Never tried yoga before? Never tried SUP before? This summer I challenge you to give them both a try on my floating yoga studio. Get out of your comfort zone and onto the beautiful waterways of Noosa with me!
Read moreSUP Yoga Retreat Photo Diary by Chloe Wilson
I met the beautiful Chloe via Instagram when she entered our Active Nourish Grateful competition in July 2014. Little did I know at the time but Chloe was just beginning her wellness journey and less than 12 months later I had the pleasure of finally meeting her in person at my SUP Yoga Retreat.
Chloe has inspired me since the beginning, her heart felt words, her perseverance, the fact that she replies individually to every comment on her page (and trust me that is a LOT as she gets so many comments on her gorgeous posts) and the way that she is able to find inspiration in every day life whilst providing inspiration for every single person who reads her posts. She is the girl-next-door LJ Fit Ambassador and a beautiful person on the inside and out and I am so blessed and grateful to not only have her support, her friendship but also that she came to my first ever SUP Yoga Retreat!
For your little glimpse of the action at the luxury SUP Yoga Retreat through the eyes of my beautiful friend Chloe - keep reading below or check out her instagram @chloeawilson.
Big love to you beautiful, thank you for your inspiring words Chloe x
Packing for my SUP Yoga Retreat tomorrow! 1 more sleep! If I can get to sleep. Too excited. Feeling sparkly. x
Life to me should be an incredible, chosen but unpredictable adventure. It should be about learning and growing from experiences, dealing with the downs as well as relishing in the ups, it should be about falling in love and falling out, and not just with people, but things, places, careers, figuring out what it is that truly feeds your soul and it should be about finding your calling and making it your purpose one day at a time and then every single damn day from then on. Every day I am creating my adventure and making it happen. Are you living your adventure or are you holding back, waiting for it to happen for you? Life doesn't wait, time is precious, your adventure is what you make it. x
Feeling blessed and a little bit sparkly. x
Yesterday's sunset. So beautiful. Soon I am off to our first early morning beach yoga session run by the beautiful yoga teacher and host of the Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat @yogakiss. Feeling excited, open-minded and ready for anything. Looking forward to having sand between my toes again and the ocean breeze sweep over me during practice. I can't wait to just soak it all in. x
Last night at dinner at the resort's restaurant we all arrived to a beautiful gift sitting there waiting for us at the table. @yogakiss you are amazing. The food was divine and the company and all of the new faces were even better. Feeling so grateful in this moment. I have some beautiful and exciting photos to share from this morning's beach yoga session today. Stay tuned. But for now I am going to jump into the resort pool. x
This morning's yoga studio. Total bliss. x
So, this happened today! During our first beach yoga session this morning. I have never attempted any form of headstand or forearm variation before, but have always wanted to, and I even came into this retreat feeling like this is somewhat a fear to me, that I wouldn't be able to do this. Because of Kat and her incredible guidance and help I was able to manage one assisted first go and I am beside myself. So, so, so proud. I wanted to come into this retreat with an open-mind and a willing heart to give anything a go. Today I let go of doubt and grew. x
Yesterday's breakfast at the resort's restaurant with a soy latte on the side, which was pretty much what I had this morning too. Just yum. Perfect post yoga. x
Resort pool fun yesterday before a mid morning national park walk. x
Just one of our breathtaking stops on the mid morning national park walk yesterday guided by our beautiful Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat host @yogakiss. So beautiful. There are just so many moments of the retreat that took my breath away. x
Green smoothie post national park walk as part of our lunch back at the resort's restaurant yesterday. The most delicious glass of green goodness. x
Getting ready for our first SUP Yoga lesson at sunset with @yogakiss on Saturday. This bikini was a little reward that I got for myself to take with me to the retreat to wear specifically for SUP Yoga and I am so glad that I just went for it and wore it with confidence. It was too pretty not to. I can't believe how much I've grown on a personal level in just a few days. x
The location for our first sunset SUP Yoga lesson on Saturday. So calm and peaceful on the water amongst nature. Total bliss. x #supyoga
Sunset SUP Yoga on Saturday with our retreat host and yoga teacher @yogakiss. This particular photo means so much to me. It feels so surreal that here I am doing yoga, SUP Yoga at that, with someone who inspires me so much in so many ways. So thankful and so grateful for all of these incredible lessons and moments throughout the retreat. This was our first SUP Yoga lesson. It was exciting, challenging but so rewarding. What an experience that I can't wait to do again and again. x (Repost: @yogakiss) #supyoga
