Paddle Boarding for Mindfulness (DBT)

For the past year, paddle boarding has become my favorite mindfulness experience during which I balance mind and body. It allows me to turn off the chatter in mind that is constantly making lists, assessing what I need to do, and worrying about the future. I am able to fully focus one-mindfully, a skill in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), allowing me to keep forward movement as I paddle and also not fall off when the waves get rough. This is a great analogy for how the skill works when it comes to regulating emotions as well. Everything slows down as I glide through the waters, and I use these moments to bring awareness to my senses.

I love having the opportunity to share this activity with others, and several months ago I had the opportunity to start the Paddle Boarding Club here at OPI through our Activities Department. I knew I could share the benefits of mindfulness but at the time didn’t realize that my knowledge of all of the DBT skills would come into use.

Most participants that come out to the marina with me have limited to no experience with Stand Up Paddling (SUP), and for many the introductory outing is the most exciting and the most challenging. There are moments of uncertainty when attempting to balance. There is the need to listen to what the body is communicating for stability and safety. There is also a level of awareness needed of the surrounding environment.

Since we have been doing this for a few months now, there have been various situations where skills coaching has been necessary and I love being there to provide this while out in the community. Some examples include:

• Participant wanted to turn around and go back to the marina when the physical pain of standing seemed unbearable. Instead of going down to her knees or even sitting, she was ready to give up because of the internal judgments that he/she was not paddling well.
• Participant was getting dysregulated and need to be coached to use the S.T.O.P. skills. Once he calmed down, we worked on taking a mindful pause and using 5 senses to self-soothe and take in the beauty of being outdoors at the marina. We also used mindfulness “what” skills to observe and describe the surroundings.
• A participant was distressed,  not opening to share what was going on internally, and we used the experience of paddle boarding to distract. Using Wise Mind ACCEPTS, she was able to participate in activities, use opposite to emotion, and sensations which she shared later that this SUP was just what he/she needed for that moment.
• A participant had a close encounter with a boat and after the incident was able to use distress tolerance skills to sit down and focus on his breath to deescalate. Once the participant felt up to we continued on and he was glad that he was able to ride the wave of discomfort.

SUP is the perfect opportunity to model skills and provide in the moment coaching and I am so happy that participants are up for the experience.

 

At Optimum Performance Institute, we believe that the process of building a life worth living includes finding and pursuing a passion that gives you joy and then sharing it with others. Paddle Boarding is one of the dozens of activities we offer to help facilitate this process. We also offer compassionate, clinically sophisticated intensive residential help for young adults who suffer from mental health issues and learning disabilities. Rather than a sterile, hospital-like environment, we offer beautiful accommodations in luxury apartments just outside of Los Angeles.  At OPI, we treat the individual, not the diagnosis.  We are a diverse community of passionate, highly skilled individuals working together with you to help you find your joy and express it.   For more information on OPI residential programs and our measures to help young adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities, call us at (888) 814-5985 or click HERE to submit an online form. We’ll be in touch promptly.