“If you’re looking to explore water sports in a safe way and get a really good physical workout without really realizing you’re getting one, SUP yoga is a great way to do that,” says SUP yoga instructor Roxanne Best. In this sport, you’re being physically challenged but “you’re not sweating, exhausted, hating every minute.”

Best is a 200 hour instructor with the Yoga Alliance; she is certified to teach SUP yoga through the Professional Stand Up Paddle Association. Her original career was as a scuba diver, and she’s SUPped for many years, in addition to practicing and teaching yoga. A member of the Colville Tribe—“we’re water people,” she says—she was looking for a new way to enjoy the water when she took a SUP yoga class and fell in love.

In the SUP yoga classes Best instructs, participants of all levels learn to paddle their boards and engage in a series of yoga flow positions; both the SUP components and the yoga positions are taught in a way that makes them approachable for any skill level.

A common challenge of SUP yoga is getting past the fear of falling into the water. Though most participants don’t fall in, the possibility seems to be on the back of everyone’s mind—which can be kind of freeing. You go from “being conditioned that falling was bad, to the mindset of…it’s actually okay to fall, and it’s kind of fun!” Best says.

“For me it’s just a really grounding experience, and centering, which is weird, because you’re out on the water,” she says. “It’s really just an opportunity to tune into your environment. Tune out some of the human noises and tune into some of the nature noises.”

Read more yoga stories in the OTO archives.

Learn about lake destinations and recreation in the 2021 Inland Northwest Lake Guide.

The post Yoga on a Paddleboard appeared first on Out There Venture.

To help you make the most of your outdoor time and keep things fresh during the pandemic, the faculty of Eastern Washington University’s Recreation and Leisure Services Program in partnership with Out There Venture has created the SPOvid-19 Local Adventure Series.

Episode 8 – River Surf Spokane

Telling someone you are a river surfer is not an easy thing to do. Most people stare at you in disbelief or act like they heard you wrong. Inevitably I sometimes wish I just told them I like to hike a lot for my recreation.  

So, if you’re one of those people reading this, I say to you now, “Yes, stand up paddle riversurfing is a thing. And yes, you can do it on the Spokane River.”   

I say you can do it because you can.  It takes some time, equipment, and instruction, but it is attainable. First comes the equipment, what I call the stand up paddle river surfer’s Big Five: an appropriate board for your skill level, paddle, pfd, helmet, and a reachable and releasable leash. 

Once you get to the river there are 3 important things to know about stand-up paddle riversurfing:

1. Nobody else on the river cares that you surf.
2. Be respectful of the river and other paddlers.
3. Be safe and have fun.  

You have to remember you’re the oddity on the river.  It’s important to recognize that not everyone will be thrilled to see you at the wave and learn to understand their perspective. And it’s also why it’s key to wear the proper safety gear. Then with some river knowledge, time, and instruction, you’ll be surfing.

I have to say there really is something special about surfing a clear, glassy, river wave. And the best part is when your day is done, you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Isn’t Spokane awesome? 

River Surfer Safety Video

Resources:

• Badfish Stand Up Paddle
• Spokane River Water Trail – Spokane River Forum
• Local SUP gear rentals: Fun Unlimited, FLOW Adventures, EPIC Adventures (EWU), REI – Spokane, Kayak Coeur d’Alene.

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Episode 5 – Paddling Bonnie Lake

By Chris Hoppe, Director of EWU EPIC Adventures

If you are looking for a new adventure that is suitable for the whole family, consider heading to Bonnie Lake, located about 30 minutes south of Cheney, Washington. Though this trip is relatively undiscovered by the masses, parking may still be limited.

To access the lake, choose your favorite paddle craft, PFD, and snacks for the 1-mile journey along rock creek. During your paddle to the lake, enjoy views of tall basalt cliffs, rock arches, and diverse wildlife that really make this area one of Eastern Washington’s hidden gems. After about 45 minutes of leisure paddling, you will arrive at beautiful Bonnie Lake. If you are up for another 20-30 minutes of paddling, head over to the island in the middle of the lake, where you can stretch and eat a snack before your trip back. This hidden oasis is the perfect place to relax, explore, and enjoy unplugged time with family and friends. 

Your return trip will likely be a bit faster as you’ll have the assist of the a downstream current. This trip is recommended for mid to late spring, and can be the perfect happy hour adventure after a long work day. 

More information and location:  https://paddling.com/paddle/trips/bonnie-lake-washington/ 

Paddleboard information:  https://badfishsup.com/.

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“Our location is at the Red Lion Templin’s Hotel, right on the river,” says Cara Quien, owner of Fun Unlimited with her husband Keith. “It is a really sweet spot, and we are in a no-wake zone.” For beginner paddlers and families with kids, this is good news. “We are right behind the dam,” says Quien, “so there is no current. It’s not like the wild open Coeur d’Alene Lake, which is choppy and windy and has boat traffic. It’s really peaceful and calm, and it’s a great experience for first-timers.”

The Quiens originally opened Fun Unlimited in 2012 with the vision of it being a club membership where people could pay a monthly fee and get unlimited use of the “toys” that were available for rent. “My husband is very much the entrepreneur,” says Quien, “and has always wanted to own a business. We sat down at the kitchen table and talked about it, and I said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’”

In the beginning, they stocked snowmobiles, ATVs, bikes, jet skis – all the usual suspects. Then this husband-and-wife team ended up falling in love with watersports. Now they exclusively offer SUP boards, kayaks, and jet skis, and paddleboarding is probably their favorite. “Paddleboarding is not one of those intimidating sports,” says Quien. “We have six-year-olds who come and do it. We had a 76-year-old who came last summer and she was standing!”

While inflatable SUP boards have always been a part of the Quiens’ lineup, they have decided to only stock inflatable boards starting this season. Over time, they have observed that the solid core fiberglass or hard plastic boards don’t hold up to the river rocks, especially when hundreds of people are renting them every day. “The inflatable boards are much more durable. A lot of folks like to rent them and take them places,” says Quien. Fun Unlimited includes paddles, a pump, and instructions on how to inflate the boards with every rental. And they design their own boards. Their production company, Stillwater Paddleboards, is small but dedicated to making dependable SUP equipment. “Our boards are very, very stable,” Quien says, “and there is space and two handles where a small child can sit cross-legged on the front.”

This summer, they will also bring their SUP boards and kayaks to Washington, providing rentals at the new Downtown Spokane River Access Point directly under the Division Street Bridge. Last September, Keith and Cara took an end-of-the-day paddle from this spot to No-Li Brewhouse to test the waters and explore the opportunities. “The water was like glass,” recalls Cara. “We had the idea [to set up at the access] before that night, but once we did the paddle, that was all we could think about. It’s a great river.”

As they continue to expand, their desire is to stay personable and family-friendly, and to share their love of SUP with anyone who is willing to give it a try. They currently sell season passes for both locations, and opening a spot in Coeur d’Alene is on their wishlist for the future. For now, Fun Unlimited will continue to be an outstanding place to introduce families and individuals to the water, regardless of experience and skill level. //

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