At 11'2''x39'', the brand new Astro Yoga is not only a yoga island, but also has the dimensions of a comfortable touring board. Julia M. Tauber-Lewisch came up with the idea, based on her extensive experience with SUP yoga courses in Vienna and on Lake Neusiedl.
sup-mag.de: Hello Julia, your name is not yet so well known in the SUP scene, but you are now the first woman to have your "own" SUP at Starboard 2014, so that could change soon. How does that feel?
Julia: Admittedly, I'm not the first woman to have her own SUP at Starboard, as there was already the NRG Fitness Board 2013 from former team rider Nikki Gregg. But getting the first stand up paddle board specifically for yoga with my own signature feels great. Especially as SUP YOGA has become a real trend since its beginnings about 3 years ago.
sup-mag.de: Please describe what kind of board it is exactly? What are the special features?
Julia: With a size of 11'2 x 39'' and a continuous soft deck, the board offers pleasant stability and maximum comfort for yoga or other fitness positions. The paddle holder is a special feature and is deliberately located at the rear in order to offer a continuous surface similar to a yoga mat, not only physically but also visually - which is why the carrying handle has been attached to the side of the board and not in the centre as on most boards. The centre plays an important role in yoga, so it was all the more important for us not to disturb this centre with accessories. It was also important for the board to be inflatable so that it could be easily taken anywhere.
sup-mag.de: Where does your expertise come from?
Julia: I'm actually a cultural manager, but I think that's what helped me realise this idea. In cultural management, you're used to realising different ideas quickly and in the best possible way. I love yoga & all kinds of water sports. I got into stand up paddling through windsurfing. But to be honest, paddling in a race isn't really my thing, I think there's something magical about expeditions or yoga on a SUP. Three years ago I had the idea of SUP YOGA and under the name "markamri" I offer SUP YOGA in Vienna and the surrounding area together with a yoga teacher. The experiences with our yogis have shown what a SUP YOGA board should be able to do.
sup-mag.de: Can the board also be used for normal paddling?
Julia: Sure, and not only that - I can only recommend a picnic on the board. Perfect for cruising and chilling, you won't win a race with this board - but that wasn't the idea behind it.
sup-mag.de: How can you imagine this kind of development work? Do you write an email to Svein and say: "Hi, I'm Julia and I know my way around, why don't you build my idea in series"?
Julia: Well, maybe not formulated quite so directly, but it was something like that. When the idea came to me, I immediately wrote an email to Svein with relatively concrete suggestions and reasons. The very next day I received the reply: "Yes, the idea is good, let's do it". We then worked out the basic idea at a meeting in Spain and then honed the details in emails. We tested the prototype here in Austria and then the board went into production.
sup-mag.de: Yoga at all? What makes yoga "on board" special and different from yoga on land?
Julia: Yoga on a SUP board is a strenuous but also very meditative workout for body and mind. Due to the instability of the "ground", i.e. the water, SUP YOGA specifically promotes centre training, balance and flexibility. Yoga on the water is unforgiving and requires your full attention and concentration. The special attraction here is the energy that the element of water transmits. There is something special when you see the glistening of the water, for example during "downward facing dog", or when you are gently rocked into the final relaxation. The water radiates an incredible sense of calm.
sup-mag.de: Do you have more men or women in your courses and why?
Julia: The women are in the majority, as is usually the case with classical yoga. I think the men are afraid of falling into the water ;)
sup-mag.de: Tell me three reasons why I should book a yoga class with you, for example.
Julia: Because you are not afraid of falling into the water (although it should also be mentioned here that it is very rare for participants to fall into the water involuntarily).
Because you love the water and are looking for a workout that strengthens your body and mind.
Because yoga by the water is a special experience and always challenges you in different ways due to different weather and water conditions.
sup-mag.de: Once you have a board with your name on it - do you never have to work again?
Julia: At a young age, my grandfather was honoured with a laurel wreath for his artistic achievements as a theatre director. While my grandfather was very proud of this honour, my grandmother said, "We can't buy anything with it, I can only use it to spice up the soup".
It's similar with my name on the board ....I'm really happy that the "Julia Tauber" Yoga Astro now exists, but luckily I still "have" to work and can continue to develop new projects and ideas.
Thank you Julia and good luck with the board!
Julia on the Internet: markamri.at
Interview: Stephan Gölnitz
