How can Yoga enhance your Scuba Diving experience?
Asanas: Scuba can be a physically demanding activity. Therefore, maintaining good general health and fitness is an important part of being a diver. The physical postures in Yoga help strengthen and limber up the body, which reduces the risk of injuries, as well as prevents over-exertion, which can lead to breathlessness, anxiety, and other problems in the water. Being in better shape makes diving less strenuous, and therefore, more safe and enjoyable!
Pranayama: The breathing practices done in Yoga allow the body to absorb and use oxygen more efficiently as well as increase lung volume over time. Slow, controlled breathing facilitates a relaxed body and mind that will in turn improve your overall comfort, air consumption, and help you to fine tune your buoyancy, which is fundamental for being a safe and skilled diver.
Meditation: Meditation trains the mind to be calm, alert, and completely absorbed in the present moment. This mindfulness and concentration of energy makes our perception more still, vivid and meaningful. For many people, scuba diving is an emotionally soothing or spiritually inspiring experience. When we dive in this heightened state of awareness, we can expand our sense of wonder, appreciation, and oneness with the underwater world.
​Yoga is an ancient practice that uses gentle physical exercises (Asana), breathing practices (Pranayama), relaxation techniques, and meditation to promote a healthy body, encourage a calm and composed mind, and create a foundation for heightened awareness and a peaceful state of being.
Although Yoga is traditionally a spiritual practice, it is more commonly pursued for its physical and psychological benefits, which include: returning flexibility and strength to the bones, joints and muscles; improving circulation, respiration and digestion; enhancing posture, balance and endurance; increasing energy and vitality, stimulating vital glands and organs, and relieving fatigue, tension, and emotional stress.
Yoga is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Contrary to the images that are often portrayed in pop culture, the fundamentals of Yoga are quite humble and uncomplicated. You will be amazed at how the most simple of practices can benefit your diving experience, and your life in general.
Yoga has become very popular, and with this popularity has taken on many brand labels (Asthanga, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Hot, Power, Iyengar, the list goes on and on) . Modern Yogis often ask what type or what "style" of Yoga I teach, which I am afraid I do not have a simple answer. The majority of my training, including my instructor training, has come from the Integral Yoga Institute, which teaches Yoga from a traditional point of view, covering all aspects of Yoga, physical and non-physical, with focus on preparing the body and mind for meditation and spiritual practice. However, I have learned from different teachers in different locations, so my class is a fusion of different styles and I try to adapt my classes to suit the level and interest of the practitioner.
In class, I emphasize practicing "Hatha", which to some is a style of Yoga, however, I consider it simply a fundamental of Yoga. In Sanskrit (the ancient language in which the Yoga texts are written), "Ha" means "Sun" and "tha" means "Moon". Combining "Ha" and "tha" implies a fusion, or a balance, of these opposite energies. The sun represents an active, extroverted, and powerful energy, while the moon represents a more gentle, passive, and receptive energy. In class, you will be encouraged to pursue this same balance when practicing your Asanas (physical exercises). Rooted in this balance between "effort and ease", the body is able to avoid stress and injury while experiencing the steady breath and stillness that will invite the practitioner to experience the deeper realms of Yoga.
In traditional Yoga, the Asanas were designed to return the body to a state of good health and fitness, in preparation for meditation and spiritual practice. The Asanas can be modified to range in physical intensity from ultra gentle to super powerful, depending on the practitioner's ability and intention. No matter the intensity, what makes Asanas different from normal exercise is that each physical posture is practiced as a meditation in itself: with the practitioner focused and mindful of the present moment, adjusting the posture to establish the "Hatha" balance, while pursuing an intention and connection that goes deeper than a simple, ego-driven desire to be fit. This is why Yoga truly is suitable for people of all ages and levels of health/fitness. It is really not important how far you can bend or how impressive your postures are, it is the ability to practice stillness and mindfulness that makes it Yoga.
Introducing, the PADI Yoga Diver© certification course!
This is a distinctive specialty course written by myself and approved by PADI in 2015. Are you a PADI Scuba Instructor and Yoga Instructor? Find out how you can teach the Yoga Diver course.
Start your Yoga Diver E-learning today!
Upon completion of the course you will earn a Distinctive Speciality Yoga Diver Certification card from PADI.
The Yoga Diver course is suitable for any open water certified diver. The Yoga techniques can be adapted to suit any level of flexibility and fitness. If you can dive, then you can do the Yoga Diver course!
