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I fell in love with SUP late in the Fall last year and rekindled the romance once the summer arrived this year! After extensive research I invested in a board specially designed for women - a Paiwen board http://www.paiwenboards.com/?a_aid=StephI have just returned from a mini expedition to Quadra Island http://www.quadraisland.ca/ with my family, here's what we got up to!
The adventure began at Granite Bay where we filled the canoe with food and camping gear, ditched the car and set sail! The water was relatively calm and the scenery was spectacular. After paddling for approximately an hour we reached the entrance to Small Inlet which was free of wind and the water was flat calm and gin clear, kelp, starfish, crab, urchins, and shoals of small fish were visible.
At the head of Small Inlet, we reached the beach which meant it was time to portage! After locating the entrance to the path we unloaded the canoe of food and camping gear and carried everything to the path entrance. We left the canoe there and the four of us, loaded with back packs, paddles, paddle board and food buckets, proceeded into the woods. The path through the forest was 1km long, thick with trees, some of which were crossing the path and had to be climbed over or crawled under. It was quite the workout so I was pleased when we broke out of the trees to the awesome sight of the ocean - Octopus Islands Marine Park. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/octopus/
Lewis stayed with the gear, while Andrew, Alasdair & myself set off back through the trees to pick up the canoe. Lifting it over and in between the fallen trees was challenging but we succeeded!
After a rest and light refreshments, we re-loaded the canoe & set sail to explore the Octopus Islands, find a place to camp for the night, and locate a fresh water source for drinking. The scenery was stunning, clear ocean dotted with approximately 30 sailing boats moored in various secluded locations offering faint sounds of chatting, aromas of cooking with a hint of Frank Sinatra.....
The boys found water while I paddled around the nearby islets searching for a place to set up camp. I was delighted to find a tiny island with a space on top of a small hill for our two tents. It was tailor made just for us! I explored the island and noticed it must be a feeding station for some type of bird or animal, the piles of poo and cracked shells were a clue!
The tents were erected and a gourmet dinner of boil in the bag curry was wolfed down after our energetic day!
It was such a beautiful evening, we decided to embark on a sunset paddle, we meandered through the tiny islets where the water was shallow and clear, revealing the abundance of marine life below the surface. The people on the moored sailing boats and yachts gave us a wave and said hello.
An early start was required to allow us the time to paddle all the way down the coast to Heriot Bay http://heriotbayinn.com/marina.html so we got up at 5 am, ate a quick granola bar, packed up the tents and gear and started down the coast. The sun was not yet up and the ocean was flat calm, a feeling of eerie stillness was in the air, no one chatted, we were lost in our serene surroundings..........
After two hours of paddling the tranquility was shattered by Lewis shouting loud with expletives and demanding that we paddle to the shore immediately! I turned back and could see a look of terror in his eyes! He had glanced back and saw the rounded back of a humpback or grey whale only 10 meters behind, it must have dived and swam right underneath us! I must admit, a feeling of vulnerability came over me, even though I'm sure it knew we were there. It's 'footprint' was clearly visible in the water behind us......
In the distance I could hear loud rumbling and roaring, we had reached Surge Narrows where the tide rips in and out of Octopus Islands Marine Reserve at up to 12 knots! The ocean resembled a raging river - nothing like the calmness we had become accustomed to.
We had anticipated arriving here at roughly flat water but had made such good time on the earlier part of the journey that the tide was still ripping through the inlet. We docked on the rocks and scrambled along to take a look at the 50 meters of 'surge' that we needed to paddle through in order to proceed. I took one look and suggested waiting at the side until the water had subsided to calmness again but was outvoted by the thrill seeking men in my life! Lewis was 'deposited' on the shore to take pictures of the event!.....Before I had time to persuade them otherwise, Andrew and Alasdair set off at full speed into the running water as I watched in horror from the shore! Their faces full of excitement and joy!
They paddled furiously in a straight line as I watched from the shore. Thankfully they made it through in one piece, all our equipment still intact and dry!
That left me! I carried the SUP over the rocks to where Lewis had taken the pictures and put the board in after the rapids, but surrounded by swirling eddys and whirlpools in deep water. I was not feeling too confident in my newly discovered paddle boarding skills at that point!!!
I had hoped to slowly stick to the shore and work my way along out of the whirlpools but I was drawn into the centre by the current. On my knees I started paddling like a mad woman, the side of the board started going under and Lewis was screaming at me to move away from the shore and into the faster flowing water. I didn't ask questions, just did exactly what I was told. Once the board was facing the direction of the flow, I paddled fiercely out of the 'danger zone' and into the welcoming calm waters, sweat dripping from my brow! I decided I wasn't doing that again!
