Get ready to dive into the invigorating world of stand-up paddle (SUP) training in 2024!

Stand-up paddle training is a remarkable way to strengthen your body, balance your mind, and connect with nature. With the serenity of the water beneath you and the splendor of the surrounding environment, this experience offers a refreshing escape from the mundane.

Stay tuned for more details on this highly anticipated SUP training event. As we prepare to paddle our way towards wellness and rejuvenation in the upcoming year, let the anticipation build.

Join us for our SUP Yoga Teacher Training in Portage, Michigan, led by certified WPA instructor and lead teacher Dana Mitchell. This experience is a unique adventure that we hope you'll take with us. With each SUP Training being slightly different, we are bonded by our shared adventure and love for the water during this three-day intensive. To us, SUP Teacher Training doesn't end when you receive your certificate.

FIVE REASONS TO JOIN SUP TRAINING

1.) SAFETY

The training educates and informs ALL levels of instructors about water safety and preparation. You will learn the following:

• Boating laws

• Rules & regulations

• Proper water rescue techniques

• Injury prevention

• Safety planning

• Understanding the environment (tides, currents & wind patterns)

2.) FINE-TUNE YOUR PADDLE SKILLS TO ADVANCE YOUR TECHNIQUE

As SUP Yoga trainees, you'll dive deep into those skills to offer you extensive knowledge as a teacher. Our training combines paddle boarding and yoga, paddle boarding fundamentals, and techniques to instruct your students properly. We cover SUP etiquette, board anatomy, and equipment knowledge. You will leave proficient in all things SUP.

3.) ENHANCE YOUR TEACHING

The water encourages you to let go as a teacher and be adaptable to change. As SUP Yoga instructors, we do not have the opportunity to give hands-on adjustments, so you rely on your verbal cues to assist. You will sharpen your verbal cues as a teacher on land and water. This training helps you learn how to read your students to create a safe yoga sequence on the water with modifications and transitions, learning how to adjust your current land practice to the water. We also instruct on what NOT to do on the water, which builds on understanding water safety and adapting the yoga practice to the water. You will feel confident to teach to all levels with a knowledge of how to start and run a SUP Yoga business.

4.) THE EXPERIENCE

Our floating yoga studio has no walls, mirrors, or room for the ego; instead, you'll enjoy the experience of guiding your students out on the water and getting lost in the bliss. Being on the water allows you to hear stories the wind tells. The sun slowly begins to warm your skin; the water teaches us to slow down, take a breath, and listen to the birds chirp and the water as it laps beneath the board. This training offers you a unique experience to get intimate with the beauties of nature. The only music is the sound of mother nature; you become embraced by her.

5.) THE SUN CHASER EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF A KIND

The SunChaser experiences ever-evolving, adapting, and changing. No SUP Training is the same! This experience is a unique adventure led by Dana Mitchell, and we hope you'll take it with us. With each SUP Training being slightly different, we are bonded by our shared adventure during this three-day intensive. To us, SUP Teacher Training doesn't end when you receive your certificate.

Dive in and learn how to design your SUP Yoga class through a weekend of discovery and adventure. SunChaser's bringing SUP Yoga Teacher Training to Michigan in June! This experience is a unique adventure that we hope you'll take with us. With each of our SUP Training slightly different, we bond through our shared adventure during this three-day intensive. To us, SUP Teacher Training doesn't end when you receive your certificate.

Day 1 - World Paddle Association (WPA) level 1

This 8-hour intensive is where we will learn the core of the training. Day-1 is all about SUP requirements for a WPA instructor class I certification.

The WPA Water Safety curriculum includes classroom and on-water instruction that provides for: 

• Board and Equipment Purchasing

• SUP Etiquette

• Safety Planning

• Injury Prevention

• Water Dynamics

• Boating Laws

• Board & Paddling Skills

• Rescue techniques

• Water Safety information

Day 2 - Developing a Floating Asana Practice

Let's learn how to navigate the waters together. Now equipped with the skill set acquired through the paddle portion of the training, we will build upon these skills to turn the SEA into a floating yoga studio. We will learn how to adapt our current practice to the water and safely anchor or class—creating a safe & fun transition. 

Day 3- Teaching

Now fully equipped with paddling knowledge and how to cater your asanas to the water, we put it all together on the final day. Everyone will get a chance to guide and receive guidance. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this training for me? Yes. Anyone looking to dive deeper into their practice and learn how to guide a yoga class on the water. If you are only interested in learning safety measures, assessing weather conditions, and how to conduct SUP groups and tours, then Day 1 is perfect for you. You will learn how to design your SUP Yoga or Pilates class safely and efficiently. Our training educates and informs all levels of instructors about water safety and the fundamentals of paddling. Segments will cover the following:

• Equipment set up

• SUP industry education

• Yoga & Pilates Sequencing

• Class creation

• Water safety 

Do I need to be certified in Yoga, Pilates, or Fitness? Yes, we prefer you have a certification in your area of fitness. However, you can take the course to deepen your knowledge of SUP. However, to teach, you must have completed approved certification.  

Is it ok to take the training if I am reasonably new to SUP? Absolutely! You will be trained in everything you need to know to build your confidence on the water. You will leave the learned with all the tools to safely and successfully guide a class on the water. 

Do I need my equipment for this training?  Yes. We will provide some boards, but it's on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your board must have a leash, and you must be able to swim or wear a life jacket.