How to Do Paddleboard Yoga in Saint Lucia
By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor
Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet have recently added paddleboard yoga to their roster of activities.
The paddleboard yoga is led by Laura Kai Timmusk, who studied with direct pupils of acclaimed teachers Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar.
Students move through traditional poses while balancing on their boards.
Timmusk, who is also a physical therapist, describes her class as Vinyasa-style, with a focus on alignment, breath work and mental clarity.
The added challenge of staying out of the water forces the stabilizing muscles to engage even more deeply, which helps build core strength, stamina and endurance.
‘This is the most serene setting you can imagine for yoga,” says Timmusk. “Moving on the water adds a whole new dimension to the practice, because you have no choice but to be present and focused. Your mind has no desire to wander off and worry about the past or future, and you can let go of your expectations and judgments.”
45-minute group classes – offered on Wednesday mornings at 11 a.m. – cost $35 person, and private classes are available by appointment and cost $100 per person or $140 per couple.
Those who want to learn more about stand-up paddleboarding can also attend a free weekly demonstration, which is held every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.
In addition to paddleboard yoga, guests are able to partake in complimentary land based yoga classes for beginners and advanced practitioners at sunrise and sunset and also, book private yoga classes with the resorts’ two resident yoga instructors.
The resorts’ two spas offer both classic and ayurvedic spa treatments.
