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Summer’s Buyers Guide
A REID INOUYE PUBLICATION
Roatá n
A Coming of Ag e Pa ddle Trip
V4N2 USA $6.99
India’s Eco-Warrior for cleaner water— Shilpika Gautam
A u drey Lee
Journey to Finding Balance
from Chakrasana to Shavasana 2017SUP_Alana_Samata_Spread_Final_17x11.indd 2
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2017SU
Find Your Balance 2017 QUEST ALANA WOMEN’S ALL-AROUND/TOURING/WAVE
PERFORMANCE WAVE 9'6"
WIDEBODY WAVE 9'8"
LONGBOARD 10'8"
ALL-AROUND 11'2" Soft Top
TOURING 12'0"
Put some zen in your paddle session with the all new Quest Alana Series. Built from the DNA of the most sought-after Naish shapes and tailored for women, each board in the line delivers the stability needed to build skills and progress quickly. The EPS closed cell core, glass matrix deck and bottom and thermoplastic shell make these boards both lightweight and durable, while refined shaping ensures lasting performance you’ll never outgrow. Expect more from your SUP. Discover the Naish difference.
Pacific Boardsports LLC NaishStandUpPaddling
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2017SUP_Alana_Samata_Spread_Final_17x11.indd 3
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Photo: frankiebees.com, Riders: Jess Brazil, Ashley Baxter
2/6/17 4:37 PM
2017 BOARD LINEUP Whether you surf, practice yoga, fish, cruise or race we’ve got you covered. Visit us at yoloboard.com to learn more about our exciting 2017 lineup.
Celebrating10 years of living the yolo lifestyle. Thanks to our tribe for the endless support. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, MAKE IT COUNT.
(844) YOLO-BOARD | YOLOBOARD.COM
Every Step Matters
WHAT DOES YOUR SOUL SEEK?
Rejuvenation? Adventure? Balance? We’ve got a retreat/camp for that.
Rejuvenation Retreat
Rejuvenation Retreat May 25 – 29, 2017 Oahu Hawaii Samata Adventure Camp
Shantisi Santuary
Samata Adventure Camp July 1 - 5, 2018 Oahu Hawaii
Shantisi Sanctuary SUP Yoga Retreat September 1 – 5, 2017 Oahu Hawaii
Don’t wait—contact Samata Mag for more information:
samatamag.com
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info@samatamag.com
Shae Foudy
Photos: Mike Muir & Taylor Rambo
Enjoying life on a RP-12’6” Raceboard.
NUGG
9’2” x 31”
NUGG TURBO RIVIERA ORIGINAL 9’2” x 31”
10’6” x 32” 11’6” x 33”
SELECT
10’6” x 32” 11’6” x 33”
CONVOY
RON HOUSE
10’6” x 32” COASTAL CRUISER 11’6” x 33” 12’6” X 30”
Support your local SUP shop!
VOYAGER
11’6” x 30” 12’6” x 32”
VOYAGER FISH ON CLASSIC 12’6” X 34”
12’6” X 32”
INFLATABLE 11’0” X 34” 12’6” X 32”
LIFE IS BETTER ON THE WATER.® @rivierapaddlesurf /rivierapaddlesurf rivierapaddlesurf.com
Jade Howson & Alex Higginson Along shore on their RP-12’6” Raceboards.
RP-12’6” RACEBOARD 12’6” X 22” 12’6” X 24” 12’6” X 26” 12’6” X 28”
RP-14’ RACEBOARD 14’0” X 23” 14’0” X 25” 14’0” X 27”
RP-14’ DOWNWINDER 14’0” X 26”
RP-12’ PRONE
12’0” X 20.25”
WHIRLING DERVISH 7’6” x 26” 8’0” x 28” 8’6” x 30.5”
THE BOSS 9’0” x 29” 10’0” x 31”
EL TIGRE 7’2” x 25” 7’8” x 27” 8’2” x 28” 8’8” x 29” 9’8” x 31”
Find a Riviera dealer near you at: www.rivierapaddlesurf.com/pages/dealer-locator
EL TIGRE WIDE 7’2” x 28” 7’8” x 30” 8’2” x 31” 8’8” x 32” 9’8” x 33”
opening
Diamond Harbor, West Bengal
Diamond Harbour is in the southern suburbs of Kolkata, on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River quite near where the river meets the Bay of Bengal. Earlier known as Hajipur, this charming place was named Diamond Harbour by the British although currently there are no piers or jetties at this location, except for the ruins of a fort. It used to be considered a safe resting spot for oceangoing ships and offered a spectacular view of the river. The Ganges had everything from white water, to crazy polluted water, to this beautiful glassy water — and as always, it was the fishermen who were the constant presence, guides and friends on the river. photo: Kumaran Mahalingam
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P U B L I S H E R
Reid Inouye E D I T O R
Lucy Lucille C O P Y
E D I T O R
Paul Ensyde D E S I G N
First In Flight
H E A L T H
A N D
F I T N E S S
A D V I S O R S
Scott Estrada, Anna Levesque, Audrey Lee PH.D. S T A F F
P H O T O G R A P H E R S
Eric Haka, Paul Ensyde C O N T R I B U T I N G
W R I T E R S
Hannah deFirmian, Holly Stäheli, Audrey Lee PH.D. C O N T R I B U T I N G
P H O T O G R A P H E R S
Tai Kerbs @photaigraphy.com, Jenna Noelle Photography, Chris deFirmian, Michael Inouye, WaterAid India, Kumaran Mahalingam, Pascal Dubois, Nirwin Productions, Upslope Productions
Printed in Hong Kong ISSN 2372-2282 Samata Mag A Reid Inouye Publication PO Box 23083 Honolulu HI 96823 info@samatamag.com ©2017
facebook.com/SamataSUPMag @Samata_Magazine pinterest.com/samatamag instagram.com/samatamag instagram.com/campsamata samatamag.tumblr.com
THE MOST TRUSTED DRY BAGS IN THE WORLD
Immerse yourself in your sport. Keep your gear dry. Sea to Summit has waterproof storage solutions for wherever you paddle. Find out more about Sea to Summit’s full line of dry bags and SUP accessories at seatosummit.com
Photos: Michael Inouye
editor’snote
Water safety
Water safety is always a thread of concern when you are out paddling, or at least it should be. I see countless people paddling out with neither a leash or PFD or quite often see their PFD is carefully bungeed to their board. In May, Samata Magazine put held their Rejuvenation Retreat on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. West Marine was our official PFD sponsor, and while each woman had some paddle knowledge regardless of her skill level, we still took the time to do a basic SUP 101 class. The class consisted of correct paddle technique, how to tie a leash loop, how to correctly wear a leash, knowing what style of leash does what, paddle turns, getting on your board after you’ve fallen off
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(and how to do it properly in the wind) and of course proper PFD usage. Not only did they learn about proper PFD usage but learned how to deploy it with the cartridge, how to do it manually and even how to reassemble it correctly. It may seem overkill, but safety should never be overlooked. Carla Vigil from California admitted, “I have had a PFD for six years but never really knew how to use it. I feel confident going out on the water now knowing I can deploy it and know how it works.” “You know, I’m not a small woman and PFD’s kinda scared me because I wasn’t sure how it worked and if would it support me but I really appreciate learning how
to use them. It gave me the knowledge what to expect and it wasn’t as scary as I thought. It let me know I can handle it without panicking.” shared Kelly McCoy. Everyone should know exactly how their PFD works and what type of PFD would best suit them. If you are unsure you can always go to your local West Marine retailer and they will be happy to assist you with the proper PFD and fit. Summer is upon, protect the ones you love—educate yourself and them before getting on the water. Paddle safely, my friends! Lucy
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contents
V4N2 12 OPENING SHOT 16 EDITOR’S NOTE 20 HOW TO Scott Estrada: A Preventative Approach Anna Levesque: Maintain the Alignment of Your Spine Audrey Lee: Changes for Life—Mindful Eating
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30 JOURNEY TO FINDING BALANCE Audrey Lee
38 ROATÁN A Coming of Age Paddle Trip
44 MOTHER NATURES HEALING TOUCH A Deeper Connection
56 SUP THE GANGES India’s Eco-Warrior For Cleaner Water —Shilpika Gautam
ON THE COVER:
Shilpika Gautam gave up her job as an investment banker to highlight the beauty and man-made pollution affecting India’s mightiest river, the Ganges. Her expedition also marked a world record for the longest continuous stand-up paddleboard distance by a female. Her vision and mission of this journey— to highlight the dichotomy of life on the Ganges - it’s life giving beauty, marred by man-made pollution. Photo: Upslope Productions
ON THIS PAGE:
Samata’s Rejuvenation Retreat, Oahu, Hawaii. Eight women discovering a place to restore their souls while making connections on the water and learned to let go. Here they are learning the drill of how to correctly get back on your board in windy conditions. Photo: Michael Inouye 18 Samata
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BY SCOT T ESTRADA
A Preventative Approach AS A HEALTH COACH ADVOCATING FOR WELLNESS, I’ve seen many things shift when it comes to disease, and particularly so with the rise in breast cancer. In the beginning it wasn’t uncommon for someone to approach me how to best fight cancer, it roughly occurred about once a month. Sadly, it has now become almost a daily occurrence, which leads me to re-address this issue again. The number of women I see dealing with this very difficult issue increasing tenfold in just my small circle, and I doubt anyone reading this has not been affected on some level by its growth over the last decade or so. The losses have been truly heart wrenching, but there are amazing stories of survival too, of strong spirits beating the odds with incredible courage and going forward to thrive and inspire. As we witnessed the countless fundraising efforts to find a cure, I began to ask questions about the cause and what might be contributing to the widespread growth of this disease, which earns a new diagnosis every 23 seconds worldwide. I did this in the hopes of developing a better understanding and spurring a new conversation about accountability. A deeper look into hormone balance has revealed interesting information. We are in the middle of an estrogenic dominance epidemic. What’s that, you ask? It means the hormone estrogen has seen a big rise over the years in both men and women, a rise that wreaks havoc in our bodies, contributing to an uptick in many disease states and unwanted symptoms. Just about all of the women I’ve coached who came with a breast cancer diagnosis have shown highly elevated estrogen levels. Prior to the diagnosis, this increase manifested as weight gain, depression/anxiety, sleep disorders, inflammation and brain fog, just to name a few common signs. Speaking with natural doctors in my regional area alone, I’ve learned that regularly tested longevity markers and hormone panels confirmed the same, with 80 to 90% of their patients showing elevated estrogen and other hormones out of optimal range, leading to decreased performance across the board. This begs the question, where is the rise coming from?
