STAND-UP PADDLE: THE YOGA TERRA TREND FOR SUMMER 2025
Between sky, sea and breath, yoga on the water (SUP Yoga) reveals a sensory, demanding and deeply liberating practice . Much more than a summer activity, it is an invitation to inner alignment, awareness of movement and full presence.
Trend of summer 2025 , you will be surprised to see how SUP Yoga can make you experience sensations like nowhere else!
Written by TINA - May 2025
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WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DISCOVER
• SUP Yoga or when the sea becomes yoga mat , and the breath becomes anchor
• The origins from Hawaii which made this discipline able to unite yoga, sliding and mindfulness
• Unsuspected benefits for the body and mind , such as balance, strengthening, concentration and calming
• The most inspiring peaceful places, secret coves or spots in 2025
• The reasons why whether you are a curious yogi or a total novice, there will be no stress for a session on the water
• Much more than a summer trend, SUP-Yoga reveals an art of living totally connected to nature
"Let's take a look"!
SUP YOGA: WHEN THE SEA BECOMES A YOGA MAT, AND BREATH BECOMES AN ANCHOR
SUP-Yoga , a contraction of Stand-Up Paddle and Yoga , embodies one of the most inspiring and connected forms of contemporary practice. On a large floating board, similar to a touring paddleboard, the body lands, balances, and then roots itself on the water. Yoga on a paddleboard invites a whole new level of body awareness: here, each posture, even the most basic, engages the deep anchoring of the stabilizing muscles, while opening up to absolute concentration on the present moment. The slightest variation in wind or ripple becomes a signal to listen to. You don't improvise a warrior II on the water without full presence.
Unlike studio yoga, which is often structured and predictable, SUP-Yoga offers a form of benevolent impermanence , where the environment becomes a co-participant. The sky, the light, the lapping waters become meditation supports in their own right. This practice appeals to outdoor yoga enthusiasts as well as ocean, lake, or lagoon enthusiasts. It attracts people seeking fluidity and letting go, but also those who wish to strengthen their center, both physically and energetically.
At Yogaterrae, we've designed a selection of stable SUPs that are suitable for yoga practice , lightweight, wide, and soft to the touch to accommodate postures even in studio activewear . Because a good paddle can make all the difference in the experience, especially in terms of comfort, safety, and fluidity.
Adopting SUP Yoga means choosing a different kind of summer. A summer with your feet in the water, your heart wide open, and your head in the sky.
SUP YOGA, ITS ORIGINS: WHEN PADDLE BOARDING MEETS YOGA ON AN ARCHIPELAGO OF ISLANDS CALLED HAWAII
SUP Yoga , or Stand-Up Paddle Yoga , was born at the crossroads of two strong trends: the development of outdoor yoga and the rise of paddle boarding as an accessible water activity.
The practice emerged in the early 2010s on the coasts of Hawaii and California, when some practitioners began adapting their yoga postures onto their paddleboards, initially out of curiosity, then out of a love of challenge and connection with nature.
This new format, which consists of practicing asanas directly on the water, quickly won over fans of well-being, mindfulness and gentle gliding .
Far from confined spaces, SUP Yoga offers an immersive experience , where every movement of the body resonates with the water, the wind and the breath.
Today, the practice has become widely democratized and appeals to a diverse audience: experienced yogis, athletes looking for variety, beginners curious about a more fun and sensory yoga . SUP Yoga courses are offered in many regions of France, whether on the Atlantic coast, on the shores of Alpine lakes, or in more confidential spots in the South.
The equipment has also evolved: the boards have become wider and more stable, and some brands, including Yogaterrae , now offer SUPs designed specifically for practicing yoga on the water , combining stability, comfort and lightness.
In the middle of the summer season, Stand-Up Paddle Yoga becomes a flagship discipline of outdoor well-being , perfect for reconnecting with nature while cultivating balance, grounding and serenity.
THE BENEFITS OF SUP YOGA: STRENGTHENED BODY, STRENGTHENED MIND
It's no coincidence that it's so popular: SUP Yoga combines the benefits of traditional yoga with those of a gentle practice on the water.
Physically, performing postures on a floating board intensely engages the deep muscles, including the stabilizing abdominals , glutes, and postural muscles.
Even simple poses like downward dog or plank become complete dynamic core exercises. The body must constantly adjust its balance to compensate for the natural movement of the water.
Result: better coordination, overall strengthening and increased body awareness.
But it is perhaps on the mental and emotional level that SUP Yoga reveals its true richness.
The instability of the support forces you to slow down, breathe accurately, and be totally present. Each posture becomes an act of mindfulness. You can't cheat with water: it immediately reflects tensions, imbalances, or inner turmoil. SUP Yoga then invites you to listen deeply to your body and breath , while cultivating patience, grounding, and adaptability.
A form of meditation in movement, rocked by the elements.
By practicing outdoors, in a soothing natural setting—a lake, a calm sea, a gentle river— yoga's stress-relieving effects are amplified. Your gaze opens to the horizon, your breathing synchronizes with the rhythm of the waves, and your mind lets go.
This alchemy between movement, nature and water makes SUP Yoga a complete well-being discipline , ideal for refocusing while toning up.
WHERE TO PRACTICE SUP YOGA IN FRANCE THIS SUMMER?