On Saturday after our sunset SUP Yoga we got out of our activewear, dressed up and went out for dinner to a beautiful Italian restaurant not far from the resort, where we were spoilt with some serious soul food. So many moments of the retreat took my breathe away but the food and Italian wine here took my tastebuds to Italy and back. I still can't believe I haven't had warmed olives sooner. What a treat and lovely night out with all the girls during the retreat. x
Bright eyed, smiling and ready on our way to our sunrise SUP Yoga lesson on Sunday. x
Sunrise SUP Yoga on Sunday with @yogakiss. Another blissful morning full of challenges and rewarding personal moments. Yoga on the water takes the already amazing experience of the practice to a whole other level. My heart is so full of gratitude and I am determined to take my love for my life right now back into reality with me every single day. x (Repost: @yogakiss) #supyog
Our final yoga session location after SUP Yoga and breakfast on Sunday. At one of the most stunning lookouts I have ever seen. It was so relaxing and peaceful. The perfect close. x
I remember just breathing in, breathing out, listening and nothing more. I was totally at peace within myself and entirely in the present moment after our final yoga session, after lying in Savasana, I was all there. I am stepping back into reality today and I am taking my presence, my open mind, my positivity, my sparkle, my passion, my growth and all that I have learnt in these incredible few days away in paradise with me today and every single day from here on in. Sometimes all you need to do is to step away and to let go to find your path again, where your soul wants to be. I have let go of doubt and I know exactly who I am and where my heart truly lies. Feeling balanced, grounded and full of love. x
Kat's (@yogakiss) Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat was everything I thought it would be and so, so much more. The stay was luxurious and the food was perfection. It was exciting putting myself out there and meeting new faces. I loved the intimacy of the small group which made it easier to get to know everyone on a more personal level and also added a lot to the experience as I know we have all now left as friends. After doing beach yoga and SUP yoga I am not sure that a studio will ever be the same, it was total bliss. As soon as Kat started teaching you wanted nothing more than to be in the moment with her and to be right where you were, peaceful and happy in nature. She helped me grow and step out of my comfort zone more than I ever thought possible in just moments during beach yoga, SUP Yoga and all of our adventures. She helped me let go of doubt and believe in myself. Kat is so passionate about her practice and teaching it that her love for yoga and life is contagious. I feel so grateful to have attended her first ever retreat. She is an amazing teacher, has the biggest heart and the brightest soul and was an absolute pleasure to just be around, as were all the other beautiful women who attended. I highly recommend Kat's retreat to anyone wanting a luxurious escape in our own beautiful country right here in Australia, to learn, experience, challenge themselves, make lifelong friends and find their balance, and of course anyone who loves yoga. I promise that you will leave with no less than a heart full of love and a smile that you can't wipe from your face. I am still smiling. Thank you for everything Kat. Because of you I now feel like yoga with practice will become a part of who I am. I love every depth it makes me feel and I want to make it a part of my life every single day. Feeling so blessed. What an adventure. x
Before I finished my weekend away and headed home I took myself to a gorgeous little cafe for coffee and to journal about every moment, every feeling and all that I had learnt throughout the retreat. Photos are one thing but to me written pieces evoke incredible inner feelings and I really wanted something to take from the retreat before reality came back into play again that I could stop and take a moment and use to take me back to moments of complete happiness whenever I wanted to. So glad I made the time to do it. Writing is a passion of mine and hopefully one day, when my stars align, all my notes and journalling might just come together in one single piece to share and to send out into the universe. Always dreaming big and making it happen. x
Throughout the retreat I posted a photo of our Welcome Gift's we received on the first night at dinner, still wrapped up. So this is what is inside, so spoilt! Now I am home I can't wait to enjoy all of these products and take time to really appreciate them for all that they are, and maybe do a little shopping too with the vouchers to treat myself for letting go and being brave over the weekend. A big thank you to all of the amazing companies that helped Kat put this together for her first Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat attendees. How lucky are we. So thankful. x
Thankful for moments not things. Thankful knowing that I will be back by the ocean again, sinking my toes into the sand in just a week. Thankful for learning, growing and becoming the person I would want to meet. What are you thankful for? x
