top of page

Experience the healing effects of land and sea

SeaStrength Health

Programs

Get closer to nature and improve your health by staying active and outdoors with SeaStrength Health's core programs and endless custom options. From Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Skills certifications, to beachside personal-training workouts for beginners, I'll meet you where you're at, help you identify your goals, and walk alongside you while you get there.

Paddling for Health

Personal Training

Weekly Group Paddling

Group Fitness Classes

Private Kayak Coaching

Kayak Rolling Classes

A group of people have fun learning the basics about sea kayaking

Paddling for Health

High-quality sea kayak instruction? Check!

Opportunity to paddle on an ongoing basis? Check!

Expensive investment in gear? Nope!

Time-heavy prep and clean-up? Nope!

You live on the Island! It's time to get out on the water, and this is the way to do it! Start with Paddle Canada's beginner friendly, one day "Basic Kayak Skills" course, then follow it up with 4 included Group Paddling sessions or Group Fitness sessions. Starting at $350 for a full day of instruction and 4 group paddling sessions, you'll soon find the benefits of paddling making a difference in your life!

Sea Kayak Skills

Launching & landing a sea kayak

Forward, reverse & stopping strokes

Sweep strokes & privot turns

Draw strokes, edging & low brace

Rescue Skills

Safe & controlled capsize, emptying the kayak

Assisted re-entries

Self-rescue (Level 1 only)

Knowledge

Kayaks, safety equipment, paddling gear

Injury Prevention

Navigation & Collision regulations

Kayakers & the environment

Weather, trip planning, using charts (Level 1 only)

Before Your Program

NO pre-requisites.
NO prior experience, pre-reading or other prep is needed.
Adaptive paddling assessments are available (book a Discovery Phone Call)
Consider booking a personal training session for a preparatory fitness routine custom built for you, following an in-depth movement & health assessment.
Private kayak coaching is available prior to course, great for those with some anxiety about paddling!

After Your Program

Eligible to join SeaStrength's Weekly Group Paddling events to keep up your skills, fitness and mental health. An affordable and flexible option, this weekly event is non-instructional and focuses on connecting with nature and others.
- Book a class here and there, or make it part of your regular routine. No commitment necessary.
- NEW for 2025: 4 free sessions of either Group Paddling or Group Fitness included with registration!

Pricing

$350 for Paddling for Health - Basic + 4 group sessions

$450 for Paddling for Health - Level 1 + 4 group sessions

Includes all gear, delivered to paddling site.

Fully licensed & insured.

When

Paddling for Health - Basic Kayak Skills (8 hours)
- Jan 25, 2025
- Feb 22, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 - Additional Spring Break options available by request
- April date TBA - contact to request
- May 10, 2025
- Jun 21, 2025
Paddling for Health - Level 1 Sea Kayak Skills (16 hours)
- May 24-25, 2025
NEW for 2025! 4 Group Paddling or Group Fitness sessions included with registration!
- Group Padlding - 2 hours, see below for schedule
- Group Fitness - 1 hour, see below for schedule

Where

Nanaimo is home to many beautiful beginner friendly ocean and lake waterfronts. Exact locations are chosen based on participant skill levels and weather. You'll receive a text message update 24-48 hours before your session.

Custom courses can be arranged anywhere in Central Vancouver Island and beyond.

Strength & Flexibility

Learn simple exercises you can do beachside or at home to support you as you enter the world of paddling & an active lifestyle.

Stress Management

Conversations around the stress of life always seem to come up. More productive then venting, these conversations - if they come up - will focus on normalizing what we're all going through while keeping the mood light and sharing strategies like basic mindfulness & grounding skills. The calming & healing effect of the sea make this easier than trying these skills in your usual environments!

Three paddlers participate in a kayak therapy session with their registered nurse leading the program

Weekly Group Paddling

Forget retail therapy, join a few fellow paddlers for a dose of Kayak Therapy! Kayaking has been shown to reduce stress, increase creativity and improve overall physical and mental health. SeaStrength makes it easy to get out there by handling planning, gear and partners… all you do is show up and paddle. At just $50 for a 2 hours session, you can drop in when it fits your schedule, or come every week! 4 sessions included with every Paddling for Health program.

