Jo Moseley, a passionate paddleboarder and adventurer, has compiled and edited a number of personal stories from fellow paddlers.
In Adventures on the Water, the physical and mental health benefits of paddleboarding are discussed as well as the importance of the sport’s inclusive community.
You’ve said before how you went from a ‘worrier to warrior’ after taking up SUP. How do people change when they get out on the water?
Yes, for me that feeling of being a warrior was instant.
The moment I stood up on a paddleboard on 24 September 2016, on Derwent Water in the Lake District, I felt confident, calm, joyful and as if anything was possible!
SUP Shropshire founder, and Operational Fire Officer in the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Craig Jackson also says that as soon as he is on the water it feels like his stresses just float away.
I think there are a number of factors why this is the case:
A) the act of standing on the board – with a strong engaged core and steady legs, as if we are walking on water, is very empowering.
B) In her book The Joy of Movement, Kelly McGonigal talks about how physical activity has a positive effect on our brain and body, impacting brain chemicals that “give you energy, alleviate worry and help you bond with others”.
It reduces inflammation in the brain, which over time can protect against depression, anxiety and loneliness.
C) There is research around the concept of ‘Blue Mind’ in Wallace J Nichols book Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do.
Blue mind is “the mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under or on water.”
Nichols shares scientific studies, including fMRI scans, showing how proximity to water can lead to decreased stress and anxiety, increased feelings of wellbeing and lower breathing and heart rates.
I think it’s wonderful that there is now scientific research backing up what we feel intuitively about feeling less anxious and stressed when we are around water.
What kind of stories do people share in your book about SUP changing their lives?
I really wanted the book to show the variety of SUP disciplines and experiences, from huge adventures like Brendon Prince’s circumnavigation of the British coastline, or Caz Dawson’s Amazonian expedition to Kathy Marston’s calming SUP Yoga classes, and Clare Osborn’s moments on the water looking for glimmers [moments of joy].
We also have white water SUP, racing and SUP surf.
She Paddles ambassador Cathy Miles shares her story of learning to SUP after a stroke, and Will Behenna talks about going for a solo paddle on his local river decades after a cycling accident.
There are stories of overcoming loss, grief and illness to then finding joy, connection and peace within.
The contributors cover purpose, friendship, community, achievement, courage, family, environmental protection, self belief and yes, simple fun!
Every one of the 25 contributors has a different story to tell and yet they are all united by the fact that SUP has benefitted their lives physically, emotionally, socially and mentally.
It’s a huge honour for me to share the moving and inspiring personal essays.
Alongside them, I’ve included the contributors’ favourite piece of kit, snack, place to paddle and top so that’s a fabulous resource.
And then there’s some research and science behind why being on the water is so good for us.
You have some great tips about making a difference, but what is your key piece of advice?
Thank you! In both my previous guidebooks Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain and Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake District, I wrote about ways we can make a positive difference from beach cleaning and litter picking to being vigilant about the Check, Clean, Dry procedures so we don’t carry INNS from lake to lake.
I think the key piece of advice is really believing that we can all make a positive difference to the bodies of water we love and to making the SUP community welcoming.
Believing we can make a difference creates the motivation to do something.
I think it’s important to also remind ourselves that it doesn’t have to be huge – a two minute beach clean, taking two minutes to Check, Clean and Dry or 2 minutes to say hello to someone who asks questions about how they can get into paddling.
They all add up. Small acts consistently done over time by all of us can make a huge difference.
You can buy ‘Adventures on the Water – The Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives’ at Adventure Books. Paddle UK members can get 10% off. Login to the Members Dashboard to claim your discount code.
