Course Overview

You’ll be able to teach: yoga on a SUP board

In the following conditions:

• inland waters or coastal locations

• flat water, no swell/non breaking waves or breaking waves

• in standing depth water only (less than 4ft)

• no more than 50 metres from shore

• the SUP yoga activity area must be under 50 metres paddling distance.

After completing the course, you can:

• Run safe, structured SUP yoga sessions

• Manage groups in the water

• Assess SUP yoga technique, to help your clients enjoy the session

Note:
If you plan to paddle more than 50 metres or run sessions in deep water, it is recommended, for safety reasons, that you hold ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor certification, which can be completed later.

With your ASI qualification, you can work as a SUP Yoga Teacher:

• At SUP schools around the world

• At wellness retreats and holiday resorts

• For yoga studios

• For local government (or similar) health programs and activities

• As a freelance SUP Yoga Teacher

• At your own SUP Yoga school.  Apply to become an ASI Accredited SUP School, allowing you to operate your own professional SUP yoga school business under ASI’s global standards.

ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

This course covers all essential skills for teaching SUP yoga sessions, including:

Laws & regulations:  that apply to conducting SUP yoga sessions

Risk Management & safety:  ASI guidelines, identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments, emergency response

Environment:  social & natural environmental impacts and minimisation strategies

Logistics planning:   locations, equipment (SUP yoga boards, anchoring systems, accessories), back up, student types

Session planning: structuring SUP yoga sessions, creating session plans, ASI SUP yoga session plans and sequences set up and ready to use in own classes

Group management:  communication, positioning and client supervision

Delivering sessions:  a library of beginner to advanced levels yoga poses modified for SUP  

Client assessment:  common mistakes, feedback, correcting technique

Professional standards: duty of care, codes of conduct, evaluating your own performance as a SUP yoga teacher, industry expectations

SUP technical skills: for the SUP Yoga teacher – an introduction to basic stand up paddle techniques and board control

Business skills:  gaining and maintaining clients – SUP yoga marketing and business skills

To enrol, you must meet:

Minimum age: 18 years

Stand up paddling experience: 20+ hours of paddling. Able to paddle a board with confidence.

SUP yoga experience:  10+ hours (in class or self-guided)

Yoga teaching experience:   hold a Yoga Teacher Certificate (minimum 200 hours).

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below:

Personal SUP yoga ability:   

• Demonstrate ability to perform a range of SUP yoga poses with safety.

Knowledge: 
Complete multi-choice online test for:

• SUP Yoga Teacher

• ASI SUP Rescue

• ASI SUP Wise Intensiv  (basic SUP paddling)

Skills:

• Prepare class:  demonstrate ability to prepare the class - enter the water, anchoring, organise group ready to start the session.

• Conduct class:  demonstrate ability to conduct SUP yoga class with correct sequencing, techniques and safety.

Practical:
Complete 10 hours practical work experience, assisting in the delivery of SUP yoga sessions, at an ASI accredited SUP school or other approved SUP school.  Submit logbook of hours/experience.

Note:
Alternative practical hours experience can be conducted if no ASI school nearby to you.
Recognition of previous SUP yoga teaching experience can be accepted. Contact ASI for more information.

Submit Required Certificates:

• A current senior first aid certificate Acceptable First Aid certificates

• Yoga Teacher Certificate (minimum 200 hours)

 
Time to complete :  12 months

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

• Face to face (in-person) training.

• Duration:  2 days

• Complete most course requirements at the workshop

• 2 free video assessments (if not competent at workshop)

• 5 hours practical experience signed off in workshop

• Some course requirements waived-no requirement to do online test for:  
  SUP Rescue - if you hold a current ASI SUP rescue certificate
  SUP Wise Intensiv - if you previously completed this course  

Online Learning: Ideal for people who would like flexibility to complete their training.

• Work at your own pace.

• Face to face (in-person) practical hours experience required

• Video submission: yoga poses, prepare class, conduct class

• 2 free video assessments

• Some course requirements waived-no requirement to do online test for:  
  SUP Rescue - if you hold a current ASI SUP rescue certificate
  SUP Wise Intensiv - if you previously completed this course  

All study options receive online access to:

• SUP Yoga Teacher manual & assessments

• Downloadable instructor logbook (for practical hours)

• SUP Water Safety Rescue manual

• SUP Wise Intensiv (SUP skills) manual

In addition: at the workshop, you also receive a paper copy of: 

• SUP Yoga Teacher manual 

• Instructor logbook (for practical hours)

• SUP Water Safety Rescue manual

Plus:  ASI membership for 12 months.

Plus: Yoga Alliance 20 hrs CPD is included at workshops at some locations (information provided on enrolment event) 

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

• SUP Yoga board or flat water SUP board, paddle, coiled leash

• SUP clothing suitable for SUP Yoga

In addition:  

• Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform 

For online learning study option:   

• Video camera or mobile phone to take video of skills/practical

• 2 x persons to be your clients 

• Anchoring system

ASI Stand Up Paddle Yoga Teacher certificate
Valid for 12 months

Each year, ASI SUP Yoga Teachers renew their certificate.   
More about renewal requirements

You can continue your SUP coaching development with:

• ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)

• ASI SUP Wise Intensiv / Paddlers Card

• ASI SUP Rescue training  

• Blue Health Skills for Watersports Instructors

• Attending ASI Air Retreats (conference)

• Globally recognised SUP teaching and coaching qualifications

• Industry‑leading safety and coaching standards

• Flexible online and in‑person training

• Clear career progression

• Trusted by SUP schools, studios, wellness centres, resorts worldwide

 READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

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