Recreation and Wellness (RecWell) hosted a unique experience on Sept. 12 with a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga class in the Health and Recreation Complex’s (HRC) Aquatic Center lap pool, combining traditional yoga with heightened elements of balance. Students took part in an hour-long guided yoga session on paddleboards that were tethered to lane dividers.
Butler’s group fitness classes occur at the HRC through its RecWell programming. Though regular yoga classes are a staple of the group fitness program, this was the first time SUP yoga was offered.
The class was led by Theresa Nucciarone, a career advisor in the Office of Career Professional Success who is also a yoga group fitness instructor. This was her first time leading a SUP yoga class.
Nucciarone reflected on what makes teaching yoga special to her and why she was eager to instruct the new class.
“I enjoy sharing my appreciation for yoga and what it does and how it helps people,” Nucciarone said. “I want to help people feel their best, whether that’s physically, mentally or emotionally; yoga is a way that I can help people do that.”
Eight students out of the 10 who registered attended the class. Nucciarone mentioned that the students she spoke with enjoyed the experience and would be interested in retaking the class if offered again.
Kai Hill, a first-year elementary education and special education—mild intervention combined major, was excited to try the new class. She noted some differences from traditional yoga that helped enhance the experience.
“It was definitely [a challenge] because we had to incorporate balancing on a board while doing the yoga,” Hill said. “Anytime I would connect with the water [in] a relaxed yoga pose, I felt very at [peace].”
Nucciarone commented on the challenge that being on the water adds, stating that it contributes to testing both the participant’s physical and mental strength.
First-year health sciences major Lexi Nuber spoke on the benefit of college students having access to one-of-a-kind experiences like these and how the RecWell team works to achieve them.
“I think they’re really good about getting people out of their comfort zone,” Nuber said. “The fact that they offer opportunities to push yourself and to grow is really cool.”
Paddleboard yoga has not yet been confirmed as a recurring class.