This photo above is a special one, and features our Beachcomber Hot Tub taken at White Rock Beach in 1980 during the 'Golden Hour', the moment just before a sunset.

 

Here are a few of the most important benefits of hot tub yoga:

• Increased Flexibility
  Hot tub water naturally gets your blood flowing and helps loosen tense muscles. Plus, in water, your body doesn’t have to do as much to fight gravity as you hold onto your yoga poses.
  
  
• Strengthens Your Muscles
  Yoga is a low-impact, full-body exercise, making it a fantastic way to build strength no matter your age or athletic ability. Yoga in water is even less strenuous on your body, and makes a fantastic outlet for building up strength and staying in shape.
  
  
• Relieves Pain
  Aquatic yoga helps relieve pressure on your major joints, tendons, and ligaments, which makes it completely accessible and safe for practitioners of all ages and physical strengths.

Ready to get started? Here’s a few of our favourite poses:

1. THE WAVE

Difficulty: Intermediate
We call this pose the wave, as it will make your latissimus dorsi and oblique muscles as limber as the waves in the ocean.

How to do this pose:
Stand in the foot well of your hot tub with your feet shoulder-length apart. Lift your left arm up to the sky while slowly bending to the right and look up at your left hand. Repeat 3 times on each side.

2. THE CRESCENT MOON

Difficulty: Intermediate
Bow your body like a crescent moon to stretch the muscles in your abdominals.

How to do this pose:
Stand up in the footwell of your Beachcomber. Start with your hands on either side of you body, slow reach up and place your hands together above your head. Slowly arch your back imagining there is a string pulling your chest towards the sky. Be very careful not to over-exert your back. Not recommended for those with lower back problems.

3. THE PALM TREE

Difficulty: Beginner
Place your foot on your other leg’s upper thigh and stretch your arms above your head to complete the Palm Tree position.

How to do this pose:
Stand up in the footwell of your hot tub. Start this stretch by lifting one leg up and bending it so that your foot reaches your other thigh. Follow this by placing your hands above your head and clasping them together. Once complete, hold the position for a few minutes and then repeat with the other leg. To make the most of this stretch, lift your foot as far as you possibly can up your other leg. Another point on this position is to attempt to keep your back straight throughout the full duration of the stretch.

4. THE HALF BOAT

Difficulty: Intermediate
Make a 90 degree angle with your chest and legs to work your abdominal and leg muscles.

How to do this pose:
Sit down in a comfortable position in your Beachcomber. Start this pose by sliding down in the seat, just enough so that your chin is right above the water line. Once done, adjust your rear so that you’re able to comfortably lift your legs. To fully take advantage of this exercise, be sure to lift your legs enough that it allows your feet to breach the water or just until you feel the stretch. This position can be tough on the back, so be aware not to overwork your body.

5. SET SAIL

Difficulty: Intermediate
Grab your foot with your hand and stretch out your leg like a mast on a sailboat.

How to do this pose:

Stand up in the footwell of your hot tub. Begin the stretch by lifting one leg up and clasp it with your hand. Understanding that reaching your foot is difficult, you can also hold the underneath of your calf, as long as your leg is straight. With this position, it’s not necessary to lift your leg as high as is shown in the image. It’s more important to listen to your body and reach a point where the stretch is felt and that’s comfortable. Be careful not to force your body beyond its limit as pushing yourself too far may result in an injury. Because it’s an already a fairly difficult stretch, always consult your doctor if you have previous injuries or health issues.  

 

6. LOTUS

Difficulty: Beginner
The Lotus Pose is a relaxing and popular yoga pose,  in which each foot is placed on the opposite thigh. Considered a meditative and calming pose, the Lotus Pose can improve both sleep quality and quality of life. It also stretches the muscles of the hips and back.

How to do this pose:

Start by sitting comfortably on the edge of the hot tub seat with your feet on the floor well. Lengthen your spine and keep your head looking forward and up. Breathe fully and mindfully, and through both your nostrils. Slowly bringing your right foot in toward your body, placing it on your left thigh. Use your hands to assist and adjust as needed. Next, gently lift your left foot and slide it under your right leg, and placing it on your right thigh. Continue to breathe slowly and focus on relaxing your mind. Stay in this pose for 30 seconds to one minute. Switch sides, then remain in the position for an equal amount of time.

 

6. SEA STAR

Difficulty: Beginner

How to do this pose:

Begin by standing upright and tall with your arms by the side of your hips. Step both your feet wide apart and extend your arms at shoulder-height to both left and right sides. Ground your feet firmly down to the floor well, and fully straighten your legs. Keep your tailbone tucked in slightly. Stretch your fingertips out, but keep your shoulders relaxed, and your chest gently open to the front. As you breathe, aim to keep your body expanding out in all 5 directions. Hold this pose for about 1 minute, and then release your arms back to your sides. For a challenge, trying keeping your eyes closed, or shift the weight of your feet over to the balls of your feet.

 

Do take extra care to ground and stabilize yourself in the hot tub during these stretches, and not to over-exert yourself. If you are unsure of getting into certain positions, always consult your doctor.