Sea Kayak Skills

This is a non-instructional program, leaving you with time to enjoy the water, your fellow paddlers, and work on your skills at your own pace.

The Rest

While this isn't counselling, being out on the water can be very therapeutic. We take stock each week to see what people want to focus on: options include cardio fitness focus, targeted strength and flexibility training, peer debriefing, managing stress, ADHD, and more. Having a trained facilitator present ensures conversations & activities stay on track as decided by the group.

When

2 hours (afternoons or evenings)
- Every Friday starting Jan 10 @ 9:00 am
- Most weekends, either Sat or Sun @ 1:00 pm
- Evening options starting in April
- Contact me to request more times!
Had a tough shift? Stressful meeting? Don't take it home, call SeaStrength for a last minute booking for you and your crew - no extra charge - and leave it out on the water.

Where

SeaStrength takes care of the guesswork - weather, tides, and conditions will dictate the location - all you need to do it show up. We'll use one of Nanaimo's many ocean or lakefronts for our kayak therapy paddles, and you'll get a text notification the day before to let you know the spot.

Pricing

$50 per session

Includes all gear, delivered to paddling site.

Fully licensed & insured

Three paddlers participate in a kayak therapy session with their registered nurse leading the program

Kayak Rolling Classes

Join me for an immersive 2-hour Sea Kayak Rolling Clinic designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of the layback Greenland roll. This session is perfect for kayakers looking to enhance their skills, gain confidence underwater, and explore the therapeutic benefits of sea kayak rolling as an independent sport. Since I teach with a trauma-informed lens, it's also a great way for those with a fear of capsize or a fear of going underwater to slowly increase their confidence and work toward comfort with wet exits and maybe a roll.

By the end of the clinic, you will have a learned foundational skills in the layback Greenland roll, increased your underwater confidence, and a learned a set of techniques that will enhance your kayaking skills and overall well-being.

Clinics

Following a brief group instructional chat, we'll break into partners and begin with gentle exercises to build comfort and control underwater.

Balance Brace & Butterfly Roll: Practice these foundational techniques to improve balance and control.
Standard Layback Roll: You'll learn the mechanics and gracefulness of the standard layback roll. By focusing on slow, deliberate, and graceful movements, you'll be able to generate power when needed.
Long breath holding, strong upper body strength, and comfort underwater are not necessary. This clinic focuses on mastering your nervous system, technique and calmness - all things that are crucial in a real capsize situation, but also highly applicable to daily life. It's a great way to de-stress and find a sense of calm on the water, making it an ideal activity for professionals in high-stress jobs with high rates of burnout.
Advanced Rolls: For those interested, I offer instruction and coaching on several other layback and forward finish rolls.

Open Practice Sessions with Coaching

These sessions allow you the flexibility to work on skills of your choice, so some independence is needed.
I'll move between the 6 participants, offering 1:1 coaching & instruction.
Coaching available on: C-to-C roll (Euro blade); Standard Greenland roll, Norsaq roll, Shotgun roll, hand roll (layback); storm roll, continuous storm roll, and reverse sweep roll.

Coaching Resume

Paddle Canada Certified Rolling Instructor
Ukee Greenland Weekend Coach, 2023, 2024 & 2025
Mentored by and coached alongside James Manke, 2022 - present

When

Every 4th Friday of the month:

Jan 24 (Formal instruction)
Feb 28 (Practice with coaching)
Mar 28 (Formal instruction, special time 5:30-7:30pm)
Special event with Rebel Kayaks on Mar 29 & 30 (Practice with coaching, 4:30-6:30)
April 25 (Practice with coaching)
May 23 (Practice with coaching)

Where

Beban Pool, Nanaimo

Pricing

Formal Instruction and pool access: $100

Practice session with coaching and pool access: $75

Includes all gear, delivered to paddling site.