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Over the last 50 years, we have seen over 80,000 chemicals introduced into our air, water, food and soil, and ultimately, into us. Our bodies do an amazing job of dealing with this load but no one knows the long-term effects of this exposure. A large group of chemicals coming from the petroleum circle, such as the prevalence of plastics in our lives, is known as xeno-estrogens. They have the insidious ability to mimic estrogens in our bodies and contribute to the rise. Consider plastic bottled waters or food containers and wrappers — something we rarely give a second thought about — and the cumulative effect of these microscopic molecules loading into us over time. Other xeno-estrogenic compounds show up in the feed and fertilizers/chemicals we use in livestock production and big agro-business farms. The deeper we look, the bigger the sourcing seems to be. Estrogenic compounds also show up from heavy metal and fungal sources that are all by-products of modern life. Then there is the
IT’S YOUR WATERLIFE.
WE OUTFIT IT.
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samatatip DIET
BY SCOT T ESTRADA
beauty industry and its products filled with parabens, hydrocarbons, aluminum, phthalates and hundreds of others chemicals adding to the overall load in women’s bodies. Get ten, twenty, thirty or more years of these things working through the organ systems and is it really a stretch to think there might be a connection on some level? So why is no one talking about these points at fundraising efforts? Why are we not connecting the dots on a larger scale and talking about increasing the odds of prevention by limiting exposure? Why are we choosing to support products with a pink label that contain elements that show up in tumor biopsies? Why are we not creating a protocol for our young girls to follow and creating awareness about preventing disease and promoting breast health? Is all this too progressive? Does it step on too many toes? These are the questions I believe we have to ask if we want to slow down the crazy growth of this disease. We have to become our own best doctors. We have to vote with our dollars to support companies that steer clear of using compounds that contribute to the xeno-estrogenic load. We have to progressively become the cure by stacking the odds in our favor and living a lifestyle of prevention to teach our youth where true value is hidden. The growth of women in SUP is driven by the most passionate, bright and motivated women I’ve ever known. I can’t think of a better lot of people to help lead the charge into progressive prevention, setting a high value on healthy living through awareness
for generations to follow. Our future depends on strong female leadership carving out new perspectives on challenging issues — women who are not afraid to take the road less traveled. In the meantime here is a progressive “To Do List” for reducing risk and exposure to the estrogenic load. 1. GET OFF ALL PLASTICS. Take them out of your food and water supply to start. No bottled water (our oceans will love you), and stay ahead of the curve with no BPAfree bottles either. It’s only a matter of time before media and manufactures begin to pick this up. No plastic food containers and for sure no microwaving in them, which releases more of these toxic compounds into food. Switch to glass containers, stainless steel or ceramic products to store foods and liquids. 2. Take an inventory of all personal care products for heavy metals, petroleum byproducts and synthetic compounds. Skin, hair and body care are one of the biggest contributors of xeno-estrogens. Remember, over 80,000 chemicals are in our environment with a few hundred introduced every year — and only a handful have been banned. Look for this list of ingredients to avoid your personal care items. • Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea (formaldehyde-releasing preservatives) • Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben • Petrolatum • Propylene Glycol • PVP/VA Copolymer
SCOTT ESTRADA HAS MORE THAN 22 YEARS IN THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FIELD. HE IS A FUNCTIONAL TRAINING SPECIALIST AND THE OWNER OF RISESUP, WHICH ADVOCATES A PREVENTATIVE APPROACH TO DISEASE AND IMBALANCE. FOR INFO ON THIS OR ANY HEALTH/NUTRITION TOPIC CONTACT SCOTT AT SCOTT@RISESUP.COM OR IG SCOTT_ESTRADA
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• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate • Stearalkonium Chloride • Synthetic Colors (FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6.) • Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance) • PEG compounds • Triethanolamine • Triclosan Consider the chemical use in all 3. animals raised for food, including all the herbicides/pesticides used on their feed and heavy metals from antibiotics. Both get into their systems, as do all the chemicals they are exposed to in the time they live at commercial farms from the surrounding environment, including the water they drink. Spending the extra dollars on organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised animals will lessen your exposure and deliver better quality nutrition to you. Look at it this way — it will certainly be less than the cost of disease. 4. Growing your own garden or getting produce from local farmers’ markets and growers that don’t use chemicals on their plants and soil is a wise choice to limit exposure, increase nutrients and maybe get your hands in the soil as well. 5. Buy a good water filter and create your own drinking water for pennies on the dollar or find a natural spring in your area. Check www.findaspring.com. Both options are simple ways to reduce your risk of estrogenic compounds.
SONNI HONSCHEID
samatatip
FIT TIP
BY ANNA LEVESQUE
Hips and Hamstrings: Maintain the Alignment of Your Spine
If I could choose only one pose to give paddlers for their hips, low back and hamstrings it would be this pose. It’s a variation on the hand-to-big-toe pose, and it stretches the hamstring, the hip flexors, the IT band, the obliques and the quadratus lumborum. Because it’s performed lying on your back, it maintains the alignment of your spine and is relaxing and rejuvenative. TIP: Using a strap is significant for reaping the benefits of this pose. Check your ego at the door EVEN if you can reach your big toe with your hand. Using a strap allows your shoulders to draw back and down your spine, adding a stretch through this area. It also allows you to maintain a slight anterior tilt in the pelvis that is essential for moving our bodies toward optimal alignment. Lastly, using a strap makes it possible to relax into the pose so that we can focus on targeting the muscles we want to release from standing on our boards
Start lying on your back with your legs extended and your strap within arms reach. Extend the right leg toward the sky and place your strap around the ball of your right foot. TIP: Hold your straps at the very end so that there is a lot of length. I like to cross the strap so that it makes an X in front of my shin. Press the ball of the right foot solidly into the strap and take your shoulder blades back and down your back. Next, take your sitz bones back and apart (think—sticking your butt out to bootie dance) so that your tailbone presses into the mat. This will create a slight curve in your low back, and it will take your leg slightly away from your chest bringing a deeper stretch to the hamstring. Hold for five deep and relaxed breaths in and out through the nose.
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Next, take both ends of the straps (still long) in your right hand— slowly and mindfully taking your right leg out to the right. As soon as you feel your left hip start to rise off the floor—stop. Your left hip and leg should stay connected to the floor underneath you. You don’t want to roll over to the right. The point of this shape is to feel a stretch across the front of your left thigh, not bring your right foot to the ground. In fact, your right foot should not touch the ground.
Take your leg back up to center and take the ends of your straps in each hand. Take your right leg across the midline about 5 or 10 degrees. Keep taking your sitz bones back and apart and pressing the ball of your right foot into the strap actively. Keep a slight bend in your right knee. You’ll feel a stretch in your IT band and the outside of your right hip. Hold for five deep and easy breaths in and out through the nose.