I have practiced yoga a little each day, either in the morning or at night since the retreat and intend to every day from here on in. Whether it be a yoga flow or just spending time with my legs up the wall after a long day I am making time to do it, to stretch out my body and give my soul the love it deserves. I am going to a private studio tomorrow morning for a yoga class for the first time in a long time. Mostly since moving away from Brisbane where I originally discovered my love for yoga classes a couple of years ago now I have just been doing Body Balance classes since at my current gym which incorporate some yoga but I know it's time to step up my practice again if I want to progress. So excited. Love new journey's. I have tried to make yoga a part of my daily life in the past but this time, it will be. With the help and mentoring from good teachers, Ebooks and surrounding myself with the right souls I know in my heart it will be. Happy Fri-Yay! Inhale. Exhale. Let's do this. x
This time last week I was off to the most beautiful yoga class that I have ever been to on the beach. What an amazing group of beautiful, inspiring and grounded women to share a first experience and an incredible journey with at @yogakiss's very first Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat. This particular morning, the first morning and our first beach yoga session was just beautiful. It was during this session that we all started to really connect from supporting each other and this was when I really first started to unravel and grow the most. There's no feeling like being surrounded by others who seek to lift you higher and want to believe in you. So grateful for everything in this moment. I may not have the beach every day but I feel like with all that I have learnt that yoga can be a part of who I am every day. Doing the best I can, with what I have, where I am. Hello weekend. x
Love my beautiful new 'Happy' soy candle from @lemoncanary. It was one of my very special Welcome Gift's from the Luxury SUP Yoga Retreat. Perfect for tonight while relaxing during Earth Hour. Who else is turning off all of their lights at 8:30pm and joining in for 1 hour to save our planet one switch at a time? Every action in our lives changes something and makes a difference. Leave as little footprints as you can, your story is what matters. Turning off. x
Photo credit goes to Chloe Wilson - find her on Instagram @chloeawilson for some daily #fitspo and #wellness inspiration!!
SUP Yoga - Dive in Head First
As most Yogis’ will have seen or heard recently, Stand up Paddleboard Yoga or ‘SUP and Floating Yoga’ is the new trend for the summer months around the world. All you need is a stand up paddleboard, some relatively calm water and the courage to dive in head first to test your yogi skills on water.
For some, the thought of paddling out on to the water or ocean to try SUP Yoga brings up thoughts like, ‘My balance isn’t good enough’, ‘I’m not great in water’ or ‘I don’t want to fall in’. But I’m telling you, you will be fine and you will love it – this is the mind stuff that Patanjali tells us to be aware of and to silence in order to take those steps towards something new and something we never believed we could do.
The first bit of advice I would give to you if you are intrigued by SUP Yoga is to let go. Let go of what you think you know, let go of any fears you have of the water and ocean or the creatures that reside in it or even your yoga ability. Like any yoga class you are guided, enlightened, given the information you need and the freedom to ask for more throughout the class in order to ensure your experience is one to remember.
Secondly, don’t worry, enjoy it and have fun! Not everyone is a water baby, just like flexibility and strength varies between people. You may fall off (although we try to keep you on the board) so just go with it. The more you fight your emotions the less relaxed you will feel which in essence defeats the purpose of SUP Yoga. Being on the water may not feel natural to some, but if you take a deep breath, allow your body and board to move with the water and be at one with the environment around you, you will LOVE it. And for all you water babies already out there this could be your way into the beautiful world of yoga!
Like most yoga classes or even standup paddleboard classes, the activities of the day are tailored towards the students and the environment or props available. Some students may wish to try a stand up paddleboard class first to get used to the feel of being on a board, but true beginners can still come along to try and learn some different yoga variations, and lots do.
The best thing about SUP Yoga by far is that you get a different perspective, a different perspective on yoga, a different perspective on watersports and most importantly a different perspective on the natural world surrounding you, as you look out from your board across the water in lotus or easy seated pose.
When in savasana tune into your breath whilst listening to the water lapping against the bottom of the board and remember that amongst all of the madness of modern society there is a place you can always escape to and go within yourself to find your very own piece of paradise.
If you are in or around the Sunshine Coast come and join me for SUP Yoga Classes in beautiful Noosa at Noosa Standup Paddle on Saturdays at 8.30 am. Follow my instagram account @yogakiss or facebook page Yoga Kiss for further updates and details on how to contact me for more information or to book your spot, places are limited.