From the calm of an alpine lake to the warmth of a Mediterranean cove, France is full of perfect spots for practicing SUP Yoga in summer . One of the first criteria to consider is the stability of the water: the flatter the body of water, the more fluid and accessible the experience will be, especially for beginners.
This is why many paddleboard yoga classes are taking place on mountain lakes, such as Lake Annecy, Serre-Ponçon or Sainte-Croix, where the clarity of the water and the tranquility of the landscape increase the meditative effect of the practice.
On the Atlantic coast, we are seeing more and more morning sessions in sheltered bays, particularly around Arcachon, Noirmoutier or the Île de Ré, where the tides dictate perfect slots for a SUP Yoga session in the great outdoors . On the Mediterranean side, the calanques of Cassis, the turquoise waters of Porquerolles or the ponds around Montpellier are becoming privileged places to float, breathe and align with the sunrise.
And for those who want a guided experience , many yoga studios and schools now offer supervised SUP Yoga classes in water sports centers, seaside resorts or even wellness festivals. Often, all it takes is a quiet hour, a stable board like those offered by Yogaterrae , designed for aquatic practice, and a little daring to transform your summer into a true floating retreat.
So, are you more of a lake, a sea, or a secret lagoon? France offers an infinite playground for exploring yoga in the great outdoors , carried by the breath of the wind and the silence of the water.
SUP YOGA FOR BEGINNERS, NO STRESS AND HOW TO GET STARTED WITH CONFIDENCE
Contrary to what one might believe, SUP Yoga is a practice accessible to everyone , even without prior experience of paddleboarding or yoga.
All you need is to know how to swim and be willing to go with the flow, both literally and figuratively.
What matters is not the perfect mastery of postures, but the ability to listen to one's body , to welcome instability as an invitation to presence, and to laugh (often) at falls.
For a first session, the ideal is to choose a calm, shallow body of water, and to opt for a stable and wide SUP board, designed especially for yoga.
At Yogaterrae, our models are designed to offer a good balance between lightness, comfortable reception surface and soft grip under wet feet, see the Yogaterrae SUP Yoga boards . A yoga mat classic is not necessary, the surface of the board is sufficient, sometimes enhanced with a light non-slip pad.
As for clothing , you should choose a comfortable sports bra, short leggings, or a shaping one-piece swimsuit. It's also recommended to have an ankle leash and a lightweight anchor if you want to stay still. The most important thing: stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun, and take it easy , without trying to perform.
For those who are more hesitant, supervised SUP Yoga classes allow you to take your first steps in a friendly and safe atmosphere.
And very often, from the first minutes, apprehension gives way to a unique feeling of freedom and joy.
SUP Yoga is also about this: daring to take the plunge, to let yourself float better.
SUP YOGA: MUCH MORE THAN A SPORT, IT IS AN ART OF LIVING IN DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE ELEMENTS OF NATURE
Beyond its physical benefits or its summer originality, SUP Yoga embodies a true philosophy of life . Practiced at sunrise, in the middle of a sleeping lake or in the silence of an isolated bay, it becomes a ritual, a return to oneself, a moment suspended between sky and sea. Far from noise and screens, the body finds its natural rhythm, the breath is in tune with the lapping of the water, and the mind opens to a form of calm that only slow movement can offer. In this practice, the liquid element becomes a partner, a moving surface that invites inner fluidity and adaptation.
Yoga on the water reminds everyone of our deep connection with nature: the instability of the board teaches resilience, the vastness of the sky inspires humility, and the open horizon awakens the desire for exploration. It is a living yoga, which is not practiced to "hold the posture" but to fully inhabit the moment . There is no performance, no waiting: just a breath, a balance, a movement. This is also the DNA of Yogaterrae: to offer experiences that connect the body, the heart and the environment, through conscious practices and equipment designed to last.
By choosing SUP Yoga , we are not just choosing a summer activity. We are choosing an art of living in harmony with the elements , a return to the essential, to slowness, to the pleasure of being here and now. A way to honor summer differently, with wet feet, a light soul, and eyes turned towards the horizon.
Thank you TINA for this post
May this summer offer you the opportunity to float, breathe and reconnect , where the water meets the sky.
And if you feel like it... leave your mat on the shore and come discover the beauty of weightless yoga .
TINA's Bio
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TINA
1994, Reunion Island & Mauritius, a Life driven by the Indian Ocean and Yoga
Since childhood, this intrepid traveler has traveled the globe, leaving her footprints on beaches around the world.Passionate about surfing, scuba diving and sailing, she has made the oceans her playground and source of inspiration.
The freedom of the waves, the serenity of the ocean depths and the wind in his sails have punctuated his journey, always guided by a quest for connection with nature.
It was through her explorations that yoga became more than a practice for her – it was a way of life.
Between early morning surf sessions and meditative sunsets, she found in yoga a perfect balance of strength, flow and self-awareness.
Today, she combines her passion for water sports with teaching yoga and is part of the Yogaterrae team, here in France, in the South West and often remotely :)
This adventurer is a true source of inspiration for anyone who aspires to live in harmony with their body and nature.
Through her stories of incredible experiences, she invites everyone to open up to a world where every wave, every breath and every posture is a celebration of life.