We regrouped with a giggle and continued with our journey, quietly and steadily, noticing a pod of Porpoises along the way. In the distance was the welcoming sight of the Discovery Islands Lodge, a beautiful hideaway retreat for water enthusiasts http://www.coastmountainexpeditions.com/content/group-gatherings-and-adventures?q=node/21. We tied along side the dock while Andrew went inside to see if they were serving breakfast! To our delight they were! After a chat with the hosts and our bellies full, we continued on.
The wind had picked up and the tide had turned so the next section of the journey was somewhat challenging, I was thankful at this point for my 6 years of practising yoga as the upper body/core work was relentless. Being the only female in the family, I have no choice but to keep up or I get left behind! My men do not wait for me! It was hard work for the next three hours. As we neared Heriot Bay, I spotted the Cortes ferry & was relieved that we were almost at our final destination, but from where I was, it looked extremely small! It seemed to take forever for the ferry to 'grow' indicating that I was getting closer to shore and to the beer that I had been thinking about for hours! After a battle with wind and tide to turn into Heriot Bay, http://heriotbayinn.com/ we made it! Safe and sound at last. Now for the beer ;)
As you can see from the pic below, I wore the same outfit for three days, I slept in it too! My Teeki capris were quick drying and comfy, the Karma Bra layered with the loose Hardtail top were the perfect combination, offering protection from the sun and breathability. They looked fab too! ;)
Here's a map of our journey :)
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http://www.karmawear.com is another well known Vancouver based company who reinvented themselves last year & created a unique look that distinguished them from the rest. Their inspiration comes from "fashion & movement" & their collections are designed to honour & empower women both on & off the mat.
"Manufacturing jobs in the apparel industry have dwindled with the rise of overseas production. This is no more apparent than in our backyard of Vancouver. Karma is a Canadian apparel company that manufactures in Canada and the United States. We are committed to using local factories, investing in our community, and keeping local women employed.
We hope to inspire other local companies, in more than just apparel, to rethink their own practices and bring production back home. It is our core belief that if we practice good karma, others will follow"
I have been selling Karma for three years now & have built up a very loyal clientele. Customers are delighted with the quality & fit of the product & come back each season to see what exciting pieces are new. Wear their pieces for all activities, dance, Bikram hot yoga, Moksha yoga, yoga, pilates or for going from street to studio for a unique look.
http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/karma-jacket-san-suu is a favourite of mine, a stylish approach to a sports jacket, adding lines & ruffles for a more tailored look.
http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/karma-pullover-milla is made from eucalyptus jersey fabric, eco & very soft to the skin, the perfect layering piece.
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Lots of people are discovering us because they are looking for "an alternative to Lululemon" - something unique & individual that is still "made in Canada". We definitely have that alternative!
One of our main lines is based in Vancouver, & have maintained their manufacturing process in Canada, despite a global recession. Here's the scoop on a couple of my favourite pieces.
http://mytonic.ca produce a range of products that look great & fit beautifully. Their fabric has a reputation for 'not pilling' & the durability of it is second to none. They design several collections each year that include brand new pieces as well as some classic pieces. A favourite of mine is the Gather Short http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/tonicshortelemgather our best selling hot yoga/pole dance short. It appears 'skimpy' but offers ample coverage in a minimal unrestrictive way. The small gathers at the sides add style & comfort & the discreet embroidered logo is visible yet tasteful. We always carry an array of seasonal colours.
The Balance Tank http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/tonictank-balance is another favourite of mine. I get lots of requests for tanks that are not tight around the middle & this tank has the answer. It has a built in bra with removeable pads. The waistband sits on the hip and the body of the tank has a very loose relaxed fit, camouflaging any 'problem areas' around the middle.
I'll chat about another Vancouver based company http://www.karmawear.com in my next blog. I'm going to yoga now :)
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Until setting out on this blogging adventure I had never done hot yoga. I had avoided it simply because the idea of anything in a hot room did not sound like fun to me. But part of me felt that I should try it in order to give a more educated response to anyone who asks me about my thoughts on hot yoga. I'm glad I did. I started with Moksha Yoga Victoria.
I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive; a bit nervous and a very self-conscious. But when I took a look at the classes offered I was a bit shocked. There was quite the variety; Moksha in 60, 75 and 90 minute classes, Moksha Flow, Moksha Music, Yin, Yin Yang, Hot Flow, Hot Moksha Flow and my favourite - Boarders (I love surfing and snowboarding). So where do you start?