Typically 60 - 90 minutes long, involving a combination of gentle, yet powerful physical exercises (Asana), breathing practices (Pranayama), guided relaxation and meditation. Emphasis is on establishing a balance between effort and ease to promote relaxation and true progress while avoiding pain and injury. Classes suitable for divers and non-divers, all ages and fitness levels.
Yoga Nidra, or the "Yogic Sleep" is a 30 minute deep relaxation/meditation session. The participant remains lying down and is verbally guided through a complete relaxation of the body, the breath, the mind, and beyond. The body rests in a deep state of relaxation, and yet consciousness remains to experience this quiet state. This intensive rest promotes physical rejuvenation as well as mental and emotional cleansing. It is said that if done properly, a 30 minute Yoga Nidra is equal to 3 hours of regular sleep.
Make Yoga and Scuba Diving the theme of your next getaway. Soul Scuba offers and arranges Yoga-Scuba packages, inclusive of a variety of Yoga offerings, for all budgets in stunning locations around the globe.
This is an exclusive PADI distinctive speciality course, the first of its kind, taught by the author herself, a Master Scuba Diver Trainer and certified Yoga Instructor with worldwide teaching experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to try something different, useful, and earn a unique PADI card while at it! Available to all Open Water certified divers. No previous Yoga experience required.
In order to experience meditation, we must anchor ourselves to the present moment by focusing on one point for an extended period. Meditation does not always need to be practiced while sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position. Walking Meditation, Laughter Meditation, Water Meditation, and other experiences, can open you to a new perspective on meditation and encourage you to carry your practice off the mat and into your everyday activities.
Bring a new level of fun and challenge to your Yoga practice while paddling on a floating mat. You will be guided through meditation, breathing practices, relaxation, and a range of physical postures that will challenge your balance and quench your thirst for adventure. If you lose your balance, splash! No worries, that is part of the fun!
It is often difficult to define Yoga in the modern world because it has branched off onto so many different paths. With some styles strictly adhering to the traditional goals of Yoga and others offering little more than a physical fitness routine, all the brand labels and varying interpretations can cause confusion and misunderstanding. Through classroom discussions and gentle, progressive instruction on the mat, you will learn the fundamental concepts and practices (both physical and non-physical), and explore the history, philosophies, and various components that make up Yoga. With this foundational knowledge, you can deepen your understanding of the practice and be able to better decide what direction you would like to take with Yoga.
Soul Scuba is always on the lookout for new partners in the journey. If you are interested in bringing any of these offerings to your facility, resort, dive centre, yoga studio, festival, or retreat, please do not hesitate to reach out and explore the possibilities. Contact me for more information.
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the most widely recognized and revered scuba diving training agency in the world.The PADI System of diver education is based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in stages. PADI courses are student-centered and provide maximum practice and realistic application.
Open Water Dives: 4 real dives (lake, ocean, quarry) where you get to practice the knowledge and skills you have learned in a real open water environment.
Once you are a certified Open Water diver, you can now improve your diving skills, try different types of specialty dives, and explore more advanced dive sites. To complete this course, you do 5 adventure dives, including a deep dive (up to 30m/100ft), navigation dive, and 3 elective adventure dives.
There are many interesting choices, such as wreck diving, night diving, fish identification, underwater naturalist, drift diving, underwater photography, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery, and many others.
This is a land based CPR/First Aid certification course available to both divers and non-divers. Learn Primary and Secondary emergency response for adults, children, and infants. The EFR course (or other recognized CPR/first aid certification) is a requirement if you wish to take the Rescue Diver course.
Scuba divers describe the PADI Rescue Diver course as the most challenging, yet most rewarding course they've ever taken. Why?
Because you learn to prevent and manage problems in the water, and become more confident in your skills as a diver, knowing that you can help others if needed. During the course, you learn to become a better buddy by practicing problem solving skills until they become second nature. Plus, the course is just fun – it's serious, but still allows for lots of laughter in between the focused learning.
PADI Speciality Diver courses teach you new techniques and give you the tools to enhance your exploration.
There are many interesting choices, such as wreck diving, night diving, fish identification, underwater naturalist, drift diving, underwater photography, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery, and many others. Contact me for more information.
