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| - I recently spent a lovely Sunday evening here for the SUP yoga class. This is a really fun and relaxing way to discover the city and Ward's Island, which is so calm and peaceful (especially compared to the busier and more touristy Centre Island).
For $45, you get 90 mins. on the water, great instruction, and all necessary gear (life vest, paddle, board). In the summer, you have a choice of Saturday morning or Sunday sunset classes. If you have your own group, I think you can also book private classes. At first I thought it was expensive, but the experience is so unique and enjoyable, it's definitely good value.
You catch the ferry ($7.25 round trip) to Ward's Island and walk 5 mins. to a bridge by the water. From there you meet the group (when I went it was 10 people) and your instructors, Julian (general paddleboarding stuff) and Melissa (certified yoga teacher, teaches at YYoga and Equinox). They quickly go over some basics on land and you can store your valuables in a dry bag.
Then you're on the water!! They take you to a couple different spots where the water is nice and calm, and you can get some beautiful views of the city skyline. We paddled around for a bit and then settled in one spot for the yoga class. At first it's a little wobbly, but you quickly adjust and you can take the yoga poses at your own pace. Savassana on a board with the sun shining and the sound of birds is just magical. If you are lucky you might spot some Toronto wildlife like little ducklings, herons, or a beaver! After that, they give you some free time to play around on the board. Yogis can try arm balances or things like headstands on the board to challenge themselves! There's also the opportunity to snap some photos.
All in all, I would highly recommend Toronto Island SUP if you are looking for a fun and different activity either on your own, with friends/family, or as a date. Julian and Melissa were great at making sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time! Booking and paying online was also very smooth and straight forward.
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