New paddleboard yoga class making a splash in Edmonton

Jennifer Bowman admits she's fallen for this new fitness craze — right into the pool.

"It's really, really fun," confessed the Kinsmen Sports Centre facility programmer.

It's an aquatics fitness workout designed to strengthen your core and test your ability to stay dry.

"Yoga is very popular and paddleboarding is becoming very popular," said Bowman so they thought they'd combine the two in a new class open for registration next week.

Stand up paddleboard yoga or SUP Yoga originated in Northern California in the last decade.

Since then, outdoor clinics and classes have popped up on picturesque bays in Vancouver and straights in St. John.

But Bowman says having the 4.9 m deep dive tank at the Kinsmen Sports Centre means they can offer an indoor class year round starting in September.

Edmontonian Hannah Ilkiw tried SUP Yoga for the first time this week.

"It's hard cause it's pretty wobbly," explained Ilkiw, who considers herself an active person.

The 22-year-old has taken dance lessons much of her life. She has a kinesiology degree from the University of Alberta and has landed a summer job at the sports centre. 

"I was actually sweating a little bit when I was on the board. You can feel your muscles activating and engaging especially your core cause that's like your centre of gravity and strength."

Ilkiw didn't fall in but admits she felt the impact of the workout the next day. 

Bowman is billing the Friday night classes as the perfect activity for couples.

But Ilkiw said she'd think twice about that.

"If you have two people on there that's even more difficult. I feel like I would have fallen off if I would have had a partner."

Registration opens on July 20 for the indoor SUP yoga class.

You can see more from the Kinsmen Sports Centre this week on Our Edmonton at 10 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday and Monday on CBC TV.