We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jana Rife a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

Recently, I had a client friend call me for advice. She enrolled in a flight training school and needed help with handling her nerves, nausea and also managing daily stress. The first thing I told her was to focus on her breath. I explained how just slowing down and paying attention to the inhale and exhale can bring a state of calm. I also gave her a few simple breathing techniques to try. I explained that going to a yoga class regularly would help her connect to her breath, give her confidence, improve flexibility and most importantly teacher her how to slide into that calm state when needed. She took my advise and signed up at a local yoga studio. She discovered yoga was everything I had mentioned plus more. Her consistent yoga practice has really helped her mange the stress and calm her nerves when flying. She has come such a long way with her yoga practice and with her flight training. For her nausea, I created a few aromatherapy blends. An inhaler of anti-nausea essential oils to keep on her while flying. I also created a roll-on to apply before she takes flight. The yoga and aromatherapy have both helped her while in the flight training.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

This journey of mine all began with yoga. My corporate job was stressful and it had a negative effect on my health. Doctors and friends had suggested yoga as a way to cope. I finally took their advice and after my first class, I felt so much calmer and was hooked! A few years later I enrolled in a nine month 200 hour yoga teacher training. That was truly the best experience for personal growth. I gained the confidence to be true to myself and follow my passions. During this time my husband and I would vacation in Hawaii. On a trip to Kauai, I wanted to learn how to stand up paddle board. My husband and I took a lesson up the Hanalei river and in the bay. It was a beautiful experience, like walking on water. Six months later we returned to the islands, this time Oahu. I took my first SUP yoga class in Waikiki. Flowing through a sun salutation on water while facing Diamond Head crater was magical. The water was clear, I had tropical fish below me and a blue sky with sunshine above. I knew in this moment it was an experience I had to share. So halfway through the yoga teacher training I left my job. I felt a huge weight off my shoulders and an incredible amount of freedom. Shortly after, I flew to Key West and completed a SUP yoga teacher training and earned my World Paddle Association instructor certification. I came home knowing I was about to change my life completely. Immediately after earning my yoga instructor certification I started my business Hanalei SUP Yoga. I have a very unique and rewarding business and thankfully it is my dream job. During the warmer months we offer a variety of stand up paddle board classes on the lakes. Beginners can learn the basics of paddle boarding in our Intro to SUP class. It is very rewarding to watch clients successfully stand up on a paddle board for the first time. Yogis can take their practice to the water and experience a new challenge to balance and strength in a SUP Yoga class. For those that like a good cardio and strength workout, we have our PaddleFit classes. I am a PaddleFit Pro coach and I enjoy teaching this fun and challenging workout. For those that need to relax, we offer SUP Yin, a seated stretch class on the water as well as floating meditations and Glow & Flow night classes. But my favorite part of my business is offering retreats. We host day, weekend and week long retreats for a chance to really escape the everyday stresses. We’ve paddled and hiked some incredible places in Arizona and Utah. Snorkeled and swam with manatee and other sea life in Florida. Meditated while floating in a salt marsh in Alabama and soaked in a hot spring in Costa Rica. All have been really unique and memorable experiences for everyone.
I also like to share my knowledge of Yoga and SUP. I am now an E-RYT 500 hour yoga instructor, a YACEP and WPA Class II instructor. That means I can certify others to teach paddle boarding and SUP Yoga classes. Every spring I offer a SUP Yoga teacher training and a World Paddle Associate Safety and Instructor course. My extensive training and experience provide trainees with additional safety training, knowledge and the confidence to teach SUP and paddle board yoga in their community.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Because my business is mostly on the water, training is very important. But building a community and a sense of belonging, has been the most important factor in building my business. My classes are very welcoming, especially to those that are coming for the first time. I remember my first SUP class and also my first yoga class. The feeling of being nervous and afraid I would fall in. I want my new clients to know I understand how they feel and it’s ok. We were all first timers. I provide a safe environment and it’s acceptable and fun to fall in. It’s also very rewarding to stand up for the first time on a paddle board. We celebrate those wins together. My clients are like family and I want to create the greatest and most memorable experience possible.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I was happy to unlearn the definition of success. In the past, Like most people, I worked hard for money and material objects. It is how most of us measure success, right? Once I found my passion and left the corporate world, I realized happiness is my true success. I spend my days doing what I love. I’m on the water, providing a beautiful space for my clients to have fun and let go. In my off season, I’m traveling with clients to Arizona, Florida, Utah, Costa Rica, etc. Creating once in a lifetime experiences for all of us to remember. Material things don’t last but our amazing memories and connections will. Living that joy and happiness is my definition of success.

Contact Info:

• Website: Hanaleisupyoga.com
• Instagram: Janahanalei
• Facebook: Facebook.com/hanaleisupyoga

Image Credits
David Vaughn