Fully licensed & insured

Preparatory Tips

While no special preparation is required, you may benefit from working on posture, flexibility, and swimming to enhance your comfort underwater. Personal training sessions are available, see below)
You can bring your own clean kayak or use one provided by me. Ensure your kayak is free from sand, salt, or dirt.
Consider bringing a mask, goggles, nose plug, or swim cap if desired.
Plan to arrive 30 minutes early, especially if bringing your own kayak, to allow time for inspection and preparation.

A Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Rolling instructor guides a participant through the initial stages of layback rolling

Private Kayak Coaching

The ultimate self-care. Whether you're enjoying 1-on-1 attention and the option to unload and de-stress from the day, learning new skills, refining your Greenland paddle stroke, or mastering your hand roll, private coaching gives you the ultimate in flexibility!

Need a break?

Schedule yourself sea kayak therapy as a way to get active, get outdoors and take care of your health on all fronts, without the investment in gear, prep time, or stress of deciding if/where it's safe to paddle. Just show up and paddle, and let the ocean and SeaStrength take care of you..

Need a little more support?

As a Registered Nurse, I can act as an extension of the healthcare professionals you're currently working with, providing seamless follow-up and continuity of care. Whether you're looking to maintain the gains you've achieved in counseling with a solid self-care routine, or transitioning from joint rehabilitation, let me serve as a bridge from their specialized care to your next challenge.

Kayak Rolling = Kayak Therapy

Sea Kayak rolling isn't just for extreme sea kayakers. There is just something about being on, in and under the water that helps you be completely in the moment. The experience is therapeutic in itself. Much like hanging from the monkey bars when you were a kid, or lying upside down on the couch, or doing handstands or yoga inversions, sea kayak rolling provides a significant sensory experience for your brain. If you spend a lot of time behind a desk or a screen, give sea kayak rolling a try - you might just be surprised how great you feel after! I use a primarily Greenland-style approach to rolling, which means that there is almost NO upper body strength needed, the movements are fluid, and the feeling of success is like nothing else! Taught and practiced primarily at Westwood Lake, pool sessions are available in the winter and the sea is a beautiful place to practice when it warms up!

Rolling Instruction

As a certified sea kayak rolling instructor, I can help you learn from the beginning, refine your roll, or learn one of the many types of Greenland rolls. I'm grateful to have been mentored by James Manke, whose exceptional talent inspired me on my kayaking journey.

*Semi-private sessions available.

*Personal gear discount for those with their own sea worthy sea kayak, immersion gear & appropriate safety gear.

A registered nurse - personal trainer works with an older adult on posture and balance in a sunny park

Personal Training + Health

Personal Training

Designed for busy professionals - not for pro athletes - these health-promoting sessions follow a personal training format but emphasize restoring posture, safe body mechanics, and functional training.

Personal Training + Health

Allowing me to utilize my full scope of practice as a Registered Nurse, these sessions are ideal for people with medical conditions that require extra care (i.e. heart conditions) or those who want to learn more about their condition. Our conversations during the beachside sessions will put you at the center of attention: we can work on navigating stress, anxiety, and overall health. Your session, Your choice.

My Style

When you join me for a training session, you'll see that this is not just a workout. Leaning on my 20 years of experience as a nurse and my personal training expertise, your program will be built to suit you, from health education to strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. An in-depth movement assessment can help pinpoint areas needing extra attention, and I can work with any health care providers providing care to you to create a comprehensive plan.

You will have an opportunity to:

Improve your balance
Increase your cardiovascular endurance
Improve overall strength & flexibility, using yoga-inspired movement, fitness bands & TRX straps, bodyweight exercises, and of course, using nature as a gym!
Understand the newest guidelines about cardio exercise for maximum health benefits
Learn ways to integrate strength & balance exercises into your activities of daily living
Learn simple strength & flexibility exercises that you can incorporate into your day

Health Education*

If you have an ongoing medical or mental health program, I'll work with you and your care team to support your understanding of what's going on and how to manage your illness. We'll also cover general health topics, with the opportunity to explore anything that captures your interest. Take this opportunity to ask your Registered Nurse/Personal Trainer questions.

