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Paddle for health, workout & play by the sea 🌊

Step away from burnout with Joani: Certified personal trainer, sea kayak instructor & RN

SeaStrength.ca for more info

05/27/2025

I’m going to sign up. Anyone else?? Thankfully you don’t have to run! You can do any sport… say, or ??? C’mon let’s do this! Tag a friend below to throw down the challenge :)

05/22/2025

Hey all. I have a last minute opportunity for 1-2 people, this weekend. I’ve got space in my sea kayaking course - you can choose one or two days.

In the course (which I supply all gear for) you’ll learn all the common strokes (forward, reverse, stop, pivot, sweep, draw) rescues (2 person and for the 2 day folks, self rescue) as week as some weather, tides, navigation, safety etc. It’s a Paddle Canada Basic course or Paddle Canada Level 1 course, with my own spin on using paddling to stay physically and mentally healthy. Feel free to bring medical questions, joint problems, anxiety, ADHD etc along with you, we can work on whatever you’d like while we’re going through the program (or we can not work on it, and you can just treat easy knowing I’ve got your back if something flares up). That might seem random, but if you don’t already know me, I’m a nurse x 20 years and I know sometimes there are things that stop us humans from doing what we want 😉

And for those of you thinking “that sounds great, but when would I paddle again?” The answer is… I include 4x 2hr paddling sessions after the course so you can practice your skills or just go for a relaxing paddle with friends, gear is provided. $350/$450. Works out to $18-22 per hour of kayak rental, drysuit rental and instruction. PM me if you’re interested. (I have another weekend course in June plus a flexible scheduling one (3 weeks one session per week) in June as well.)

05/22/2025

One day I dream of offering adaptive paddling in Nanaimo. For now, I’ll keep focusing on mental health and overall health. For adaptive paddling needs, check out Power To Be.

05/16/2025

Come kayak with me! With the loss of our one and only oceanfront kayak rental place, there's a lack of opportunities to paddle on our beautiful ! Not quite a on , this program empowers you with a new skill - you're not a passenger on a trip. I'll help you take it slow if you want slow, and find you some adrenaline inducing options if that's more your thing!
Earn your certification and paddle all summer in .
* Visit SeaStrength.ca to register.

05/14/2025

Well, I consider it a win when I find myself saying “Where’s my phone…..? Oh! It’s still in my pfd” which has been hung to dry for a couple hours already! Means I did something fun today and wasn’t glued to my phone all day 😉

And a great day it was with CM Ross from Crosscurrents Kayak at Gabriola passage. Saw a ton of wildlife: seals, baby seals, sea lion, river otter, heron, lots of other birds, jelly fish, sea stars and anemones! I was obsessed with the anemones!

Oh right and the kayaking… was amazing, so fun to be challenged in high current speeds (almost 7knots!) so close to to home, and to pair it with the surreal beauty that is the Flat Top Islands off Gabriola. I LOVE that I can get calm, meditative paddling and adrenaline filled paddling all in one day!

05/07/2025

So, I’m terrible at self promotion and selling 🤦‍♀️ hey, you cant win em all, right?! Seriously though, I just came off back to back to back weeks of coaching sea kayaking at Surge Narrows, teaching Wilderness First Aid/First Responder and starting my new job at a clinic, so I’ve been a tad busy! 🤯

Here’s some info about my upcoming courses:

May 10th (this weekend) is a Paddle Canada Basic kayaking course, where you learn efficient forward, reverse, stopping, draw, sweep and pivot turning strokes - everything to get you manoeuvring well on the water, without having tired arms or being sore the next day. You also learn about sea kayaking safety, navigation, tides & currents and weather as it pertains to beginners kayakers. Lastly, you’ll learn assisted rescues.

My goal is to help people get paddling regularly, meeting new people and connecting with nature (safely!), all with the end goalal of helping you get just a tad healthier and less stressed. I include all the gear (including gore tex dry suits so you stay warm & comfy - no sticky neoprene) and take care of all planning so all you do is show up and paddle.

Since I really want to help people enjoy the water the way I do, I’m including 4 free 2 hour kayaking sessions, essentially 4 guided trips, which can be booked anytime in the next year.

This is my Paddling for Health program (Paddle Canada Basic Certification).

I also have a Paddle Canada Level One course, (one step above) on May 24/25. That includes all the Basic content with more technical/stroke development plus self rescues and trip planning.

Lastly, I’m offering one more program (“Basic”certification) just after Father’s Day, on Sat June 21.

If you’re a busy busy parent, shift worker, service provider, caregiver or just damn well could do with a bit of a break, come give this a try. I wouldn’t have survived the pandemic without my short interludes in the water - one short paddle kept me going for a week…. I just want to make that option available to others! Check out my website for more infor and booking, or shoot me a message. Thanks for reading!

04/05/2025

These two beauties got a workout in today. After a 1.5hour private rolling session I took the Ilaga out for a spin. Still shocking what a difference it makes to roll in a kayak made for it. My hubby always says “right tool for the job”! Worked with the client on a number of sea kayak skills, positive self-talk, laughed a bunch, and ended with a good set of dynamic stretches to take home. Thanks to my client for a great afternoon!

Rebel Kayaker

03/24/2025

A birthday card for me, painted by my mom! 💕

03/08/2025

If you’re a curious what a different kind of kayak feels like, come try out a variety of different Greenland style sea kayaks! The right fit can mean all the difference: from injury prevention to maximizing your comfort and connection to the water.

📣 REBEL kayaks will be here at the end of March. The 2 hr rolling class on March 28 is already full, but there’s a second chance to get into a REBEL in a nice toasty pool on March 29! Come play around in a REBEL kayak, paddle, rescue and roll. I’ll be offering rolling tips to anyone who is looking for coaching. Sign up at the link below!

🕓 30 min sessions run from 4:30-7:00
📍Beban pool in Nanaimo on
📆 Saturday March 29 for $15.
👉 Feel free to register for as many 30min sessions as you wish.

🌐 www.seastrengthhealth.janeapp.com

03/01/2025

Wow! So proud of everyone for doing their push ups etc for the challenge. I didn’t complete it last year but this year I did, and so many others completed the challenge or did part of it! Feeling great because it really is true what they say, !

The stats across are pretty impressive, lots of awareness and fundraising out of this event. If you want to donate to your local Canadian Mental Health Association you can is that here: www.thepushupchallenge.ca/fundraisers/joanilitchfield/the-push-up-challenge

Which just leaves one question. Why did one of the team stop at 4 push ups shy of 2000?

Got a funny theory? Share a laugh and be done your good deed for the day. Comment below!

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Nanaimo, BC

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http://www.SeaStrength.ca/

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