Well, I am a big fan of yin yoga, so that’s where I started - something familiar. I also figured that since Yin is predominantly seated postures this could be a good way of testing the waters of yoga in a warmer room. While Yin is taught in a warm not hot class the temperature is still higher than traditional yoga studios. The temperature reminded me of doing yoga on the beach on a warm summer day.
Still a bit nervous I mustered up my courage and tried a 60 minute Moksha class. I gave myself permission to take Child’s pose or Savasana at any point necessary. Part of my nervousness was due to not knowing what the 40 postures practiced in Moksha. It didn’t really seem to matter. The instructor, Heather, gave easy to follow instructions on how to get in and out of postures and walked around helping people get the most of the posture. Most of the postures are similar to postures taught in Hatha yoga, the oldest form of yoga.
Apart for the need to wipe sweat off my face and being grateful I had a towel, the heat did not increase the difficulty of the class. I struggled with the same aspects of postures I usually do (I have weak arms that tire easily and a not so strong core).I also began to understand the addiction people have to hot yoga. I had the same exhilaration and endorphin high that I got from running. My lungs felt clearer; my spirit uplifted and an overall sense of accomplishment of doing good for my body swept over me. Not to mention the benefit of sweating assists the body in ridding itself from toxins.
For those new to Moksha yoga I highly recommend starting with the 60 minute Moksha class and work up to the 90 minute. Once comfortable with the 90 minute Moksha classes test the waters of the hot Moksha Flow or other classes offered.
What to Wear
I will admit that part of my aversion to hot yoga was the clothing; or lack of clothing to be more accurate. I normally practice yoga in a tank top and yoga tights or pants. Wearing nothing but short shorts and a sports bra was not appealing to me but I did it anyway. However other people did not. I was shocked that some women wore capris and tank tops. In my first three classes I tried a variety of clothing options Teeki leggings, Karma bras, and shorts. What I discovered was the less clothing that could stick to my sweaty body the better.
Some of my favourite options are:
Karma Charlotte Bra Karma Kelly Bandeau Tonic Moon Ray Tank 
Teeki Mickey June Sun Short
K. Deere Bum Bum Short Tonic Pursuit Capri
For more suggestions on what to wear check out the Hot Yoga section of the online catalog
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Our first feature studio is Moksha Yoga Victoria. Part of the Moksha Yoga International family, the Victoria studio offers a unique twist to the hot yoga scene. Their mission is simple, "We are a group of independent hot yoga studios committed to ethical, compassionate and environmentally conscious living, and believe that the benefits of yoga are limitless and accessible to all."
Moksha Yoga was founded by Ted Grand and Jessica Robertson and is built on the "7 pillars":
- Be healthy.
- Be accessible.
- Live Green.
- Sangha Support
- Reach Out.
- Live to Learn.
- Be Peace.
While most of the 7 pillars are fairly self-explanatory "Sangha Support", for me, needs a little more explanation. Sangha Support is about building community. Helping people step out of the busyness of their lives and connect with others in a meaningful way.
Similar to Bikram and Asthanga yoga, Moksha follows a set series of poses. That said, no two classes are exactly the same, each instructor brings their own flare and can chose to include or skip a pose or two. The basic format remains the same in each class:
- savanasana,
- intention setting,
- standing series,
- seated series, and
- final savanasana.
The intention setting is where the instructors' personalities can really shine through as they impart words of inspiration to use on and off the mat. For example, one class I went to the intention was strength. Pilar, the instructor, spoke of finding our inner strength to not only face the challenges of the postures in class but taking that inner strength with us to face the challenges of our daily lives. A good reminder that yoga can be lived on and off the mat.
As with any style of yoga the instructors undergo specific training. The Moksha teacher training includes a one month intensive followed by an 11 month correspondence component giving instructors a total of 500 hours of training. At Moksha Yoga Victoria there are Moksha instructors and non-Moksha instructors. Only Moksha instructors can teach the classes designated as Moksha however there are other classes offered, such as Hot Flow, Yin, Boarders, that may or may not be taught by non-Moksha instructors.
So what should you wear?
Depends on your comfort level but keep in mind this is hot yoga so less is best. A few good options are:
Tonic Shiva Tank Tonic Elements Gather Short Karma Evelyn Short For more options check out the Hot Yoga section of our website.
I fell in love with SUP late in the Fall last year and rekindled the romance once the summer arrived this year! After extensive research I invested in a board specially designed for women - a Paiwen board 
