Calm and patient. Two words my clients have used to describe my coaching style over the years. Anxiety and panic attacks. Things I never thought I’d experience, much less need to manage… until this year. This is new territory for me, and new experiences lead to growth. As I’ve adjusted I’ve learned about myself and how the self care I’ve implemented over the years is making a big difference for my mental and physical well being during this time. Here are my Top 5 Strategies for Managing Anxiety: Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or a counselor. My intention with this post
5 Exercises To Relieve Your Anxiety
March 7, 2019 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness
Want a Consistent Roll? Try These 3 Things
February 15, 2019 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Kayaking Tips
Do you struggle with a consistent roll? You’re not alone. The roll can come and go, especially if you paddle rivers where you don’t flip over. The roll can be challenging to perform consistently because… a. The movements are counter intuitive. We’re use to being able to use strength to push ourselves up or brace ourselves if we fall. In the element of water that’s not possible because water is not solid! Effective technique is needed. b. Whether you want to admit it or not, flipping upside down in a medium where you can’t breathe while having your lower body
The 2 Questions I Ask Before I Help Someone
February 5, 2019 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness
There’s love, satisfaction and joy present when we contribute in a positive way to someone’s life. Whether it’s helping a stranger with directions, being a powerful listener for a friend, a caregiver for family, or setting safety for our crew on the water. Then why, you may ask, does helping or being of service sometimes (or often) feel frustrating and tiresome? Why do feelings of resentfulness creep in? Perhaps you even ask yourself why you bother helping that person/people anyway?! The love is clearly gone. If you feel this way then… Ask Yourself These Two Questions: Why? It’s the simplest
How the Sun Rules Your Health
January 17, 2019 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness
What if I told you that the secret to optimal health, stress and weight management is your relationship with the sun? You may think that I’ve gone off the deep end and joined some weird crazy cult that stares into the sun for energy or something. Well, it’s not crazy or airy fairy, it’s called chronobiology. The science of chronobiology, the field of biology that studies natural physiological rhythms, is telling us that our circadian rhythm (24 hour body clock) governs our health and wellness. In 2017 the Nobel prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists for their discoveries showing
Yoga for Paddling: How to Sit to Reduce Back Pain
December 19, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness, Yoga for Paddling
Did you know that one of the main functions of the spine is that of shock absorber? That’s why the spine has curves, to act like a spring to absorb impact. The disks in between the bony vertebrae also play a major roll in this function. Disks are made of squishy cartilage able to absorb impact by compressing slightly. In a healthy spine the cartilage doesn’t stay compressed, but retakes shape. When the disks get too compressed by the vertebrae it can lead to bulging disks. A bulging disk is when the disk gets so compressed that it bulges out
Playboating Tips that’ll Get You Spinning!
December 5, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Kayaking Tips
Spinning in a hole is a basic whitewater kayaking playboating move that teaches you how to work with the water and also how to set yourself up for harder tricks. It’s super fun and when you get in the groove on a good feature you can spin forever! I love the feeling of dancing with the water 🙂 I’ve created a teaching video using GoPro footage I took while paddling the Big Laurel River near Asheville, NC where I live. When we paddle this river during Creek Week and I encourage my students to practice their spins because playboating also
Anna’s Gift Guide for the Health Conscious Paddler
November 20, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness, Kayaking Tips, SUP Tips, Yoga for Paddling
Ready to be the coolest gift giver this season? Give meaningful and fun gifts that contribute to your favorite paddler’s health, wellbeing and passion for paddling. Read on for my top picks for paddlers who do (or would like to) take on their wellness with as much stoke as they take on the water! Under $25 Asheville Tea Company Pumpkin Pie Chai Delicious, hand packed tea by Asheville outdoor enthusiast Jessie Dean. Perfect for pre and post paddling, especially during the cool winter/spring months. Full of digestive spices that are also sweet and comforting. My favorite recipe for preparation: 1TBS
6 Secrets to Beat Holiday Bloat
November 19, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Health and Wellness, Yoga for Paddling
Do you experience bloat, discomfort and lethargy from overindulging during the Holiday Season? If so, you’re not alone! I think we’ve all been there 🙂 The good news is that I’ve got some tips that will help you enjoy the good cheer and delicious foods of the season without the heaviness. As an Ayurveda Wellness Counselor I’ve spent a lot of time studying and practicing effective strategies for boosting digestion, one of the key bodily functions responsible for our energy level, mood and nutrition. During this time of year it’s easy to let our digestive systems get bogged down
The Secrets to Calm, Confident Whitewater Kayaking
November 8, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Kayaking Tips
Want to feel more stable and confident in your kayak in whitewater? Try sinking your weight down into your butt. I know it sounds weird, but it works! Placing your focus on your kayak and hips gets your attention away from doing too much with your paddle. Too much paddling actually leads to instability. That’s why when you watch really good paddlers they take fewer, yet more powerful and timed strokes. When we focus on feeling ‘grounded’ in our kayaks we create stability and confidence. Here are examples of what I mean. In this first video, Sandra, a newer paddler
China: How the Adventure I Resisted Most Turned Out to Be the Most Profound
October 8, 2018 | Written by: | Filed Under: Anna's Blog, Trip/Tour Reports
China was never on my mind as a fun travel destination. I never imagined myself there, nor did I have a desire to go. The impressions I had of Chinese culture were unfriendly, serious and aggressive. I had seen video and photos of beautiful places in China, but I had also heard of air pollution and crowds of people. Even though I had had wonderful interactions with a few Chinese nationals, I couldn’t seem to get over the negative impressions of China that had somehow made their way into my brain. So… when I received an invitation to teach SUP
