Sun Salutation Indeed: Yoga on a Paddleboard

Dennis Schoneveld

Christian yoga and yoga on the go in a new room at the San Francisco International Airport are proof that the practice of this meditative activity has become increasingly varied. Now, a hotel has embraced a new iteration: paddleboard yoga.

Guests of the Aruba Marriott Resort can enroll in floating yoga classes in which students use stand-up paddleboards as platforms for downward dog and table top positions. Ninety-minute classes cost $40 and include 5 to 10 minutes of warm-up paddling.

Adventure sports companies in Miami and California and even a resort in Montauk, N.Y., have recently advertised classes. But it is rare for a Caribbean resort.

The instructor, Rachel Brathen, says even practiced yogis fall off the board, which is anchored in hip-deep water for safety.

“To be outside and all you see is the blue sky and the water, it’s incredibly serene and it forces you to stay focused to keep your balance,” Ms. Brathen said. “You can’t think about what you’re having for dinner or the fight with your boyfriend.”