Heidi Lowe

>>Beauty, Balance, Strength with Artist Heidi Lowe and SUP Yoga

Stand up paddle surfing, or SUP, is a form of surfing where the surfer uses a paddle to move through the water while standing on the board. The boards are a lot bigger, wider and thicker, than a regular surfboard.   Stand up paddle has Polynesian roots. 

SUP has been very popular in the past ten years due to professional surfers using them as a way of training when the surf is down, you do not need a wave and it can be done on any large body of water, but when catching waves with them you have a huge advantage on visibility of the waves.  

Mixing SUP and Yoga, the traditional mental and physical postures originating in India, it’s a great way to stay in shape and have fun at the same time.  SUP is very easy to do, you don’t need to know how to surf.   As for yoga on them, it may take a little bit more practice.   

I talked to local artist Heidi Lowe about her experience with SUP yoga, her art and how the ocean can be a source of inspiration for all things.

Name:  Heidi Lowe

Age: 33

Weight: 110lb

Stance: regular

Home Town: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Home Break:  Indian River Inlet, I don't get in the water as much as I would like.

Board: 8"6' Yater 

QUESTIONS:

Where are you from? 

here- local girl who thinks she is from a far off place( a figment of my imagination)

When did you figure out you were an artist and that's what you wanted to do?  

Art and making have always been a big part of my life.    My mom made sure that we had an endless supplies of art supplies waiting for us.  When I was young,  I felt most alive and comfortable in  my mom's studio, my dad's wood shop, and my grandfathers' mechanics garage.     My mom is a painter and art teacher(at Cape Henlopen High School) my dad passed away when I was 15 but he was a draftsman/builder in the area- so I get it honest.  My brother, Josh, is an Architect in San Fran,an accomplished painter and an avid surfer.  My little sister, Taylor, is starting her career as a painter, cuts sushi at night and is also an avid surfer in Hawaii.  

What is SUP (stand up paddle) yoga?

SUP Yoga, Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga, originated in Hawaii.  You actually do yoga poses on a stand up paddle board in the water.  It is a great for building strength, balance, and presence.   The practice demands your undivided presence- if not there you end up in the water.  Everything is moving around you so not only do you have to be present to the yoga pose but also where you are in the water.  It is very interesting to do an inverted yoga pose, like Downward Facing Dog in the water while moving.  

what is it like being in the water doing yoga poses, do you think about falling in?  

I have to admit I was a little nervous when we went out on Wagaman's pond in Milton because I thought I would fall in.  I was not too excited about falling into a pond with creatures, but once I got on the board  I realized it is substantial and you do have a lot of control.  We have been doing the yoga on ponds in the area and at the Lewes bay, so it is easy to keep your balance.  You can paddle or ride waves in the ocean on  the paddle boards, but yoga is better done on calm water.

how did you get into it?

My friend, yoga instructor and personal trainer, Dimitra  K ask me to take a class.  Dimitra partnered with Janis from Delmarva Water Adventures, she instructs the classes while Janis brings the boards.  Janis is very helpful making sure everyone is comfortable on their board and even takes pictures of students while they are out there(if they want).  The pictures are really cool to have, my first thought when I saw them was of native Americans paddling around , it's a very primal visual. 

how much does yoga help you stay in shape physically and mentally?

 Very Much!  Different types of yoga for different reasons.  I have been practicing with Andrea Kennedy from The Yoga Studio  since I was in high school.  She teaches a relaxing but body aware practice which counters my usual high energy personality. This style of yoga supports the body in order to release tension along the spine.  I attend her Thursday night advanced yoga classes which are a great combination of opening the body, strengthening and relaxation.    I am always thankful to have started my yoga practice with Andrea, she has taught me to be kind and mindful of my body's needs.   In addition to Andrea's class, SUP Yoga has become my summer love.  It is amazing to be able to be in the water and do yoga.  

Would you recommend SUP yoga to surfers?

Yes- SUP yoga is a great way to stay limber and build strength, and get in the water when the waves are not pumping.

is SUP yoga for intermediate or experience yoga practitioners or can beginners do it?

Dimitra is a great teacher, she is mindful of her students.  I felt lucky to have already been on a paddle board so I was able to jump right into the yoga.  But if you have not had experiences with board sports the first SUP class is getting used to using your core to balance and using your whole body to paddle.  By the end of the first class most students are comfortable with the board and enjoying the yoga.

how do you feel after a SUP yoga session.  

Powerful and Thankful!

What kind of  art work do you do?

I am primarily a jewelry artist- the medium I work in most is metal, but I also incorporate acrylic, stones, glass and other unique materials.    

As an artist, do you get inspiration from being near the ocean?

Of course- nature is a source of inspiration for my work.  The beach comes into play with a lot of people who I work with to create commission pieces,from a special piece of beach glass they want to have set in silver to working nature into their wedding rings as a constant reminder of what brought them together.  I usually cultivate the best ideas when I remove myself from the everyday, in nature I can quiet my mind and recharge my creative juices.  It allows me the space to be creative with its vibrant color combinations, expansive spaces, and lush patterns.  

How would you describe the atmosphere in your gallery?

I have an art jewelry gallery.  It is not a jewelry store per se, more of a gallery that shows artists works including my own.  I host 5-6 exhibitions annually.  I  have the earring exhibition in June, two solo exhibitions, two  group shows, and the Multiples Show in November. My work is constantly on display but I usually highlight a new collection every fall.  Once a year I do a benefit for a local charity, such as Surfrider or Aids Wellness.

how often do you get out on a regular surfboard?  what type of wave is your favorite?

I usually get out on my board a few times a summer here.  I am a traveling surfer- my favorite waves are Freights in Barbados and Macarory Point in New Zealand.  Long,rolling point breaks.  

you are married to local surfer, Paul Camenisch, does he push you to get out there and catch waves?

Paul is very supportive, but not pushy.  He knows we surf in two very different ways.  He bought me my first board and he knows I will only go when the stars align, (laughs) but he is always happy to see me paddle out.  Paul helped me surf for the first time.  We were in Puerto Rico and he pushed me into waves and taught me how to line up.  He also told me the necessary surf etiquette to keep everyone safe in the water.  He is a true surfer- started surfing locally when he was 12 and now surfs all year round here and abroad.  He does it for the love of the ocean, the risk taking and the feeling of racing down the line. I do it to sit on my board and look at the land from a new perspective and to take a long, long ride.  

Best surf session?

After a few weeks in New Zealand, I was feeling very comfortable on my board.  It was a beautiful day and we were out in the water with friends.  The waves were setting up perfectly for the point break and I caught  long rollers all the way down the beach.   That was the first time I really got the feeling of flying down the line- surfing.   

What are your plans for the rest of the summer?

Working at the gallery, making jewelry, taking a metalsmithing workshop in San Francisco, and spending Sundays in the water.

Thanks Heidi for the interview, and thanks to East of Maui Surf Shop for letting us borrow the SUP boards.    Heidi Lowe Gallery is the little yellow cottage at 328 Rehoboth Ave. in Rehoboth Beach. You can contact yoga instructor Dimitra Kotanides at www.Dimitrayoga.com & Andrea Kennedy at www.Theyogastudio24.com