A new, wet world for yoga ─ paddleboarding

Doing yoga on a floating paddleboard involves the same positions as regular yoga, but each move is enhanced by the need to be balanced.

“It activates a lot of the secondary muscles more,” she explained, as the body make subtle shifts to maintain balance.

And then there is the Columbia River itself. “The water, the flow, is perfect for yoga,” she said. “It’s fun being outside, being on the water.”

She teaches a very “light” yoga, she added.

“It’s a nice way to change up your yoga practice. Sometimes we get a little complacent with our yoga,” she added. Being on the river “adds challenge, adds depth,” she said. “It shifts your mindset, in a good way.”

Common yoga postures, like “downward facing dog,” “supper table” and “plank,” all work well on a paddleboard. “All of the seated postures translate very well.”

Standing postures, like “Warrior Two,” are great on a paddleboard as well, she added. “The one legged balance postures, like ‘tree’ or ‘standing bow,’ those are tricky, they take a lot of balance” to do on a paddleboard.”

This year is DiGennaro’s third season teaching classes, her fifth as a paddleboarder.

In addition to teaching, she also rents boards, and supplies all the gear needed for those taking her classes, which are launched from The Dalles Marina boat launch or Riverfront Park.

Her boards are perfect for yoga. “They are really stable, so they are great for beginners, great for yoga.

Does she every fall off her board? “Falling is always a possibility, it’s just part of it,” she said.

She can be contacted through her website, floatonsupyoga.com.