Pilates on the water · Csopak
SUP Pilates on Lake Balaton: 80 minutes that leave your head lighter too
Pilates, just not on a studio mat but on a wide board, a few metres off the shore in Csopak. We provide the board and the instructor, you just bring a swimsuit. And the ability to swim.
- 7,000 HUF / class
- Max. 10 people
- Board included
★★★★★ 4.9 on Google · SupCsopak, next to the beach in Csopak
New in Csopak
What is SUP Pilates?
SUP Pilates is exactly what it sounds like: Pilates on a wide, stable board on Lake Balaton. We paddle out a few minutes from the shore, drop anchor and hold the class where other people just take photos.
The water is what makes it different. The board rocks a little with every movement, so your body keeps balancing even when you’re just kneeling on it. That works exactly the deep core muscles that studios try to reach with expensive equipment. Here they switch on by themselves.
Meanwhile your head goes quiet. Not because you decided it should, but because on the board you can’t be anywhere else. For 80 minutes you won’t even think about where your phone is. That’s why many people come back, not for the sore muscles.
How a class goes
This is what a class looks like
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You arrive in Csopak
We meet on the shore at Hotel Csopak Resort & Lake, and your board will be waiting at the jetty. Your whole packing list: swimsuit, towel, water.
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We paddle out
We go over paddling on the shore, then take five minutes at an easy pace to reach the anchoring spot. If you’ve never stood on a board in your life, this is where you’ll learn. It’s not rocket science.
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Time for Pilates
50 minutes of exercises on the water with Péter, then a few minutes lying on the rocking board with your eyes closed. Let that last part be a surprise. It’s worth it.
The whole thing takes 1 hour 20 minutes. Then we paddle back, and you either get on with your day or have a coffee at the beach. For some reason, nobody is in a hurry after class.
Why on the water?
What does the water give you that the studio can’t?
Deep muscles that are hard to reach on a mat
The board moves with every wave, and your body corrects it constantly, all by itself. That also works the small muscles along your spine, which need special tricks in a studio. Here there’s no way around it, they have to switch on.
A stronger core, better posture
Pilates visibly improves posture within a few months, as a whole series of studies has measured. Paddleboarding builds strength: in a six-week study, three sessions a week on the water increased participants’ core strength by 19–28%. Put the two together and your lower back will thank you, some Monday morning at the office.
Water calms you down. Literally.
A British study followed almost 20,000 people, and those who spent two hours a week by the water or in nature felt measurably better. Twenty minutes on the shore already shows in your stress hormones. So just by coming out, you’ve already won. The Pilates is a bonus.
A forced break for your mind
On the board, half-hearted doesn’t work. While you’re balancing, you can’t think about deadlines or the dishes. And it’s not about willpower. The board simply won’t let you.
Easy on your joints
No jumping, no impact, nothing your knees will complain about the next day. Pilates on the water is one of the gentlest workouts you’ll find this summer.
Have you ever worked out
with the water rocking you?
We do it every day.
The instructor
Who teaches? Péter Molnár, who stood on a stage before he ever stood on a board
- Pilates instructor for 18 years
- Former dancer with the Győr Ballet
- Teaching SUP Pilates for 5 years
On the water it’s not enough to know the exercises: you also need to see how much each person can handle that day. After 18 years, Péter can tell at a glance. If you have questions about the class, give him a call: +36 70 509 4124
Yoga or Pilates?
SUP yoga or SUP Pilates?
If you’ve been looking for SUP yoga on Lake Balaton: it’s the same water, the same sunset, just different work. Yoga stretches and flows. Pilates targets: abs, back, core, posture. Here you’ll work more and meditate less. The meditation comes at the end, lying on your back on the rocking water, and by then you’ve earned it.
If you’ve done yoga on a board, it will feel familiar. If you do Pilates in a studio, you’ll find out what your core can do on the waves. If you’ve tried neither, that’s fine too: Péter has been teaching for 18 years, and beginners don’t surprise him.
Gallery
This is what it really looks like
These aren’t stock photos. They were all taken here, on the shore and on the water in Csopak, in real classes with real people.
Price and booking
Here’s what it costs and what’s included
- SUP board and anchor (pick up at the Hotel Csopak reception)
- 80-minute class with Péter Molnár
- Warm-up and paddling technique for beginners
- Groups of max. 10, so everyone gets attention
A class runs with a minimum of 3 people. If there aren’t enough, we’ll let you know in time and rebook you. Same in bad weather: we let you know, we rebook, and you don’t lose your money.
Book your spot
Enter your details and we’ll confirm the date by email.
By booking, you accept the terms and conditions and the privacy notice (in Hungarian).
Want to bring your group? If your group has 6–10 people (hen party, team-building, friends), you can book the whole class. Write to us and we’ll put it together.
FAQ
What everyone asks before booking
Will I fall in the water?
Probably not. The boards are wide, and most exercises are done sitting, kneeling or lying down. And if you do fall in, well, you fell in: Lake Balaton is 24 degrees in summer, and so far everyone has climbed back on laughing. It’s not embarrassing, it’s the story.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes, basic swimming skills are required. We anchor in deeper water, and although an ankle leash keeps you attached to your board, you need to be confident in the water.
I’ve never done SUP or Pilates. Can I come?
You can. We teach you to paddle at the start, and every exercise has a version for every level. Péter has been teaching for 18 years, and beginners aren’t a challenge for him, they’re his favourite.
What if the weather is bad?
In strong wind or rain we don’t go out on the water. We’ll let you know and rebook you for another date free of charge. You don’t lose your money, the class just moves.
What should I bring?
Swimsuit, towel, water, sunscreen. We bring the rest: board, anchor, instructor. Only take your phone on the water in a waterproof case and at your own risk.
Where exactly do we meet?
In Csopak, on the shore at Hotel Csopak Resort & Lake. We carry the boards down together from next to the reception. If you can’t find us, call: we’re either on the shore or on the water, hardly anywhere else.
What’s the minimum age?
From 16, with parental consent under 18. There’s no upper age limit. There’s only one condition: you have to be able to swim.
Booking
Lake Balaton will be here all summer. The free spots won’t.
Each class takes 10 people, and the sunset slots always sell out first. Book your spot, we’ll take care of the rest.