Yoga is usually the answer, but have you ever considered practicing your poses on a paddleboard, in the air, or with your dog? We like to call it “Hill Country Yoga.” Here are three places in the Hill Country where you can stretch your limits and limbs a little further.
Things to Do
Float, Fly, Bark, Namaste: Take Hill Country Yoga to the Next Level at These ‘Studios’
1. Paddleboard Yoga
Photo: Flickr/SURFit
Hill Country Paddle Sports on Boerne City Lake offers yoga classes where the lake is the studio and a paddleboard is your mat. It’s open to all yoga skill levels, but attendees must be able to swim and are required to register ahead of time. “Stand up paddleboard yoga is a great way to reconnect yourself with nature while experiencing all the benefits of yoga,” the Hill Country Paddle Sports website says. “This class will incorporate elements of vinyasa flow and breathing designed to balance you on and off the paddle boards. Expect to have fun while challenging your individual edges of flexibility, focus, strength, and balance. We will conclude with a relaxing savasana (meditation) back to shore or paddle if conditions require. Paddleboard yoga is all about taking your Yoga practice to another dimension! Let the paddle board become your mat, improve your balance and engage your core more than ever. Bring mind body and spirit together in this floating yoga class.”
2. Aerial Yoga
Photo: Facebook/Aerial Yoga Boerne
Who hasn’t dreamed of joining the circus? As you bend and twist above the ground in class at Aerial Yoga Boerne, you’ll feel like you’re fulfilling that fantasy. “Aerial Yoga offers authentic yoga, with the support of a soft, aerial fabric hammock, to explore, refine, and advance traditional yoga positions, both in the air and the ground,” the Aerial Yoga Boerne website says. “This unique form of yoga also helps to increase flexibility and range of motion, along with building strength. In addition to finding more length in your spine and safe alignment in your poses, an aerial practice is also fun! Enjoy traditional yoga postures as well as new poses suited especially for the aerial hammock. Please join us for fun as you learn to liberate your spine, hips and shoulders.” The studio also offers other types and styles of yoga, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Adaptive, Yin, Thai, Peace & Power and Meditative Flow classes throughout the day and evenings for all levels, from beginner to advanced.
3. Doga
Photo: Facebook/Austin Doga
Yoga relieves stress and dogs relieve stress, just imagine what a combination of the two could do. Doga, taught by Nicole Vykoukal in Austin, is yoga with your dog. Vykoukal is a registered yoga teacher who focuses on gentle yoga poses for humans. “These gentle yoga poses are shown to help manage stress, invite relaxation, and restore your mind, body and heart,” the Doga Austin website says. “Your dog is invited to join in the yoga class with gentle dog massage, and plenty of praise and love.Students report practicing doga with their dog increases their bond and brings joy to both them and their dog.” Classes are $22 a person. To participate in the group class your dog must be able to “settle,” meaning lie down or sit down and remain somewhat calm on command. Your dog also must be friendly and at ease with other people and dogs. Dogs who are fearful and need space can practice doga in a one-on-one setting, which can be scheduled with Vykoukal online.