Teaching the “Yoga for Skateboarders” class at the Samsung Drop-In Skatepark

In December 2023, I had the chance to teach the “Yoga for Skateboarders” class at the Samsung Drop In Skatepark, in partnership with the amazing Shanko’s Skate School.

Here’s what we got up to.

What’s the Samsung Drop In Skatepark?

Samsung UK teamed up with Skateboard GB to open a temporary indoor skatepark for two weeks and host a range of different events around skateboarding in the UK: fashion shows inspired by skateboard culture, panel talks about inclusivity and women empowerment in skateboarding, free lessons at the skatepark, and a yoga class tailored to skateboarders.

What we got up to in the ‘Yoga for Skateboarders’ class

The class opened with a conversation about why we should care for ourselves and our bodies, in general but especially as skateboarders. As amazing as skating is, there is no denying that it can be taxing on the body.

My view is that if you love skateboarding, you should take extra good care of your body - because you want to be able to skate for as many years as possible, pain-free and injury-free (as much as possible!)

The yoga class included stretches targeting common areas that can be sore or injured when skating, with a big focus on the feet, ankles, knees, hips. To find inspiration on yoga moves you can incorporate as a skateboarder, check out my Yoga for Skateboarders resources.

We also worked on mobility and strength as well as stretching, because building strong and mobile joints is the best way to avoid injuries from the repetitive stress of skating.

Beyond the poses and mobility drills, the session also included breathwork, sharing with skaters simple breathing techniques they can use to focus their mind, decompress after a big session, or to keep their fear in check when learning a challenging trick.

Wellness in skateboarding: Why it’s important

As a yoga teacher who loves longboarding, I constantly notice how yoga can benefit skateboarders. Yoga a mindfulness, restorative, and strengthening practice all at once - and all athletes need the 3 to perform at their best.

As exhilarating as it is, skateboarding is an intense sport, so making sure that you balance it out with plenty of rest and recovery in between sessions is key. It will help to keep your joints pain-free and mobile, and help to keep your soreness to a minimum! To find out more, read these 5 reasons for skateboarders to practice yoga.

As this pop-up event celebrated the launch of the new Samsung Z Flip5 phone, we recorded the entire class on the phones’ cameras and attendees were able to keep their videos and time-lapses of class.

Want to partner with me on a corporate class, or a ‘Yoga for Skaters’ project?

Grateful for Shanko’s Skate School for inviting me to teach at the event, and for Samsung UK and Skateboard GB for creating such a great pop-up.

Photos captured by Melody Battentier