Nothing goes together better than Yoga and Kayaking, especially in one of our favorite paddling spots. Clayoquot Sound provides the quintessential west coast experience. The large white sandy beaches and old growth rainforest create the perfect environment to unroll your yoga mat and practice in the serenity of nature. This trip offers a nice balance between paddling and relaxation as we travel and camp along the shorelines of Vargas and Flores Islands. We’ll explore bays, secluded coves, beachcomb and hike in the rainforest, as well as rejuvenate and regenerate with two daily yoga sessions taught by Portland, Oregon based yoga instructor Leighann Franson. Those desiring a taste of the open west coast will delight. We hope you'll join us.

What to Expect

We’ll welcome each day with a morning practice that combines the perfect amount of asana (yoga), meditation and breathing practices.  Then we’ll eat a hearty, home cooked breakfast as we make our plans for the day.  Since we’ll be kayaking mid morning and early afternoon, we’ll use our late afternoon yoga session to have a more restorative practice and target those areas of the body we use most when we paddle. You’ll have lots of free time to explore the islands or simply hang out on the beach.  After dinner, we’ll sit around the fire and dive a little deeper into the ancient philosophy of yoga and how we can practice it even when we’re on the water.

The yoga we practice is rooted in anusara and yoga therapy as taught by T. Krishnamacharya so it is suitable for all levels. Our knowledgeable instructor is skilled at offering variations that will challenge any skill level.

Yoga In the Wilderness

Practicing yoga on a white sandy beach is a lot different that practicing yoga in the studio. Not only are you more in touch with the earth beneath your feet, but you’re also more connected to the fluctuations in the weather including precipitation, wind  and temperature. Therefore, practicing yoga in the outdoors requires some preparation. Be ready to layer-up and experience yoga the way nature intended—completely refreshing and peaceful.

About the Teacher

Leighann is an anusara-inspired yoga teacher who believes a good instructor not only leads you into your body, but gives you the tools to find your own path. Her classes combine the meticulous alignment of Iyengar yoga, the playfulness of vinyasa and the therapeutic approach of yoga and ayurveda  (India’s traditional system of medicine) for total well-being. It is also deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy and meditation. Over the past ten years, she has studied with John Friend, Sarahjoy Marsh, Paul Grilley, Ana Forrest, David Life and Sharon Gannon. Most recently, she returned from India where she studied yoga therapy with yoga legend T.K.V. Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. She teaches daily classes, leads workshops and helps teach a 200 and 500 hour teacher training at amrita: a sanctuary for yoga in Portland, Oregon. She also volunteers as a teacher for Living Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga into Oregon prisons.

KAYAKING 

No paddling or yoga experience is required, although we do insist that you know how to swim, have a good fitness level and a good sense of adventure. All kayaking and safety equipment is provided, including dry bags. We take along 6 to 8 single kayaks: TESLA's, SOLSTICE GT's, ARLUK  III - IV's,  TELKWA's  and 2 or 3 double kayaks - PASSAT's, SKANA's, TOFINO's and take turns in a variety of boats -. Our maximum group size is 12, including guides, often group size is smaller. We paddle approximately 2-4 hours each day, leaving plenty of time for yoga, walking in the woods, beachcombing and relaxing on the beach. Weather and sea conditions will ultimately determine our route and weather permitting,  paddlers will get a taste of the exposed west coast and ocean swells generated by the Pacific Ocean. For those interested in developing or improving their kayaking skills, our guides are always happy to provide paddling tips, practice rescues, or discuss the art of navigation.

Agenda  

We rendezvous early on day one of your trip in TOFINO - approximately 3.5 hours or 150 miles west of Nanaimo. People are responsible for getting themselves to Tofino or the nearby town of Ucluelet ( 40 min drive) the night before (e.g., to join July 19th trip, arrive in Tofino or Ucluelet on the 18th). We can help arrange car pooling and there is the Tofino Bus  running daily from Victoria and Nanaimo regions.  There are plenty of choices for accomodation in both communities, however, Tofino is extremely busy during the summer so make sure you book early. Ucluelet and the Ucluelet Campground are  good alternatives. We can also recommend lodgings. We will rendezvous in downtown Tofino early the next morning at Remote Pasages at 7 am to load our gear on the water taxi and park our vehicles. We'll take a water taxi int the  heart of Clayoquot where our travels will take us to the beaches of  Vargas and Flores Islands. Weather permitting, we plan to arrive back in Tofino around noon on the last day, in time for people to catch ferries out of Nanaimo returning to Vancouver.

Meals

We have found from past experience that the most economical, fun, and greatest variety of meals comes from when the food effort is shared (this also keeps our guides fresh!). Each person is responsible for the purchase and preparation of a share of group meals (typically two or three meals depending on group size).  We organize the meal schedule and can forward you some suggestions about what keeps and packs well if you wish. Check out Meal Ideas and The Paddling Chef facebook group.

How to Reserve

A $200 non-refundable deposit reserves a space. Full payment due 60 days before trip start. We aren't able to process credit cards. In order to minimize your costs , please pay by cheque. Thanks. If you cancel, you'll get your balance back unless it is 14 or fewer days before trip start, in which case we'll refund you 50%.

To make your reservation,

Please email us at info@kayaktoursbc.com,

Or give us a call at:

(250) 247-0189

Payments can be sent to Gabriola Sea Kayaking, 363 Hemlock Ave, Gabriola BC, Canada, V0R 1X1.

Please make cheques out to Gabriola Sea Kayaking.

Price Includes 

• All kayaking equipment 
• Cooking equipment 
• Two guides/outfitters (5:1 ratio) 
• Dry bags (one 20 litre bag per person) 
• One way water taxi
• LOTS OF FUN

Does Not Include

• Transportation to and from Tofino 
• We share meal purchase & preparation (meals from lunch day 1 to breakfast day 6)
• Accommodations in Tofino the night before trip start
• Tents (rentals available for $45 if you reserve well in advance)
• Sleeping bag & camping mat
• Yoga mat

Your guides will be using nautical chart  #3673 for Clayoquot Soundavailable for roughly C$20. Please visit  the Canadian Hydrographic Service website to find a location near you to purchase your chart if you would like to bring one along.

Philosophy

GABRIOLA SEA KAYAKING are ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS. We wish to attract healthy, self-sufficient, fun-loving adventurers. Participants take part in all aspects of the adventure, including meal preparation and daily trip planning. Our primary role is to look after navigation, reduce risk, and outfit your trip. Our guides are outdoor professionals from an eclectic variety of backgrounds and have spent many seasons exploring the wilderness. We have been leading kayak adventures since 1995.

Hope to paddle with you this summer!