Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is one of the fastest growing sport in the world AND it’s the hottest – actually, wettest – yoga-fitness fusion in every single town with space to float.
We reached out to Dana Mitchell, the founder of SunChaser SUP in CA and the owner of Liquid Bliss in LBI to learn exactly what’s SUP for her and her amazing companies this summer at the Jersey Shore (and beyond).
Dana began her wet and wild adventure almost 10 years ago, when she moved from New Jersey to San Diego. Dana was unsure of my path, so she decided to move across country to figure it out.
Dana began to take some yoga classes at a few local studios around Pacific Beach; she loved everything about being on the mat, as a student and, eventually, as a teacher. Dana did her Yoga Teacher Training at CorePower Yoga in Pacific Beach; the training changed her, pushed her, challenged her, and cracked her heart wide open. She fell in love with teaching, and found her passion.
After a few months of teaching yoga Dana decided to (literally) dive into yoga little deeper and take a local SUP yoga class.
She was hooked.
In Dana’s words, “it takes the right amount of ease and effort to flow through a sequence on a board. It also creates more focus, more concentration of the breath. To allow yourself to be enveloped in nature, the birds become your music, the sun is your guide and the salty air kissing your skin… I was in my happy place.”
Fast forward to 2017, when Dana decided to start her own SUP company with a beautiful intention and dream: “To create an experience on the water for others to enjoy. I wanted to wake up all of their senses, and bring them into this present moment to find Bliss on the water.” She started in CA but saw the need to bring it to us in 2018 – and we are SO glad she did. Why? Because we can swim, flow, play, and TRAIN with Dana this summer!
With all that goodness in mind, let’s dig into why YOU need to get SUP with Dana.
She put this list together for us, and we are so psyched to share it!
- Safety is the #1 reason to take a SUP training. Our training is designed to educate and inform all levels of instructors with water safety and preparation. You will learn boating laws, rules and regulations. Proper water rescue techniques, injury prevention and safety planning. You will gain an understanding of the tides, currents, and wind patterns. As well as learning how to read weather apps to find the current conditions in your area.
- Fine tune your paddle board skills and advance your current technique. Our training covers the fundamentals of paddle boarding. You will learn the paddle techniques to properly instruct your students. It is paddle yoga, so we teach paddle boarding and yoga. We also dive deeper in those skills to offer you an extensive amount of education as a teacher. We cover SUP etiquette, board anatomy and equipment knowledge. We want you to become proficient in all things SUP.
- Enhance your teaching. As SUP Yoga instructors, we do not have the opportunity to give hands on adjustments, so you rely on your verbal cues to assist. This will help sharpen your verbal cures as a teacher, on land and on sea. The water encourages you to let go as a teacher, and be adaptable to change. You will learn how to create a safe yoga sequence on the water with modifications, transitions as well as what not to do on the water. Learn how to adapt your current land practice to the water. You will feel confident to teach to all levels. You will acquire the knowledge of how to start and run a SUP Yoga business.
- The experience. The experience in guiding your students out on the water and getting lost in the bliss. Our floating yoga studio has no walls, no mirrors and no room for the ego. Our only music is the sound of mother nature. You become embraced by her. If you listen you could hear the stories the wind tells, the birds chirping and the water as it laps beneath the board. The sun slowly begins to warm your skin. The smell and taste of the salt air instantly calms the mind. The water will elluminate all of your senses, opening your eyes to the true beauty of mother nature. The sea teaches us to slow down, and take a breath.
Take your practice to the water with Liquid Bliss Yoga Studio.
Our SUP Yoga Teacher Training in Harvey Cedars, May 31 to June 2, will be filled with discovery and adventure + the lessons you need to design your own class on the water. AND you get TWO certifications: A World Paddle Association (WPA) Certification and a SUP Yoga Certification.
Love, Dana and her Bliss Squad!
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