There’s yoga. Then there’s sunset yoga. What about sunset yoga with dogs? Why not add live music to the mix?
Oh, by the way, it’s all happening on a paddleboard.
Capital SUP in Annapolis is changing the paddleboard rental game with a variety of special events happening throughout the summer.
Stand-up paddleboarding, a water sport called SUP, is one of a few sanctioned activities people can enjoy while still maintaining public health protocols. In fact, Capital SUP has seen an uptick in rental board and kayak business driven by the pursuit to get out of the house and on the water.
“This season has definitely shown, with the social distancing, this is the busiest year yet,” said Lindsay Cook, an on-water yoga teacher for Capital SUP. “At first they didn’t even know if they were going to be able to open, and seeing how well Capital SUP has done is amazing.”
This summer the company is adding a live music event to an array of on-water activities, including yoga, dog parties and happy hours. That’s right, live music, on a paddleboard, floating on Back Creek.
Pressing Strings vocalist and guitarist Jordan Sockel was scheduled to perform from an inflatable dock for an intimate paddleboard yoga class this week, but the event was rained out Monday and Wednesday.
The acoustic performance is now set for a sunrise yoga class at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 25. The yoga class will be led by Cook while Sokel plays. A second class led by instructor Kathleen Schuman with music by Annapolis artist Sean Hetrick will start at 6:30 p.m. to catch the sunset by the Chesapeake Bay for the perfect meditation vibes.
“People love that experience of yoga and then bringing it onto the water, onto the paddleboards, adding that extra flare, so live music just makes it even more special and a great experience out there,” Cook said.
Although classes are relatively at a safe distance with nine participants on individual paddleboards, adjustments still had to be made to ensure proper social distancing. Before the pandemic, paddleboarders would clip on to a floating dock in a circle for yoga and other social events. Classes were much larger, with around 30 people joining.
Now, only nine people can join a class at a time. They drop individual anchors rather than connect to a floating dock.
It’s harder to catch live music in the city since concert halls and indoor venues are off-limits because of the coronavirus. Some performers play at outdoor venues and events, like Dinner Under the Stars in downtown Annapolis. Capital SUP plans to connect with more local musicians to host additional live music events through August.
The company also pairs up with local eateries to boost events, such as a “Burn and Flow” yoga class accompanied by acai bowls from Rutabaga Juicery and Eats. At 8 a.m. this Sunday, there’s a “SUP and Sip” class where participants get a pressed juice from Pure Raw Juice after the paddle.
Other events include regular “Yappy Hours” where participants are encouraged to bring their dogs on the paddleboards for a party. Cook typically leads these classes with her black lab, Huckleberry. Dogs are welcome during classes outside of Yappy Hours, as well.
Capital SUP owners Kevin Haigis and Chris Norman also run a paddleboard race training, where they coach people how to compete in water fitness competitions.
“The paddle bros are awesome, they created something special for this Annapolis area,” Cook said.