ANNA IS THE AUTHOR OF YOGA FOR PADDLING. SHE IS AN ACA SUP INSTRUCTOR TRAINER, AN RYT 500 WITH YOGA ALLIANCE AND FOUNDER OF MIND BODY PADDLE. ANNA HAS BEEN PADDLING AND PRACTICING YOGA FOR OVER 20 YEARS. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT MINDBODYPADDLE.COM
The last piece of this excellent stretch is to take the right leg all the way across the body to the left and into a reclined twist. Keep the leg extended with a slight bend in the knee, and keep pressing the ball of your right foot solidly into the strap. This provides a nice stretch for the obliques and the quadratus lumborum. Create a nice stretch through the right pectorals and shoulder when the right arm is extended out from the shoulder or bent in cactus arms. Hold for five deep and relaxed breaths in and out through the nose. Enjoy the many benefits of this pose for your hips, low back, hamstrings and overall rejuvenation. Your SUPing body will thank you!
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DETOX
BY AUDRE Y LEE, PH.D.
Changes For Life— Mindful Eating
AUDREY IS A PERFORMANCE COACH, SPORT NUTRITION COACH, GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR, SUP YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND 200 HOUR CERTIFIED YA YOGA INSTRUCTOR. SHE LIVES IN PARK CITY, UTAH AND LOVES THE OUTDOORS. HER PASSION IS INTEGRATING THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION INTO HER COACHING TO HELP PEOPLE FIND BALANCE AND REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT AUDREY AT INFO@ POWERTOSHRED.COM
If you are serious about detoxing—detox for life by replacing inflammatory foods with anti-inflammatory ones. Inflammation is a physiological process. It is activated by our immune system when there is injury, infection, cellular damage, or toxins. Inflammation is the first step in healing unless it becomes chronic. ADD/ADHD, cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, migraines, obesity, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, and thyroid issues are all rooted in inflammation.
or partially hydrogenated oil on the food label, put it back and keep looking. Instead of commercially prepared cakes, cookies, crackers, fries, muffins, pastries, etc., choose homemade from a local bakery or make your own. Baked fries and baked sweet potato fries are super easy, healthy, and yum!
Inflammatory foods to be aware of: - Wheat products - Deep fried foods - Dairy products - Meat including luncheon meat - Soda and sugary drinks - Most refined vegetable oils - Commercial baked goods - Margarine and spreads with trans fats Wheat and grains processed into flour produce advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs form when fat or protein combines with sugar in the bloodstream. You can also find AGEs in food, created from cooking at high temperatures (i.e., frying or grilling). Choose whole grains like rice and quinoa. Eat less fried food. Steam or bake your food instead. Dairy is the second most inflammatory food after wheat. The sugar and protein in dairy cause the inflammatory response. People who are lactose intolerant cannot break down lactose. Casein is a protein found in milk. Its molecular structure is similar to gluten. Fifty percent of the people who are gluten intolerant are also casein intolerant. The primary nutrient we get from dairy is calcium. It is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Choose non-dairy sources of calcium 26 Samata
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like almond milk, almonds, artichokes, asparagus, avocado, bok choy, brazil nuts, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, celery, collards, coconut meat, dandelion greens, fennel, gooseberries, green beans, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mulberries, okra, onions, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, spinach, swiss chard, and turnip greens. Meats including luncheon meats are inflammatory because they produce endotoxins (bacterial toxins). Decrease meat consumption. If you do eat meat, treat yourself to organic, grass-fed, free-range, and wild caught meat, poultry, or fish. Add more legumes, quinoa, amaranth, chia seeds, or pumpkin seeds to your meals and snacks for plant-based protein. Sucrose and fructose in soda and other sugary drinks elevate blood sugar. The pancreas then releases insulin. Insulin is inflammatory. Instead of soda or sugary drinks, drink water, natural vitamin waters (water with fruits, vegetables or herbs), and herbal teas. Oils processed from seeds (i.e., canola, corn, safflower, or soy beans) contain significant amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which in excess lead to health risks. Omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs are essential fatty acids—this means you have to get them from food. The body uses omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs to make eicosanoids. These are signaling molecules for cellular inflammation, immunity, and messaging. Omega-6 is pro-inflammatory while omega-3 is anti-inflammatory. Aim to eat more omega-3 (i.e., olive and coconut oil, chia and flax seeds) and less omega-6. Commercial baked goods, along with margarine and spreads contain trans fats or trans fatty acids. If you see hydrogenated
Detox for life by eating real food that not processed. Balance your meals and snacks with whole grains, vegetables/fruit, lean protein, and healthy fat. More on foods that fight inflammation next time.
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samatatip FIX
Solarez Quick Repair Accidents happen—dings come in all shapes and sizes. Solarez provides you with this simple and easy way to get back out on the water for fun and adventure should you damage your board. Always keep a Solarez Ding Repair Kit around your garage because no one can predict unfortunate mishaps to your board.
In this HOW TO tip we will show you how to repair a board in under an hour should something fall on and damage your board. Always remember—that if the damage happened while out on the water let it air and completely dry out.
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THE KIT COMES WITH: • ZEROVOC styrofoam-safe UV-Cure fiberfil putty • WAHOO 2-Part Epoxy Resin • Solarez FLEX wetsuit and deck pad repair • Fiberglass cloth and rope • Stainless steel scissors • Applicators • Sandpaper • Eco-friendly clean up solvent • Masking tape and razor blade
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Tape the area around the sanded portion where you are applying the resin, and it is cleaned and ready for step number four.
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Flatten the resin before it dries. If you are in the sun, the UV cure will set off immediately. Find a shaded area for easier and cleaner results. It’ll make your sanding time quick. Once you get your resin to sit on you deck puncture, you can let it sit in the sun.
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Because this board has punctured fiberglass, and this is a quick fix, and you can get in the water within an hour—a small strip of fiberglass rope is used to bond the split opened puncture.
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Within 15 minutes depending on your location (this is a Hawaii region repair) you can sand the very brittle excess resin. The kit comes with sand paper however, a disc sander was on hand along with 120 grit and 220 wet sand paper to speed the process for the impatient paddler.
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Sand the area where you are applying Solarez to see the damage. Remember this is a quick solution and not a cosmetic answer to your repair, so time is of the essence. Make sure your board is made with epoxy foam.
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Next, take the big blue tube of Solarez and apply the resin to the puncture and assure the fiber glass rope is applied and pressed into the designated area.
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As we said, this is not a cosmetic ding repair but a Solarez Ding Repair fix which allowed for us to get in the water within an hour. Board sealed and ready to paddle. Thanks to Solarez.com
BRITTANY PARKER FOR HEALTHY SKOOP photo credit: heather jackson
MY J O URN E Y TO F IN DIN G
B Y
A U D R E Y
L E E ,
P H D
Being out in nature plays a vital role in my personal life and career. I am a performance coach, sport nutrition coach, yoga and group exercise instructor. My mission is to inspire people to be their best and reach their highest potential. I strive to lead by example. My lifestyle and work have led me on an incredible journey of self-discovery through meditation, yoga, training, and the outdoors. I’ve learned that life is energy and energy is life. We are energy—constantly giving and receiving energy. Energy can be positive or negative, and we can consciously choose the type of energy we give and receive. We also have a finite amount of energy. Recharging on a regular basis is essential. I have deliberately decided to fill myself with positive energy, playing
Photo: Tai Kerbs
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“Being out in nature plays a vital role in my personal life and my career.”
