Yoga means the path to unity. It is originally the way to come to oneself in meditation. Breathing techniques and postures (asanas) are tools for meditation.

Today, body-oriented yoga is in the foreground and picks us head people up where we are.

Yoga today knows a wealth of styles. Some are physically very active and demanding, others focus on very correct execution of the poses, some want to get the energy flow in the body or the focus is on long poses with many relaxation phases.

Susi and Caro offer you two main yoga styles: Vinyasa and Hatha.

Vinyasa yoga means that breath flow and movements are in harmony. This means that Vinyasa Yoga is more moving and that many asanas are strung together for a certain sequence. You get into a flow, are physically challenged and sometimes forget about time and space.

Hatha Yoga, on the other hand, focuses on a more or less fixed sequence of postures that are held for a little longer and are separated by short relaxation or mindfulness phases. It trains you excellently to relax in challenging asanas. Special emphasis is placed on breathing exercises at the beginning and a longer relaxation phase at the end of the session.

The breathing exercises at the beginning of each yoga class aim to forget everyday life, to calm down and to fill body and mind with new energy. This is followed by the sun salutation, a series of holdings consisting of several coordinated asanas that are performed dynamically in rhythm with the breath. The sun salutation stimulates the cardiovascular system, mobilizes the joints and warms up the muscles. Other asanas follow, such as the Warrior, which strengthens the leg, shoulder and back muscles and promotes balance. Each asana addresses different muscle groups so that the entire body is trained. We pay particular attention to the muscle groups that are particularly stressed during kitesurfing (e.g. core stability, for more on that read below). The class ends with deep relaxation exercises that will leave you feeling rested, clear and fresh.

In the morning and afternoon, the focus of the yoga sessions will vary. So in the morning we will have a shorter activating session to get us fit for the day on the kite. In the evening we will focus on strengthening, stretching, relaxation and centering.

When kitesurfing you will need good core stability. Because your body acts like a mast on the board. You stand in the loops on the board and the kite is connected to your body via the lines, bar and harness. The better your core stability is, the easier it will be for you to counteract the forces pulling on you. New movement sequences can be learned better from a strong center, because you can concentrate on coordinating the new movement patterns without any strength problems, regardless of whether you are just learning kitesurfing or you want to learn new tricks as an experienced kitesurfer!

At the same time, you will need good flexibility in your spine. When jumping, you can easily observe how the legs go backwards and the back bends back (hollow back). But a certain flexibility in the spine is also an advantage in order to be able to cope with falls into the water in a healthy manner. On the mat we train the strength of the back muscles and increase the flexibility in the back bend, but always in combination with active abdominal muscles and thus prepare the back for the stresses on the water.

And then of course there are the legs, knees and ankles. They are also well used and benefit from an extra portion of strength. As the edge of your board cuts through the water, your thighs will quickly get warm, they’re working! However, strength exercises on the mat for the thighs have another advantage: they strengthen the knee joint at the same time. And the knee joint is subjected to extra stress as you glide beautifully across the water. Your feet are firmly in the loops and the kite pulls on your torso, knees and ankles are the most sensitive areas here. On the mat, we specifically strengthen and mobilize knee and ankle joints, which reduces the risk of injury to these joints.

Last but not least, special attention is paid to the neck in the yoga units. Especially beginners often look up at the kite. Exercises that gently expand the neck muscles and counteract tension create a wonderful balance here.

The postures in yoga are not only activating, strengthening and stretching for the body. The passive, the relaxation, also plays a major role. Being able to relax is a skill. Anyone who masters the alternation of tension and relaxation effortlessly and multiple times a day will keep their energy level pleasantly high throughout the day. Especially in Hatha Yoga we practice this specifically on the mat. After prolonged asanas (postures), there is time to consciously relax briefly in shavasana (relaxation posture). But even during a challenging asana, we consciously let go of the muscles and body regions that are not needed for the posture. And at the end of a yoga session, you can really relax longer and more deeply. How wonderful such a full and deep relaxation after kiting! Because that’s exactly when your body’s own regeneration mechanisms pick up speed, so that you start the next day with new physical and mental strength!

Yoga prepares the body optimally for the challenges on the water and helps with rapid regeneration after kiting!

Yoga and kite surfing have even more gifts in store for us. After a session on the mat, a feeling of well-being, joy and mental calm can arise. And after kiting, especially when you’ve managed the first few meters on the board or mastered a new trick, you can’t get rid of the smile on your face!