Please Note: Participants to the following events will be required to complete a PADI Continuing Education form which includes a medical questionnaire. If there are any questions answered with a "yes", the participant will require a doctors signature before participating. Although Yoga is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, there are some physical conditions that require special consideration and/or modifications. If in doubt about your ability to participate in Yoga, it is best to consult your physician prior to the course.
Come and enjoy a day of wellness, skill development, and bubble therapy in the Caribbean divers paradise, Bonaire!
The objective of the Yoga Diver course is to introduce a fundamental understanding of the Yoga practice, from both a traditional and a contemporary point of view, highlighting basic history, theory, components, and benefits of Yoga.
During some land based knowledge development and Yoga practice we will explore some Asanas (gentle yet powerful physical postures), Pranayama (breath control exercises), mindfulness, and other meditation techniques. We will then use these foundations of Yoga to enhance our scuba experience during 2 open water training dives.
This is a one day course. No Yoga experience required. All fitness levels welcome. If you are fit enough to dive, you are fit enough for Yoga Diver!
The price includes course materials, land-based and in-water instruction, 2 open water (shore) dives, equipment, air, and PADI certification.
Groups welcome. For more information, or to reserve your spot, contact me for further details.
Get your day started right with some beach Yoga! When an individual can find their own personal balance between effort and ease, even the most simple postures can be powerfully beneficial for both body and mind. When this balance is paired with conscious, deliberate movement, guided by the breath, a powerful state of awareness occurs. This is meditation, the foundation of our Yoga practice. Vinyasa is a Sanskrit term that means to "place in a special way". In Yoga we are not "performing" postures, but "experiencing" them. Each movement is deliberate, mindful, and flows from one to the next guided by a conscious breath pattern. Vinayasa is meditation in motion.
This multi-level class is suitable for beginners but also aims to challenge experienced practitioners. All fitness levels welcome. Please inform the instructor of any physical concerns you have so that she can suggest modifications and practices to avoid.
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Other times available by appointment.
If you are interested in participating in these events and have any questions, please contact me for further details.
The objective of the Yoga Diver course is to introduce a fundamental understanding of the Yoga practice, from both a traditional and a contemporary point of view, highlighting basic history, theory, components, and benefits of Yoga. During some land based knowledge development and Yoga practice we will explore some Asanas (gentle yet powerful physical postures), Pranayama (breath control exercises), mindfulness, and other meditation techniques. We will then use these foundations of Yoga to enhance our scuba experience during 2 open water training dives.
Your in person training will include some land based Yoga practice on the beach, knowledge development discussion, and 2 open water training (shore) dives. The day starts at 9:00 am and finishes around 3:00 pm.
Come and enjoy a day of wellness and bubble therapy in the beautiful Caribbean island federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The objective of the Yoga Diver course is to introduce a fundamental understanding of the Yoga practice, from both a traditional and a contemporary point of view, highlighting basic history, theory, components, and benefits of Yoga. During some land based knowledge development and Yoga practice we will explore some Asanas (gentle yet powerful physical postures), Pranayama (breath control exercises), mindfulness, and other meditation techniques. We will then use these foundations of Yoga to enhance our scuba experience during 2 open water training dives.
If you are in these events and have any questions, please contact me for further details.
Amanda Parr, the founder of Soul Scuba, is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, certified Yoga Instructor, and author of the original PADI Yoga Diver© course.
Originally from Indiana, USA, she is perpetually travelling and living in diverse locations, allowing her to explore different approaches to Yoga, and life in general. Since her initial introduction to Yoga in New York City in the late 90's and an Integral Yoga teacher training in 2005 at Satchidananda Ashram in Virginia, she has continued to expand and share her understanding of the practice in various environments around the globe, such as the UK, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, India, the Caribbean, and Central America.
As a professional Scuba Instructor, it is only natural that she recognizes a profound and beneficial relationship between Yoga and Scuba Diving and has been developing and teaching a unique fusion of the two since 2014.
Amanda's approach to Yoga is traditional and humble. The foundation of Yoga is meditation, the aim is stillness. When an individual, using breath control and mindfulness, can find their own personal balance between effort and ease, even the simplest postures can be powerfully beneficial for both body and mind. Amanda's classes are gentle enough for beginners and yet also aim to challenge experienced practitioners by encouraging them to "empty their cup" and re-connect with their "beginners mind". Guided by fundamental concepts and techniques, Yogis of all fitness levels are coaxed into a deeper state of awareness, where steadiness of body and stillness of mind can be achieved both on and off the mat.
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