Following an afternoon of guided wild yoga, our Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy team continued our day of experience by heading to the city’s harbour so that we could join SUP Bristol on the water. 

This activity was to continue our day of wellbeing and team-building but, instead of the tranquillity and introspection we experienced at the Westbury Wildlife Park Foundation, our account of which can be read here, we were ready to push ourselves physically, with the majority of our counsellors standing atop a paddleboard for the very first time.

We were welcomed by Alice and Jake, both of whom emanated enthusiasm for the water, expressing what a brilliant day our session had fallen on. The sun was high, the sky clear, and the harbourside filled with folk revelling in the summer season. While there was an element that our novice SUP adventuring was to be under the watch of such a substantial crowd, we were nonetheless eager to find our balance on the waves.

Still glowing from the experience of wild yoga, our relaxed bodies seemed well-prepared and we each mounted our boards with ease, then pushing ourselves away from the pontoon and out into the harbour’s centre. 

Alice and Jake kept watchful eyes as we each kneeled on our boards, and encouraged us to navigate our way across the water with gentle paddles. Those who were paddleboarding for the first time soon realised the concentration required to balance oneself and manoeuvre simultaneously. Paddling may look simple and the boards sturdy but even the slightest disruption, such as from a passing boat, can challenge one’s footing.

When it came to finding our feet and standing up on our individual paddleboards, the observing crowds seemed to disappear from our minds. The only considerations we had were our legs and the water. This, we quickly learned, is one of the most wonderful aspects of paddleboarding, and it is a similar quality that is experienced in other physical activities. Our minds became calm, concentrated only on the immediate task. From the positioning of our feet to the pressure of each stroke, the activity left no room for distraction.

One by one, we each stood up, feeling as if we had overcome a great challenge. It may seem unremarkable to those more experienced, or even those watching as we grinned atop wobbling legs, but the experience of achieving balance on the water was one of elation.

It wasn’t just the physical accomplishment that brought joy, however, but the water too. Once again, nature had played a significant role in our day of wellness. While there have been fewer studies on the relationship between paddleboarding and mental health when compared with yoga, the research is growing and the results already taking shape. Even outside of the physical benefits the watersport brings, being so close to water, and interacting with it, can reduce anxiety and depression.

Returning to the land made us each realise the demand paddleboarding places upon the body, even when it appears to be a low-impact activity. Our legs were shaking, having already adapted to the required caution of the water. Alice referred to it as the Elvis leg and assured us that it is a common occurrence among beginners. It certainly didn’t deter our team’s enjoyment of the activity with the general consensus being that we should not want to leave it too long before returning to the water, and SUP Bristol, again.

The entire day of social and nature-based activities engaged our group physically and mentally, emphasising the importance of such endeavours in life. Not only should we make time for ourselves, so that we might enjoy exciting or relaxing activities, but also to interact with a wild landscape and challenge ourselves. These environments benefit us, helping to remedy many of the challenges and stressors that we might be susceptible to in our professional and personal lives.