Mental Health*

Simple techniques aren't always simple to do. Dust off old good habits, learn new stress reduction techniques, and practice them in Nanaimo's beautiful oceanside and forest parks. The focus will be on how to actually incorporate them into your daily life. Rather than giving out lots of advice and sending you out the doors to sort out how to make it work, you'll have professional support to help you walk the talk.

* This content included only with Personal Training + Health sessions.

2 or 3 month PLUS package - 10% of individual prices, plus more

Initial assessment included in package price
Weekly sessions for 2 or 3 months (depending on package)
Tapering support package, to help you stay on track as you become independent.
Total number of sessions 11 (2 month+) or 15 (3 month+), including initial assessment

Single Sessions or 10-sessions packages - 10% off individual prices

Single sessions or 10 session packages available

*Note: 10-session package not valid toward Initial Assessment

In-depth Assessment

The best way to start your SeaStrength journey, this comprehensive 1.5 hour private appointment ensures we learns exactly what you need. included in session

1) Nursing Assessment:

thorough medical, surgical and health history
vital signs assessment
if available, a review of communications from your health care team (i.e. physiotherapist, family doctor)

2) Detailed Personal Trainer assessment, including:

Cardio endurance test and recovery rate
Detailed postural assessment,
Flexibility testing, and/or
Muscular endurance.

3) Goal setting & planning

Workout class participants focus on light exercise in between health education topics

Group Fitness Classes

Focused on light exercise and holistic wellness, SeaStrength Health's group classes go beyond the benefits of exercise, and offer the benefits of being connected with nature and with others on the same journey. Check out the schedule for current offerings - some classes are tailored to specific audiences.

My Style

When you join me for a class, you'll see that this is a different kind of exercise class. Not strictly intended to be a workout, this class will focus on empowering you to simply move more often, in a way that counts. We'll combat any limitations you have - from sore joints to mind blocks. Focusing on small consistent changes throughout your day rather than one sweat-inducing workout, you'll learn small balance, strength and posture movements that you can add to your already full day.

My classes focus on Canada's 24-hour Movement Guidelines and on breaking down outdated perceptions about exercise intensity and duration.

In this class, you will have an opportunity to:

Improve your balance
Learn ways to integrate balance exercises into your activities of daily living
Increase your cardiovascular endurance
Understand the newest guidelines about cardio exercise for maximum health benefits
Improve overall strength & flexibility
Learn simple strength & flexibility exercises that you can incorporate into your day

Exercise Type

Light cardio exercise, i.e. walking, hiking, games
Bodyweight strength training - using nature as the gym!
Yoga inspired strength & flexibility
24 hour movement focus

When

Mondays @ 9am from Jan 13 - Mar 10 (8 sessions)
- $25/class or $180 for all 8 sessions
- drop-ins available as space permits
- Westwood Lake
Mondays @ 1pm from Jan 13 - Mar 10 (8 sessions)
- $25/class or $180 for all 8 sessions
- drop-ins available, as space permits
- Neck Point Park
Tuesdays @ 7pm from Jan 14 - Mar 4 (8 sessions)
- $25/class or $180 for all 8 sessions
- drop-ins available, as space permits
- Neck Point Park
Mondays @ 5pm starting Jan 29 - until June
- Designed to run during your kid's soccer practice - leaving you time to watch the start and end of practice, then hang out and be active with others.
- Reduced price of $5/session
- Merle Logan Fields

Health Education

The internet is filled with health advice from so-called wellness experts. Family doctors are hard to come by, and Google and AI don't filter the good info from the bad. These group classes will have just enough opportunity to learn about your own machine and how to take care of it: small bits of trivia and factoids as you work your way through the workout; and plenty of opportunity to ask that question 'your friend' has been wondering about...licensed & insured to full Registered Nursing scope, you can ask just about anything (and expect a professional response in return).

Mental Health

Simple techniques aren't always simple to do. Dust off old good habits, learn new stress reduction techniques, and practice them in Nanaimo's beautiful oceanside and forest parks. The focus will be on how to actually incorporate them into your daily life. Rather than giving out lots of advice and sending you out the doors to sort out how to make it work, you'll have professional support to help you walk the talk - from someone who's been there too.

bottom of page