This yoga's a doddle.

This is my thought as I execute a textbook "crab" pose on a paddleboard while floating on the calm, turquoise waters off the Cook Islands.

As the only male in the class I'm pretty content with my first foray into the ancient art.

And with the South Pacific sun beating down, and natural beauty all around, I'm sure there will be plenty of Facebook profile picture moments during my week-long stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga retreat.

This mindset lasts until we get back on dry land and I'm shown snaps taken during the session.

To my horror, I seem to have been photoshopped out and replaced by some contorted, grimacing imposter performing a pale imitation of the poses perfected by my four flexible female yoga buddies.

Oh wait, it's me.

And I'm rubbish.

As my SUP yoga instructor Charlotte Piho explains, I'm not the first male participant to underestimate just how difficult the activity can be.

"Women tend to be better at stand-up paddleboard yoga as they're naturally more balanced," she reassures me.

Excerpt from:
Yoga and boards make perfect Cooks recipe