Spotlight on Leanne Bird - ASI SUP Fitness & Yoga Teacher

UK. WALES.  Leanne Bird is an ASI Instructor and Trainer, specialising in SUP Yoga and SUP Fitness.  She operates Surfing Bird, an ASI accredited SUP school, based at scenic Pembrokeshire, Wales.  

Leanne got involved in the industry, as she has a passion for fitness, well-being, adventure and the outdoors and being on, in and near the water.

I became a SUP Instructor because I love paddling and the freedom you feel, the connection with nature, the time with yourself and friends.  I love to inspire people, to give them an experience that they will remember, leaving them beaming from ear to ear, and if I'm lucky also getting them hooked on SUP, hooked on nature, hooked on real life!”

I have qualifications in yoga and personal training, so it was a natural progression to do yoga and fitness on a SUP board.

Instead of being inside in a gym, you are out in nature, doing either yoga poses or fitness exercises specially modified for SUP.   It adds a whole new dimension to yoga or fitness training.

Leanne then become an ASI Trainer, as she wanted to inspire more people to become SUP Yoga and SUP Fitness instructors.  Which means she teaches others to be SUP Yoga Teachers and SUP Fitness Instructors.

I love teaching and I want to be able to show yoga teachers and fitness instructors alternative ways to instruct and inspire their clients to get outside.”

Leanne keeps busy providing SUP paddle tours, lessons, SUP Fitness and SUP yoga sessions. 

Everyone loves it.  Also the SUP school industry is really friendly and we share the same passion for the sport, albeit from different angles!  She says: “There are so many ways for SUP to be enjoyed, there is something for everyone.”

One of her inspiring moments was when she was paddling alone down the Afon Terifi.  She says: “I was paddling down through the beautiful wooded gorge and as I came around a sharp bend in the river, I could see through the tunnel of trees a flock of curlew flying straight towards me.

They only saw me at the last minute so I had 9 curlews fly really close past me through the gorge, I could feel the wind from their wings as they sped past me.  It was so beautiful. I was very lucky to experience this. It just inspires you to go out more!”

Other interesting moments that happened were being joined by a mother and calf dolphin during one of her SUP Fitness classes in New Quay. Leanne says: “It was fantastic to see them and the class were overjoyed - even though every time they turned around to take a picture the dolphins disappeared!”

On the future of SUP, Leanne says: “Supping has so much potential.  It doesn’t matter what age you are, if it is a tiny inland waterway or coast, you can include the family and even the dog when out paddling !

It’s great to have Leanne on board as part of the ASI worldwide team and sharing her passion with others.

For more information about Leanne and her school Surfing Bird. See the ASI website:
https://www.academyofsurfing.com/sports/stand-up-paddle/team/asi-trainer--leanne-bird
 
More information about enrolling in the SUP Fitness and SUP Yoga Teacher courses at:
https://www.academyofsurfing.com/stand-up-paddle/courses
 
See photos on facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/pg/ASI.Intl/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1265164893636635

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About ASI
ASI is a professional membership organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
We set the standards for education, accreditation, professional development and ongoing support for our members, offering pathways from entry level to elite level.
International Instructor and Coach Accreditation. You can travel the world with ASI.
ASI Accredited Schools abide by the high international standards for operations, training and safety.
www.academyofsurfing.com