outdoors whenever possible to renew. My deepest desire was/is to be a professional athlete. I was born to move—drawn to dance, gymnastics, and swimming when I was six. I would get lost in the rhythm of the movement, letting my body flow, creating and perfecting routines. I would lose myself in water, playing, and gliding smoothly. Adolescence was challenging. There was always the pressure to conform, to be a particular body shape and size. Dance and gymnastics coaches’ negative comments made me stress about my appearance. I progressed from gymnastics classes to training with the team. What should have been joy and excitement was fear and stress. The coach refused to spot me because I was too heavy. I was already scared and knowing he would not be there for me made me more afraid. I remember the fear of being so alone and helpless. I remember the pain, smashing my head on the ground so hard. Preoccupied with my weight and dissatisfied with my body, I tried to starve myself. The coach did not explain how I was supposed to lose weight. For a 10-year-old it seemed logical to stop eating. I would go for long periods without food but then would binge because I was starving. I trained and over-trained to burn excess calories. I lost connection with my body, learning to override and ignore natural signs of hunger, thirst, fatigue, and soreness. I became consumed with attaining an ideal body weight. Obsessively striving for perfection, I thought that once I reached it, everything would be good. Training and food became my escape from all the noise of parents, family, and society telling me to be something other than myself. It also became my obsession. It is interesting that I chose the fitness, health, nutrition, and wellness industry for my profession. Deep down I believed there had to be something better. I did tons of cardio and ate lots of carbs, especially processed carbs like sugary breakfast cereals, cookies, and ice cream. A friend got me into weight training. I learned as much as I could about cooking, eating real food, and balancing my meals. My body started to change. I felt good and was happy. Although I couldn’t be a professional athlete, I could learn to train like one. I got my Ph.D. in exercise sport science and a Masters degree in nutrition. Athletic performance is a science, and I love it! The three top factors I focus on for best performance are balanced training (endurance, strength, flexibility, coordination, and power), balanced fueling (carbohydrates, protein, and fat), and sports psychology or a balanced belief system. Through meditation and yoga, I have learned to connect with my breath and be present, aware. I let go of thoughts, expectations, and judgment and find quiet inside. When I tap into moments of stillness, it allows me to make better decisions. As part of my yoga practice, I honor my body and listen to my body. On recovery days I flow through deep stretches to open and lengthen my body. On training days I build heat, flowing with intensity. When I am present and aware, I am in tune with what I am feeling, what my energy level is like, and how best to use my precious energy. I strive to be aware of my breath, beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions. Samata 33
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I find stillness as I climb mountains, ski fluffy light powder snow, or gracefully glide on water.�
Being out in nature is my therapy. This is where I take my yoga practice off the mat and out into the world. I find stillness as I climb mountains, ski fluff y light powder snow, or gracefully glide on water. Being in nature centers me and grounds me. I relax and breathe more deeply. I slow down, connecting with my body and my beautiful surroundings. I am present. I soak in the experience. Nature opens me to new perspectives and possibilities, filling me with incredibly positive energy. I am happy. Whatever issues I am dealing with become small. I love the connection I feel with my body, mind, and nature while skiing. It is amazingly versatile. Train endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. The conditions are constantly changing with the snow and weather. I can ski groomers, powder snow, in the trees, or steep terrain. I can hike out of bounds or in the sidecountry, and I can play in the park. I love it all, going on adventures, exploring the mountain in the fog, wind, and stormy, cold days along with the warm, sunny bluebird days. I savor every chance I get to ski because the season is short, about 150 days from December to mid-April. When the ski season is over, you could say I am typically lost. Nothing else awakens that passion and fire inside of me to jump out of bed every morning to play on the mountain and work on skills. This past summer I was transformed. I fell in love with SUP endurance training and racing. I jumped out of bed every morning to play on the water and work on skills. It got me back to my roots, my childhood as a water baby. I learned to swim at the YMCA. Took lessons
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“There is something unique and truly magical about being connected with nature.�
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as a polliwog all the way up to shark, then joined the swim team, and became a lifeguard and coach. SUP got me back to my love of playing in and around water. My extensive background in dance and gymnastics shines when I am on my stand-up paddleboard. I am back to my love of creating routines and flowing through movement. There is a heightened awareness necessary to be able to balance on my board. I am humbled at how some of the simplest moves on the floor are challenging, but that is all part of the fun. It is my goal to be able to do everything I can on the dry land on a SUP. There is something unique and truly magical about being connected with nature. For me, it is the connection to my breath and water. I love to ski on frozen water and SUP on moving water. We, humans, are water beings. Our muscles are about 60% water, and our brains are about 70% water. I believe that when we are on, in, and around water, we improve our health and well being. Being present and connected with our breath and water connects us with our natural rhythm and flow inside us. Connecting with our breath and water is a practice in awareness. Instead of just going through the motions – breathe, connect, and flow. With awareness, mindful movement, I can feel my energy and make it positive, make it awesome. When I coach my clients and athletes, I build this into their personalized training program. Be present to what you are feeling in your body. Honor and respect your body. Take care of yourself. Eat real food. Hydrate regularly. Balance your training. Notice your energy levels. Be aware so you can choose the best.
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Roatรกn A
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Quinceanera attire comes complete with high-heeled shoes and a tiara. I felt so fortunate welcomed by the community that made this such a wonderful celebration!
The air in Roatán is hot and thick; you notice it as soon as you get off the plane. Luckily there is also a refreshing breeze coming from the ocean that helps to keep you cool. Most people when they arrive head straight to the West End of the island, with its numerous restaurants, resorts, and beachside bars. My path was different. Squeezed into a crowded van, we headed to Coxen Hole—the largest settlement, to a house beside Clinica Humanitaria de Roatán, the free clinic where my mom goes to work each year. This would be our home for the next week. Situated off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, Roatán is 36 miles long and 5 miles wide. The center of the island is covered with lush green jungle, surrounded by coral reefs and warm tropical ocean. There is a blend of Black and Hispanic people in the isle who speak English, Spanish and an Island dialect. Sounds of rooster, dogs, loud motorcycles, trucks with honking horns and radios are the lively sounds that greet you when you enter into town. Outside of town the only sound to be heard is the wind in the palm trees, children playing, and birds squawking and singing. It is a welcome change from the bustling sounds of town. There are plenty of smells that you can’t ignore in—like diesel exhaust. Burning wood from cooking fires linger pleasantly in the air away from town. The comparisons between the two are noticeable. I was two years old when I first visited Roatán. When my Mom’s friends heard that I would be turning fifteen on this trip, they insisted on arranging my Quinceanera, a Latin American tradition that celebrates a girl becoming a young woman. I woke up to a day filled with music, fancy dresses, dancing, prayers and speeches, and a cake of immense proportions with my name on it! To have a such a wonderful celebration in my honor was evidence of the generous, thoughtful and welcoming nature of the people who live in Roatán. The next day it was off to work for my mom and her group while I was free to explore the island.
PHOTOS BY CH RIS DEFIRM IAN
STO RY BY HANNAH DEFIRM IAN
Hannah finds herself in the crystal clear waters near Upachaya Lodge—the perfect place to savor whether paddling or snorkeling.
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“The mangroves remove pollutants, improve water quality and provide habitat for juvenile fish. I didn’t fully understand the relationship until I experienced it with my own eyes.”
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The long wooden pathway that leads from the Upachaya Lodge to the bay traverses through three species of mangrove trees, some over one hundred years old. This is a good place for insect repellant.
Staying out of the water this beautiful is near impossible in Roatán. Here I am cooling off after another snorkel and paddle session near the Sandy Bay Dive Resort.
I love to paddle and explore new places. One of the cool things about SUP is that it can take you to places that you might otherwise not reach. Mangrove forests surround much of Roatán. A SUP is a great vehicle for exploration. The waterways winding through the Mangroves are quiet and hot. Most of the water is murky, sometimes smelly. Tangled Mangrove roots twist down into the water, while the branches weave together to make a canopy over your head. You will most likely spot fish, egrets, and crabs. I was was lucky enough to spot a young boa constrictor coiled up in a tree. Some official looking people in a canoe paddled by and pointed it out—quite spectacular to have seen one with my own eyes. After paddling through the mangroves, I couldn’t wait to go swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear, refreshing salt water. I paddled and snorkeled at several different places while on Roatán, but the one I enjoyed the most was the reef near the Upachaya Lodge. We headed off the beaten path and one bumpy taxi ride down a dirt road later we were rewarded with pristine beauty. We walked a wooden planked path to the dock where we launched our boards into the bay. The reef outside Upachaya is healthy and gorgeous. The ocean is a clean, bright turquoise over coral reef that is to so many colourful fish. While snorkeling the reef, I couldn’t help but notice how much healthier the reef looked in a bay surrounded by mangrove forests compared to the coral reefs surrounded by sandy bays and development. I had studied the beneficial effects that mangroves provide for the coral reefs. The Mangroves remove pollutants, improve water quality, and provide a habitat for juvenile fish. I didn’t fully understand the relationship until I experienced it with Samata 41
Weaving through channels of Mangrove give me a thrill of anticipation and keeps my eyes sharp for spotting aquatic life as I paddle.
The lovely “Damas y Chambalenes” (maids of honor and escorts) of my court during my Quinceanera celebration. One of the most important elements of a Quinceanera is the Corte de Honor. I felt so special and honored!
My mom, whom I got a chance to work side by side with and experience what her work is like at the Clinica Humanitaria de Roatán.
“Travel changes you. You become more confident, more grateful and return home fuller than when you left.”
my own eyes. I didn’t eat out much on while I was there. Meals were often family style with the medical staff; cooked with love by amazing and talented volunteers. My favorite meal was shrimp pasta. Fresh fruit and fried platano was a staple at every meal. You don’t drink the tap water on the island; you have to drink bottled water. I even drank soda, which was kind of a treat because Mom seldom allows it at home. For dessert (served after every meal) we had ice cream and pieces of my giant Quinceanera cake. The few times that I had lunch out, I enjoyed freshly grilled shrimp tacos. The grilled veggie pizza at Anthony’s Key Resort was by far my favorite. By the way, Anthony’s Key Resort has a couple SUP’s available for guests to use at no charge and a very cool marine research center. It’s a good idea to bring insect repellant; there are plenty of bugs there. I used an all-natural chemical free bug repellent, but it didn’t work for me. I just got eaten up. I would suggest bringing one with chemicals in it. A little sun goes a long way, so make sure to bring sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. I also like to wear a UV protecting rash guard while I’m paddling. I don’t like using dive fins so I didn’t bring any but a mask and snorkel are essential. I read a lot but only brought two books with me, and I wish that I had brought more. Reading while swinging in the hammock is a relaxing way to end the day. For me, an iPod and earbuds are also ideal for when you want time alone to relax and think about your day. Travel changes you. You become more confident, more grateful, and return home fuller than when you left. It is hard not to fall in love with paddling SUP’s over Roatán’s crystal clear oceans with the magnificent corals below the surface. I feel fortunate to have met the wonderful and generous people who live on this tiny island in Honduras and to have experienced it’s natural beauty.
