At all of our Wanderlust Festivals, we are proud to partner with Boga for all of our Standup Paddleboard yoga classes. These classes are some of the most popular on our schedule and they often fill up fast. We sat down with Jeramie Vaine and learned a few cool things about the other side of a SUP teacher.
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Wanderlust: What do you want to be when you grow up?
JV: I want to be Peter Pan, because I never want to grow up. To play and laugh and be joyful in my version of never never land. It would be filled with my friends, family, all types of yoga, surfing and adventures.
WL: What did your child self want to be when you grew up?
JV: As a child I always wanted to be involved in some form of sports, whether being an athlete or coach.
WL: What is your personal theme song?
WL: What is your biggest fear?
JV: Being far away from the water or my mat.
WL: Do you have a favorite yoga pose?
JV: Meditation Pose. This is where the magic happens. I shed my layers and dive into the deep goodness of life. It brings me back to the place of pure happiness and Never-Never Land.
WL: Do you have a least favorite yoga pose?
JV: I love all the poses in yoga, but there are days when my favorite slides into this category. Especially when my mind is all over the road and I can not get to never never land. But with some breath work, the connection occurs and and the least part slides away.
WL: Do you have a most embarrassing moment as a SUP student?
JV: I was paddling at the beginning of a SUP Yoga Class and was not paying attention. I lost my balance did the running man on the board — you know, where you start running like you’re on a treadmill then the board shoots out from under you. I thought I was the only one in the water when I pulled my life together realized I was the first domino and wiped out half the class. I wanted to turn around and paddle home, but I had to swim 50 yards to get my board back which was in the mix of 5 other swimming yogis. All I could do was laugh and say, “Oooppsss, sorry friends.”
WL: What has been your most embarrassing moment as a SUP teacher?
JV: I was leading a class and bumped into a row of Yogis in crescent, then they became dominos. Thankfully, it was hot out and they all had a great sense of humor. Note to self: don’t bump boards while teaching.
WL: What do you love about what you do?
JV: SUP Yoga brings all Yogis back to our first day on the mat. We all become beginners again and this is what allows us to grow. By going back to the basics, we are able to deepen our practice and connect with our breath, mind and intention. But I also love hearing the, “I can’t do this,” and then watching that student do it. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to teach many students their first ever inversion, seeing that joy is what makes me feel alive.
WL: What challenges you about what you do?
JV: In a studio, the environment is controlled, the sounds, the temperature, the layout — all if of it can be controlled. When we practice on the water, nothing is controlled and these factors can hinder a class by putting fear in the students before they even arrive. I love focusing on making the experience fun and enjoyable and building their confidence, so they realize that they will not be swimming but practicing yoga above the water!