standing and balancing on the board, she said.
“My goal as a paddleboard provider and SUP yoga instructor is to allow every person access, regardless of age, size, shape, fitness level or experience,” Pierce said. “I hope to build a community of followers that feel connected, uplifted and inspired, and who look to Shaka Fitness and Punderson each season to add fun and adventure to their summer through paddleboarding activities.”
Visit shakafit.com for classes and information, and required advanced registration.