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Mother Natures A
D E
E P
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BY HOLLY STÄH E LI
Where stillness resides, and the connection is deep on Shadow Mountain Lake.
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PHOTOS BY J E N NA NOE LLE PHOTOG RAPHY
Healing Touch
C
I was born in Kalispell, Montana a small town sitting at the edge of the nature giant that is Glacier National Park. I spent most of my childhood, barefoot, exploring the forest that began at the edge of my backyard, chasing fresh powder lines on Big Mountain, swimming in crisp, mountain lakes and hiking trails. Most only dream of this but I lived it. For me this was life, this was normal, this was safe. As a little girl, I would pretend that the forest was my home, the trees were my protectors, and anytime I felt sad or alone I would escape into the undergrowth to find a cozy spot to curl up in and cry, curse my older siblings or simply contemplate life. Admittedly a fairly peculiar thing for a child to do, but being the youngest of seven children sometimes the aloneness that came with being outside was precisely what the doctor had ordered. Probably due to
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Holly, her husband Pascal and their pup Luna.
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this fact I’ve always been a true believer in our mother nature—a believer that nature is here to teach us to find the actual intricacies of our souls. I’m a believer that nature can heal even the most broken and burned, a believer that almost everything we will face in our modern, industrialized lives can be broken down, simplified and explained through even the smallest encounters with nature. So, as you can probably imagine nature and the outdoors, in particular, have almost always been at the root of everything that has motivated me in life. One of the largest motivating factors in my decision to attend the University of Oregon was the fact that it was a registered arboretum with over 3,000 different species of trees growing within its limits. Anytime the sun decided to show its face you could find me somewhere on campus or along the Willamette River studying or listening to music. I graduated with a bachelor of science in Environmental Studies just because it allowed me to spend my last year and a half of university predominately outdoors learning to identify, protect, preserve and responsibly interact with the world around me. I gravitate towards outdoor music festivals and enjoy all things that require me to be outside. I took up rock climbing when I was 20 just so that I could have a reason to spend even more of my time submerged in nature with people that too loved to be there. I decided to do my 200-hour yoga teacher training in India just as an excuse to explore an entirely different kind of nature in a whole different part of the world. I said “I Do” to my soul mate on top of a mountain with the continental divide and all our loved ones as our witness, because there is no more sacred place to me on this planet than the love and peace that
comes with being completely encompassed by the mountains and nature as a whole. When people who know me, hear that it took me until I was 25 to get myself on a SUP board they’re even more shocked than I was. But I’m probably getting a little ahead of myself. My journey to the SUP board all began way back with my first yoga class when I was eighteen years old. It was my freshman year of college, and I needed something “fun” to add to my class schedule—yoga was something which I was familiar. Having a background in dance, gymnastics and having been a runner all through high school, “stretching” seemed like a good compliment to my already active outdoors lifestyle. To my surprise I enjoyed the class a lot—it was Ashtanga. Ashtanga is an invigorating way to start my day, taught me a lot about breath work in yoga and life. It helped stave off the notorious freshman fifteen I was ultimately trying to avoid. Once the class ended along with my first term of college, I kept in touch with yoga. Randomly I would find my way into a class during the week or enjoy a few poses in my dorm room after a particularly crazy weekend. It wouldn’t be until after I was sexually assaulted towards the end of that same year that I would understand the power and influence that yoga could have in my life. Riddled with depression and anxiety my once active and bright lifestyle became one of self-destruction and pain. I stopped doing the things I loved. All things outdoors ceased to be a part of my daily life. Yoga, too, took to the back burner. Nothing that had once been able to bring me peace seemed to be able to snap me out of this spiral of despair. It wasn’t until after a particularly vivid panic attack that I took to my yoga mat as a last stab at some sort of sanity
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No finer place for a wedding then in Mother Nature with all Her splendor. Granby Ranch, Colorado
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and peace. I probably spent two hours on that mat, in the complete darkness of my bedroom, naked because the very feeling of clothing was suffocating. From the moment I stepped onto the mat, to the moment that I collapsed in savasana I cried. I cried giant, enormous tears of every imaginable feeling possible—every fiber of my being was shaking from the impenetrable anxiety. It was as if everything that had happened over the past year and everything that had ever happened across the span of my life was surfacing, pouring out of me like a faucet. After what felt like an eternity of lying there, my mat still wet, my face tight from the tears, and for the first time in almost a year—I felt safe. Safe like I once felt when I was a little girl, barefoot in the forest behind my house playing underneath the boughs of evergreens. Safe, like the feeling of diving deep into crisp mountain water or standing at the top of a peak soaking in the kind of view that takes your breath away. I was for the first time, in a long time physically, mentally, and emotionally safe. I’m not going to proclaim that I was immediately “fixed” or that life magically got easier after this monumental experience on my mat, but I had found my path to healing—for me that was colossal. For the first time in a long time, I was doing the things I loved again. I was getting outside again; I was meeting new people—no longer hiding in my room perforated with grief. Any chance I got I was practicing yoga—taking my yoga mat almost everywhere I went. It was about this time that I started to understand what yoga was to me. Whenever I’m in nature, I feel a deep resonating connection to this planet and everything on it. When I’m doing yoga I feel that same resonating connection, but with myself. A trio from heaven had been discovered and practicing yoga outside
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whether it’s through SUP, hiking, biking, mountain climbing or whatever you enjoy most, the more responsibility we have to be advocates and defenders of it.”
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became one of my favorite things. Outdoors and yoga just seemed like the perfect balance—the missing ingredient, the Salt to my Peppa, the Pink to my Floyd. It wasn’t until I moved to a tiny mountain town at 9,000 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rockies after graduation that I learned about SUP yoga. Well, you know beyond pretty yogis in the Bahamas on Instagram. It was winter when I found out that the resort where I taught regular classes at, had a SUP yoga program. They offered it on the small lakes scattered across the property among the pristine nature of the Colorado Rockies. When I was proposed to teach a SUP yoga class for the coming summer season, I jumped at the opportunity—as crazy and maybe as irresponsible as it might sound. I had never been on a SUP board, let alone tried to do yoga on one. Here I agreed to be trained to teach other people how to do both. I felt totally crazy and totally stoked all at the same time. Here I was a yoga practitioner of seven years, an avid outdoor enthusiast and stepping onto a SUP board for the first time with the end goal being that I would teach others to do the same. The first time I found myself out on the water, I immediately felt like I was home. Any chance I got I was out on those boards—moving, flowing, breathing, and creating. I couldn’t get enough. There’s something so special and unique about practicing on the water. Water is literally the center of life. Everything revolves around water and our proximity to it whether we’re consciously aware of it or not. In my first season teaching SUP yoga, the life of the water surrounded me. I witnessed a family of ducks grow from tiny little hatchlings running across the water, to when mama duck called to young adults leaving the nest and flying off into their own lives by fall. I taught through two life cycles of dragonflies. From cautiously cuing my students around the dozens of mating pairs to the millions of babies that would completely cover our boards and us a
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an a believer that almost everything we will face in our modern, industrialized lives can be broken down, simplified and explained through even the smallest encounter with nature.”
