What I Wish I Knew Before SUP Yoga Teacher Training
When I took my first SUP Yoga Teacher Training back in 2019, I was excited to become “certified” to teach SUP Yoga. Only after the training did I find out that Yoga Alliance does not have a designation for SUP Yoga. Yoga Alliance considers SUP Yoga to be yoga with the use of a prop (the paddleboard). This means that when you take a SUP Yoga course with Yoga Alliance hours, it is considered to be continuing education with Yoga Alliance, not a certification.
SUP Yoga Teacher Trainings like that still have some value. They can teach skills and provide continuing education hours if you’re already a RYT. However, calling it a “certification” feels like a stretch. The only certification that I received after that training was essentially a certificate printed by that yoga studio that I could upload for my continuing education hours, but would not be recognized within the paddling industry.
Realizing that only after I had already spent a considerable investment in the training itself as well as traveling to it, was a bummer.
Since I was serious about teaching SUP yoga and running a business around paddleboarding and SUP yoga, I wanted more credibility. I continued my education with the following over the next several years:
World Paddle Association (WPA) Level 1 SUP Instructor Training
American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 1 SUP Instructor Training
American Canoe Association (ACA) SUP Yoga Endorsement
American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 SUP Instructor Training
World Paddle Association (WPA) Level 2 SUP Instructor Trainer Certification
I’m currently in the process of mentoring to become a an ACA SUP Instructor Trainer
I may have gone a little overboard or even down the rabbit hole here, but I wanted to learn from as many different people in the industry as possible. I wanted to provide the best instruction possible. I also knew that I wanted any SUP Yoga Teacher Training that I lead to provide legitimate certification that is recognized industry-wide.
I can’t say that I regret my roundabout path. I learned different things from different people and met so many amazing paddlers along the way! However, I admittedly took the long, slow, and expensive route.
Here’s what I wish I knew back then when I was looking for my first SUP yoga teacher training:
1- There are SUP Yoga Teacher Trainings that provide legitimate credentials right out of the gate for new SUP yoga teachers.
2- You can find combined courses which will cut down on time, money, and travel expenses for training.
3- Taking a SUP Yoga Teacher Training with a legitimate certification will teach you even more and leave you with stronger credentials that are recognized universally by paddleshops, outdoor centers, parks, SUP Yoga studios, etc.
Our Turquoise Floating Yoga SUP Yoga Teacher Training, for example is a combined training that offers all of the following:
World Paddle Association (WPA) Level 1 SUP Instructor Training
American Canoe Association (ACA) SUP Yoga Leader Certification
Turquoise Floating Yoga SUP Yoga Teacher Certification for 25 hours of continuing education credit with Yoga Alliance
I’m particularly proud of this training because it sets trainees up to be leaders in the industry as both certified paddleboard instructors and certified SUP yoga teachers with two different industry leading credentials in addition to Yoga Alliance continuing education hours.
You can click the button below to find out more about our SUP Yoga Teacher Training :
Whether you decide to go with our training or not, the advice I would give anyone who is thinking about taking a SUP Yoga Teacher Training is to shop around and find one that offers more than continuing education credit. You are taking on the responsibility of bringing people out on the water and that requires more than yoga skills. Look into watersports focused training such as World Paddle Association, American Canoe Association, International SUP Yoga Academy (ISYA), etc. Set yourself up for success by making sure to learn everything you’ll need to lead safe and effective sessions while obtaining industry recognized certifications.