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few weeks later. A uniquely special moment on the water was a day when a young bull moose decided to join our class. With my back turned my ears detected a splash in the water—not completely unheard of, as other guests would from time to time find their way into the lake as we practiced. It was the complete silence and wide eyes of my students looking past me that made me look over my shoulder just in time to have this young moose swim right behind me. My first instinct was complete awe and frozen terror. I had never been, or honestly wanted to be, that close to a wild moose in my life. If you’re not familiar with moose—though beautiful and majestic creatures they tend to be very aggressive animals. They have terrible eyesight, and due to the lack of any real natural predators, they tend to charge at and trample anything that startles them. Instead of panicking I encouraged everyone to hold very still and just soak in what was happening. We watched the young bull take his afternoon bath for 5-10 minutes, completely unaware or maybe just unphased by our presence. Pure magic ensued. In one season I think I witnessed more of nature’s miracles than I had experienced in 25 years of actively submersing myself in it. SUP yoga brings a whole new perspective to my yoga practice, to my life and to the students I share it with. I always start my personal practice and my classes off with a moment of silence—a time to connect with where we are and what we’re doing there. It brings everyone into a space of pure awareness—even if for just those few minutes. You can’t help but feel the insane pull of interconnectedness that we have with this vast planet and what inhabits it. If you can hold on to that feeling for the rest of your practice, the rest of your day or week—that’s when the magic happens. It is the moment when it stops being something you have to force and you begin to see our innate connection to all things and all beings in every facet of our lives. For me, it becomes easier to see through the facades that we people sometimes put on to mask our pain, suffering, or self-doubt. Even if for just a moment it allows me to see our common humanity. To understand that we’re all just doing our best in any given scenario with the tools that we’ve been given. Above all, it gives me a greater sense of belonging to this planet, and with that a greater sense of responsibility to care for it. The more we do to engage ourselves with the outdoors whether it’s through SUP sports, hiking, biking, mountain climbing or whatever you enjoy most, the more responsibility we have to be advocates and defenders of it. Through SUP and regular yoga classes, it is always my end goal to bring my students that much closer to themselves, so that they might one day be able to extend that appreciation and love beyond themselves and out into the world—however, it may manifest itself.
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India’s Eco-Warrior for cleaner water— Shilpika Gautam B Y
L U C Y
L U C I L L E
Triveni Ghat , Near Patna in the State of Bihar. This could be a launch or arrival scene on any given day along the banks of the Ganges — surrounded by a crowd of friendly, helpful and curious onlooker, almost always men. photo: Upslope Productions
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The white waters of the Ganges, just above the holy town of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Shilps and the rest of the team had never actually stand up paddled white waters before , so traversing this first section of the Ganges in the Indian Himalayas involved a lot of falling, swimming, body surfing , and 'some' standing up. photo: Upslope Productions
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There are women who talk about doing something and
then there are women who put their words into action. Shilpika Gautam is the latter;
in October of 2016, she decided to lead a stand-up paddle expedition down the Ganges from source to sea — that is a journey of 3,000 kilometers. Shilpika grew up in Agra, India and had been away for almost ten years pursuing a successful career as an investment banker in London. In her previous life ironically Shilpika admits she knew very little about stand-up paddling or adventure or water pollution. Her yearly return visits to her homeland had gradually built an awareness of her disconnection with where she was born—it’s beauty, and it’s flaws. There was the
photo: Upslope Productions
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...so to discover her purpose she decided to stand-up paddle the Ganges with the main idea behind this expedition to raise awareness for cleaner water...
yearning to return but to have a purpose and an impact on the place she knew as home. Shilpika is a strong believer in the fact that everyone has a purpose. “We may not all have a passion, but we all have a purpose,� she shares and so to discover her purpose she decided to stand-up paddle the Ganges with the main idea behind this expedition to raise awareness for cleaner water and create awareness of single use plastic. Although this was initially her desire, it went far beyond what she could have possibly imagined. To make it happen Shilpika quit her job; taking the approach if she was going to do something to change things it had to be an out of the box experience—it had to be massive. Change does not
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come easy. With some research she gleaned that she would need a team, equipment and she would need sponsors; sponsors who were like-minded about change and having a positive effect on the environment—Starboard fit that perfectly along with her other sponsors who would come on board. Being a former investment banker gave her that edge of recklessness and determination to put it all together and make it successful. Her entire team comprised of British Spike Reid, German Pascal Dubois and Kumaran Mahalingam from India. The entire trek took a little over three months beginning its journey on foot from the river’s origin in Gaumukh, Uttarakhand. With virtually no experience in SUP let alone white water SUP it was almost impossible to paddle as they found the water fast, rocky and shallow. By the time they made it to Haridwar was the moment when her team actually felt they could “stand on water.” It was also at this time they discovered that the issue of untreated sewage flowing into the river was greater than the plastic pollution and it has been particularly noticeable in the rural areas. “Our understanding shifted. Even though plastic pollution and industrial pollution was rampant near the cities, around villages, the main issue is that of untreated sewage disposal, contaminating not just the river but also a threat to villagers’ lives.” She said. A WaterAid India study, for instance, showed that an alarming 70% of India’s surface water is polluted due to untreated sewage, while 91% of small towns and villages lack an organized sewage system. In towns like Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Samsastipur (Bihar), situated along the river, over 64% and 75% of the households, respectively, didn’t have toilets. So it’s not 62 Samata
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Photo: Kumaran Mahalingam
Photo: Kumaran Mahalingam
Photo: Upslope Productions
Patna, Bihar. For the best part of December, Shilps paddled through thick fog and biting cold — the least appealing part  was wading through knee deep (often super dirty) water in order to launch the boards; this is why the wellies you see in this photo do not look that ridiculous any more! Photo: WaterAid India
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The river becomes chocca with heavy ship traffic past the city of Kolkata, which often meant huge swells for our little board, in addition to headwinds and plenty of chop. Tight paddling times thanks to strong tides were also a fun factor! photo: Upslope Productions
surprising for people who listen to her story to ask the question if she fell in the river and while there were times she fell in, it thankfully didn’t happen in those heavily polluted areas. Being a woman in India is different in the way that you can only experience by immersing yourself in the culture and being a woman on an expedition in India even more so. The audience of people she encountered mainly comprised of men, and as a woman, Shilpika found the gender disparity harsh where many times it was hundreds lining up to “see a woman paddling in shorts and—in the company of men.” Women are restricted to the village precincts. “Curiosity is remarkable—when I couldn’t find the women, I figured I had to go and knock on their door. I wanted to understand how the other half of the Samata 65
People often ask Shilps if the going was hard on the river- her answer is that being on such an incredible journey, full of life (and death) gives one enough perspective and appreciation of their own privilege — that some people’s normal is another person’s extraordinary she would often speak to these boys fishing on the river, some as young as four, for them there was no choice, and this was what they knew, their dad knew, their grandfather knew how to do. photo: Upslope Productions
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Photo: Upslope Productions
Gangsagar, West Bengal. The finish line — where Shilps and her teammate crossed the finished line together. This is the spot where the river meets the ocean and is also considered as one of the most sacred spot for the Hindus; coincidentally, the finish date of the journey also overlapped with the single biggest festival on this stretch of water, so it was pretty surreal to paddle into a sea of hundreds of thousands of devotees. photo: Upslope Productions
NEW IMAGE
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Devprayag, Uttarkhand. Devprayag is where the river Ganges proper begins, at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda river - this also marked the first point where the team could put their inflatable starboard river boards into the water — the first day of SUPing started here, after 2 weeks of hiking and cycling down from the source 4,100 metres high in the Himalayas. photo: Upslope Productions
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Uttar Pradesh. The board and most of Shilps’ gear — an Aquapac drybag full of clothes, food, tent, sleeping bag, stove, medicines et cetera in the front, and a bunch of water in reusable bottles in the back. Photo: Kumaran Mahalingam
world lives.” They would only let her into their homes and lock their doors to speak to her; very rarely did it happen in public. Shilpika shares, “While the love, kindness, and reception we got were extraordinary, there were the occasions when village women shut their door on my face even before I could speak. Coming from a background of privilege (as I do), the lack of women in public spaces came as a sharp contrast. Latrine is not a sexy subject to talk about, but it is important. Most villagers relieve themselves around the river, and it becomes particularly problematic for rural women, whose security and dignity is compromised. With most villages lacking proper toilets, women are particularly more vulnerable to disease and follow a different diet to avoid the embarrassment of relieving themselves in the open during the day. The issue of women’s empowerment is tied to that of the river. There have to be systemic changes.” Death is as much a part of life on the Ganges as is life. The crematories take place on the river’s banks. The Ganges is sacred and the Hindu tradition of immersing ashes of the dead and all the ceremonies associated with it add to the pollution. Though Shilpika states, “Some dead bodies were floating around but not too many. The river isn’t as dirty as I would think it would be.” There are the shocking sights of Ganges, and yet there is also the beauty of Ganges. While the people have nothing, they are also so full of life and resilient. Although the people of India played a huge part in Shilpika’s expedition it wasn’t all about the people—there was wildlife along the river. “Things that you would never see and things that gave her hope that river wasn’t dead.”
“There are the shocking sights of Ganges, and yet there is also the beauty of Ganges.” Samata 69
Village Kunda near Allahabd, Uttar Pradesh. A very special misty morning — especially gorgeous campsite to bring in Shilps’s Birthday, minus the hordes of onlookers that typically surrounded it. photo: Kumaran Mahalingam
Near Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. The banks of the Ganges are full of all kinds of people and sights — it was almost always surreal to be paddling past some of the oldest standing temples in the world. photo: Upslope Productions
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(above) Village Harpur Saidbad, Patna, Bihar (Water Aid project site). Shilps takes on the CLTS challenge in front of the whole village and the local WaterAid team. Community lead total sanitation or CLTS is a behavioral approach to increasing use of toilets and eliminating open defecation. photot: Kumaran
photo: Upslope Productions
Mahalingam
(below) Village Harpur Saidbad near Patna, Bihar. Shilps spending time with the women of the village to understand how toilets have improved their lives and how not having to openly defecate has given them the dignity they deserve. photo: WaterAid India
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(above) Village Harpur Saidbad near Patna, Bihar. (WaterAid project site). Interacting with villagers to understand the different type of toilets built in their village, how they maintain them and how different households are able to access them when there aren't enough toilets — crucial to make sure there is one for each house. photo: wateraid india
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(left) The banks of the Ganges, Uttar Pradesh A typical snack break stop to interact with the villagers, to understand the challenges around sanitation and access to clean water — these wonderful people were incredibly articulate and very very open to sharing their deepest challenges and pain points. This lot in particular had been organising their own clean up drivers on the river when the local administration has been failing them. photo: -Pascal Dubois
Brijghat near GarhMukeshwar , Uttar Pradesh a ghat simply means a series of steps leading down to the river, however these ghats also contrast in how they reek of death (cremation of bodies) and life (young children are brought here to get their heads shaved, in a ceremony called Mundan to signify letting go of hair from birth that represents their past life). Shilps paddled past thousands of these along the way but ever so often, the scale, the noises, the commerce around these ghats is mind boggling. photo: Pascal Dubois
A simpler and minimal life, living out of a bivvy bag on the banks of the Ganges. photo: Pascal Dubois
The team spotted 867 dolphins which sit on top the riverine food chain including 17 Gangetic dolphins in a stretch of the Hooghly river system and the water samples they tested did not throw up particularly stark readings, evidence, they suggest of the river’s health. Birds occupying the riverbanks in the misty mornings. All the aspects of this river—a celebration of life and death. SUP the Ganges expedition marked a world record—Shilpika Gautam broke the world record for
“The issue of women’s empowerment is tied to that of the river. There have to be systemic changes.”
photo: Pascal Dubois
the longest continuous stand-up paddle boarded distance by a female in one journey, source to sea. The current Guinness world record is 2,231 kilometers while Shilpika covered 3,000 kms. The issue of water pollution is certainly not unique to the Ganges alone—in fact, as one of the greatest rivers in the world which supports well over 500 million people, the Ganges symbolizes the scale and urgency with which we must all be engaged in saving our water regardless of whether it’s ponds, canals, Samata 73
photo: Pascal Dubois
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Fatehpur,Uttar Pradesh, WaterAid Project site . WaterAid has several projects along the Ganges but this was the most interesting of them all as it adopts a more integrated approach. There is a school next to the village where the kids are taught all about the importance of sanitation and not openly defecating, with the idea being that they in turn will be inspiring, coercing, educating their parents on the same. Â Additionally the older girls (pictured here) are given menstrual hygiene training, as well as being taught vocational skills that could help them create a living for themselves. These young women are incredibly entrepreneurial, amazingly inspiring and lovingly affectionate. photo: Neil Irwin @nirwin productions
A village in Uttar Pradesh. Pure joy and love from all the wonderful faces in the photo - often, Shilps would get frustrated by the lack of access to the women in the communities she would interact with - eventually she started going into the villages themselves and seeking out the women- this lot was incredibly enthusiastic (especially the children and the young girls who just wouldnt let go of Shilps). photo: Upslope Productions Samata 75
Photos: Upslope Productions
rivers or oceans. By sharing raw, unbiased stories from her team’s expedition be it a photo, footage or writing—they endeavored to highlight the positive stories from this river of life. From the scope of challenges that the least connected and underprivileged living along its banks faces on a daily basis, and how public/private efforts are transforming their quality of life, one village at a time. Shilpika is especially proud of our active partnership with WaterAid India—wateraidindia.in/get-involved/ participate/poopfreeganga/ and our work on the conservation of the Ganga River Dolphins. “It’s not what is in the river, but outside it too—Education, empowerment, and infrastructure will actually serve to improve the health of the river and the quality of lives of those depending on it—be it humans or wildlife. My motive is just to make them aware of it and can they save their only source of life.” she shared. Shilpika is now working on a number of international projects to channel her finance, technology, and entrepreneurial experience to create businesses for social and environmental impact.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH SHILPIKA’S WORK BY GOING TO HER WEBSITE: SHILPIKAGAUTAM.COM OR VIA INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER @SHILPSGAUTAM
“ ...the Ganges symbolizes the scale and urgency with which we must all be engaged in saving our water regardless of whether it’s ponds, canals, rivers or oceans.” 76 Samata
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Kulpi, West Bengal, two days away from Finish line. Epic day of paddling being rewarded by a stunning, beautiful sunset. photo: Upslope Productions Samata 77
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Su m m er
Buye r’s Gu i de Summertime and the living is easy—when you have the right gear. Samata Mag field tested; here are “8” favorite items our test pilots would pack for their next adventure on the water!
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Bluesmiths + Manduka Performance Towels This is the best performance towel we have ever used. It’s a super soft, double knit microfiber towel designed for maximum absorption, which means it works perfectly as a beach, fitness or general purpose towel—a go-to item. Available in standard or hand sizes.
The Kula Windpro Hoodie Designed on Maui and Built in Canada, The Kula is the go-to surf and travel hoodie— that one garment you always grab when you leave for the day. Wind, water and abrasion resistant thanks to Polartec’s legendary WindPro® Hardface® fabric. The Kula has won multiple Gear-Of-The-Year Awards. It’s the ultimate hoodie for the ocean athlete. Smaller sizes are tailored for women.
Bluesmiths Hydrophobic Delta Cap Our technical, lightweight and breathable new cap. It’s water resistant, making it perfect for ocean environments. It’s finished, as usual, with the Bluesmiths shield and signature embroideries.
BLUESMITHS bluesmiths.com
Crafted Waterwear, only available online Maui based BLUESMITHS is a brand for the core waterman or woman. Solid construction, well though out functional wear—simple, clean and durable for all your water wear. John Smalley and his water testing crew always putting it to the test. “It’s a waterwoman’s ideal gear for all conditions!
Bluesmiths Hydrophobic Shirts
The Lane Hydrophobic Shirt Short sleeve Sun protection (UPF 35) Hydrophobic (water repellent) NanoSphere® fabric technology Fast drying, Lightweight and Highly Breathable Pocket with cable management and key leash Non-corrosive zipper
are designed to solve the problem of cold wet, clingy rash guards and sun protection shirts. Our shirts stay drier thanks to NanoSphere®, a high-performing water repellent fabric technology from Switzerland. By staying drier, you’re more comfortable and you perform better both in and out of the water.
The Kanaha Hydrophobic Shirt Long sleeve Sun protection (UPF 35) Hydrophobic (water repellent) NanoSphere® fabric technology Fast drying, lightweight and highly breathable Pocket with cable management and key leash Non-corrosive zipper
OLUKAI olukai.com #AnywhereAloha
‘ELEU TRAINER Agile and amphibious, the ‘Eleu Trainer adds ease and protection where you need it most.
Olukai started as a different approach to a footwear company with the desire to create footwear that combines durability for any waterwoman, ocean lifestyle and a brand that has strong values and roots with style, comfort, and craftsmanship. Premium’s ties to the Hawaiian community is reflected in their product and marketing across the world. These are the perfect shoe for #AnywhereAloha
HONOKA‘A Taken from the Big Island elements of the Paniolo, the elegant Honoka‘a mixes tradition and sophistication with its rich natural leather and Paniolo inspired stitching details.
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STRAND Round out the look. Strand pairs an iconic silhouette with details like concealed hinges and inset nose pads to deliver all-day comfort.
KAENON kaenon.com #builtforoutsiders
AVILA
Combining every aspect of eye protection, function and style, Kaenon has proven, time and time again why their eyewear is worn by so many watermen and women in the world of water, as well as why it is the choice of many outdoorsmen and women living the active lifestyle. Solid impact resistant and glare reducing protection and function is reason to be wearing Kaenon.
Unfurl. Avila’s wrapped butterfly silhouette, and curved flowing temples offer full coverage with a unique sense of style.
LEADBETTER Casual sport with Kaenon’s SR-91® Polarized Lens. Lightweight, flexible TR-90 frame material perfect on and off the water. 82 Samata
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WEST MARINE westmarine.com For Your Life On The Water Personal Floating Device have been modified and function better than every before. Quick and easy to use without the awkward bulky vests, these PFD’s are compact, easy to use and make life on the water a whole lot safer especially when you are on an open water or touring adventure along the coastline or lakes. And the best thing about them is you can find them at any West Marine retailer in the United States or buy them online.
Manual Inflatable Life Jacket Belt Pack This Belt Pack is the perfect life jacket, or safety companion, for your time on the water, especially for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). The neoprene inner lining is smooth and comfortable to the touch on bare skin, and the low profile design allows for full range of action motions. The belt pack provides 26 pounds of buoyancy, so even though is it small and compact, it offers nearly twice the buoyancy of typical foam life jackets. Additional features include an attached rescue-call whistle as well as two zip-closure pockets to keep small items safely stored.
Ultra-Slim Manual Inflatable Life Jacket Belt Pack This Belt Pack offers a low-profile, slim design that provides maximum comfort and maneuverability while paddling, fishing or other recreational boating. This life jacket features easy manual, pull-cord inflation, and an oral inflation backup tube. It provides 19 pounds of buoyancy with its initial 16g CO2 charge, yet the wearer can provide additional buoyancy of up to a total of 26.5 pounds by using the oral inflation tube. Easily repacked and maintained thanks to its compact and lightweight design. This life vest must be manually placed around the head after inflation and is therefore recommended for competent swimmers only.
Coastal Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket This jacket is comfortable and sized to fit a broad range of physiques. Comfort and quality at a great price, West Marine built this life jacket with you in mind. The low-profile design fits easily over your clothes or foul weather gear and is so comfortable you will forget you’re wearing it. Designed to automatically inflate when immersed in water and won’t prematurely inflate due to rain or humidity. You will want to visually inspect your life jacket for leaks or tears every few months and service the automatic inflator every two years. These versatile life jackets easily convert to manual-only inflation with the oral inflation backup tube. After inflation or if expired, rearm your life jacket with this Inflatable PFD Rearming Kit (sold separately).
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SEA TO SUMMIT SeaToSummit.com
Providing innovative gear—serving a growing band of outdoor enthusiasts all over the world.
Hydraulic Dry Pack The removable harness on our super tough, burly Hydraulic Dry Pack makes portaging a whole lot easier—whether on the river, in the airport or anywhere else where carrying large amounts of gear is a chore. The Hydraulic™ harness is an open construction of EVA foam and air mesh, allowing plenty of air flow and rapid drying without sacrificing comfort. The harness attaches to compatible Hydraulic™ Dry Bags (35L - 120L) with a series of buckles as sturdy as the bags themselves.
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WOMEN’S ANGELA 3/4 SLEEVE UV Breathable Heathered Ventx 4-way stretch fabric ideal for wearing wet, dry, day, or night. Fast drying, moisture wicking, and ultra-soft for all day long comfort and sun protection, in and out of the water. Tested and UPF rated to block 94% of UVA/UVB radiation from the sun. Relaxed t-shirt fit, heathered look.
WOMEN’S THREADX
XCEL WETSUITS xcelwetsuits.com
Wetsuit Of The Year- Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Its no wonder Xcel Wetsuits was voted wetsuit of the year in 2017 by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, they’ve made both comfortable suits and sun protection wear for both hard core water individuals that also apply well for the everyday consumer from extreme cold regions of the world, to sun protection from all the harmful rays of the sun with a couple of really functional great products this year.
Engineered to perform in and out of the water, with 100% natural built-in bacteria and odor control. Moisture wicking, fast drying, breathable, a lightweight 4-way stretch that maintains shape when wet and won’t pill or fade. Cool and comfortable, with unique microfibers that help regulate core temperature. Tested and UPF rated to block 94% of UVA/UVB radiation from the sun.
WOMEN’S SONOMA HEATHERED VENTX HOODIE Breathable Heathered Ventx 4-way stretch fabric ideal for wearing wet, dry, day, or night. Fast drying, moisture wicking, and ultra soft, this top delivers all day long comfort and sun protection, in and out of the water. Tested and UPF rated to block 94% of UVA/UVB radiation from the sun. Thumb hole cutouts in the sleeves, plus a drawstring hood, full front zipper, and kangaroo pockets. Samata 85
SCENTERED us.scentered.me Restoring Lifestyle Balance Naturally
Scentered Candles
Balm Therapy
Light your Scentered candle whenever you are in need of some aromatherapy. Indulge in their ritual, inhale deeply and enjoy the moment. All Scentered’s beautiful calming and comforting fragrances to help you unwind at any time. Their therapeutic candles are made from a custom blend of natural waxes, sustainably sourced and non-GMO, with pure essential oils for a clean burn and natural fragrance.
Five fabulous Scentered Balm Sticks to choose from — Stress Less, Sleep Well, Be Happy, Escape, Love and Focus. Each therapy balm is a 100% natural therapy balm to help keep you grounded and centered no matter where you are or what life throws at you. Portable aromatherapy for every situation. Stop. Inhale. Reset. Clear your head, awaken your senses. Natural therapy to help you stay centered, wherever, whenever.
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Hydro Flask 64-oz. Growler The 64-oz. Growler feature Hydro Flask’s TempShield™ Double Wall Insulation, which keeps beer frosty cold for 24 hours, and Honeycomb Insulation™ inside the cap for additional temperature control. Two full interior threads create for a leak-proof seal that contains carbonation longer. A longer neck offers simple one-handed pouring, and the easy carryhandle allows for multiple ways to hold and pour.
Hydro Flask 10-oz. Rocks The 10-oz. Hydro Flask Rocks is perfect for a three-finger pour or any slow sipping refreshment. The Rocks features a beveled bottom for a comfortable hold and Hydro Flask’s TempShield™ insulation, ensuring your favorite drink stays cold for hours. Available with Honeycomb™ Insulated press-in lid so you can take your beverage anywhere.
Hydro Flask True Pint
HYDROFLASK hydroflask.com #unexpectedrefreshment With hundred of hydration bottles on the market today leave it to Hydro Flask to come up with the best new holders on the market today! Their mission to save the world from lukewarm — from their first-ever insulated growler to their 32 oz. Wide Mouth Hydration Flask, to their 10 oz. Rocks and the new 16 oz. True Pint. You can count on them to define new products, new ways to drink in the adventure!
A perfect companion for the Growler, our True Pint was designed with an enhanced lip for the perfect beer-drinking experience. With double wall insulation and sweatfree powder coat, this pint is great way to take your sipping outdoors.
Hydro Flask 32 oz. Ideal size for all-day hydration, equipped with their Wide Mouth Straw Lid for easy sipping. TempShieldTM insulation eliminates condensation and keeps beverages cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12 hours.
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book review BY ANNA LEVESQUE
Yoga For Paddling Want to know how yoga can help with your stand-up paddle session? Maybe you’ve been a little apprehensive about the entire yoga approach. Look no further and delve into Yoga for Paddling. In these 218 pages is a practical, informative book that will allow you to learn more about yoga and how it can help improve your paddling, posture and your health in general. With 20+ years as practitioner of yoga, 500-hrs as a trained instructor, an Ayurveda Health Counselor, Anna was a member of the Canadian Freestyle Whitewater Kayak Team and earned a bronze at the Freestyle Kayak World Kayak Championships in 2001, and is a Whitewater Kayak and SUP Instructor Trainer. She has been featured in Time, Shape, Self and Samata Magazine and is the founder/director of watergirlsatplay.com and mindbodypaddle.com. Yoga For Paddling introduces you to yoga and the benefits you can profit by it. Not only does Levesque do a fantastic job in keeping her writing straight to the point she puts it into terms that anyone can understand. The book includes chapters on anatomy, alignment, and principles specific to the movement of paddling. She brings you into the knowledge of how to use props and provide your body a proper warm-up and breaks it down how to get into each yoga pose safely and comfortably. Her systematic approach begins with the section on low back, hips, and legs; then moves to the side body, chest and shoulders, these are main paddling muscles/areas that are important to paddlers—they help us to achieve better balance and control when paddling. Finally, as all good things must come to an end she finishes with the relaxation pose. Levesque moves the body through yoga postures that counteract the over-active muscles in paddlers. Her reinforcement of why each position is important makes the book easy to follow. You will enjoy visual step-by-step photos, with clear, concise text; also included are tips on breath work for stress management, relaxation, diet and lifestyle. Levesque’s Yoga For Paddling is well written and easy to understand even if you don’t have a yoga background—it will allow you to grasp everything she teaches with none of those intimidating 88 Samata
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Sanskrit words that might deter you. As a yogini practitioner and a paddler, I encourage you to pick-up a copy. This book is perfect for any paddler who is interested in discovering how yoga can benefit them regardless of outdoor activity or lifestyle. If you are a SUP yoga teacher interested in cultivating your SUP yoga classes and make the most out of your practice on the water this is a perfect refresher and enhancement to your water classroom! Published as a paperback, it is available for $24.95. Order it now at mindbodypaddle.com/yoga or amazon.com
MAHIKU
-lfauHUL,
XCEL-SAMATA AD-2PG.indd 1
2/16/17 6:29 PM
Balance - something we can't live without. Which is why we need to balance our impact on the environment. That's why Starboard is planting one mangrove for every board sold, offsetting over 1 ton CO2 over its lifetime. Let's help the planet get back on it's feet.