What do you get when you cross an all-levels yoga practice with the calming experience of being on the water? A brand-new way to get out, get active, and get fluid in Berks. Aqua Om was founded with the belief that yoga is for everyone, and owner Kami Kiritsis has created a welcoming and judgment-free space that is comfortable for every body – as long as you’re willing to get a little wet!
Getting Started
After more than 20 years working in the corporate world, Kami was looking for something new. When her department was eliminated within weeks of her long-time friend Melissa Uhniat’s, the two women were gifted a new opportunity: a summer off.
Both really enjoy stand up paddle boarding (SUP) – an offshoot of surfing where the paddler stands up on the board and paddles through the water – but had a hard time finding somewhere to rent equipment. They purchased boards and soon found that paddling brought on the sense of calm for which they were searching. “I learned quickly that going out on the lake and matching my breath to each paddle stroke was extremely calming,” Kami explains.
She realized the exercise felt a bit like yoga. Kami took her first yoga class with Melissa as her instructor more than 10 years ago and has since earned her certification from the Yoga Life Institute in King of Prussia, Pa. Kami knew she wanted to teach, and finding a way to balance her two passions sparked an idea. It started with a blog, then transformed into a board rental business, then she added a yoga component, and then the idea for Berks County’s first paddle board yoga class was born. Melissa has since taken a step back from ownership; however, she still teaches classes and has helped Kami to keep their dream alive.
Get Active
Just after launching in June 2018, it became clear that Kami needed to find an indoor space. “We started this business during the rainiest season ever in Berks County, which was awesome,” Kami jokes. She found a perfect partner in Birdsboro Fitness and Splash. In addition to having an indoor pool, the facility wanted to introduce a yoga program. Kami wanted to incorporate some studio classes into the schedule, so “it all naturally fell into place!”
Aqua Om now offers studio classes five days a week, ranging from Beginner and Gentle Yoga to Full Body Flow and Mindful Movement for Athletes. Nearly every class in the schedule is accessible to all levels of practice and can be modified to suit anyone willing to try. “I want the people who say they could never do yoga,” Kami says. “We can put you in a chair; we can use blankets and blocks, and you can do yoga just as well as anyone else.”
Classes are a blend of traditional yoga asanas – or poses – with a yoga philosophy component. “That’s what differentiates us from a lot of other studios. It’s not just come in, take your class, and go home. The physical asana practice is just a small part of the whole practice of yoga. We start classes by discussing yoga philosophy and how it can be incorporated into their life.”
Get Fluid
That mindset also extends to SUP classes. “It’s really exciting to see people who you would not expect doing paddle board yoga actually trying it, embracing it, and coming back week after week,” Kami says. Indoor classes are held on Saturdays, and now that summer has arrived, there is a full schedule of outdoor classes also available.
All students are provided with an inflatable paddle board designed specifically for aqua fitness. The boards are wide and stable, with a full-length yoga mat pad on the deck. After booking a class online, you can meet Kami at Blue Marsh Lake for a quick, 5- to 10-minute paddling instruction before setting off on a short paddle to the yoga pod.
The pod is an anchored inflatable platform surrounded by ports for each student to clip their board into. It ensures everyone can see the instructor and creates stability. “There are less than 10 yoga pods in the United States and Pennsylvania has one. That’s us!” Kami says. “It adds an extra level to what we offer, and it makes people feel a lot more secure when they try this because they aren’t going to just float away as they’re in downward dog.”
Just like in the studio, there are a variety of classes available to try on the boards, including SUP Yoga, Floating Meditation and Paddle Pump – a high-intensity, low-impact body pump class specially designed by Kami to be done on the water.
Outdoor classes are also available at Green Valley Pool for those who want the experience of being in nature without the added element of being on the open water.
Get Out
Just want to get out on the water without the yoga component? Aqua Om offers SUP lessons for those who want a more in-depth experience in learning how to paddle, as well as paddle board rentals. Kami also has a full calendar of special events throughout the summer. You can gather your glow-in-the-dark accessories and join her for a Full Moon Paddle, or bring your furry family members to SUP Pups.
This year, Aqua Om has also partnered with Berks County Parks and Recreation to offer more than a dozen free or discounted classes and events across the county. They will even be offering rentals during Summer Concert Series events at Gring’s Mill Amphitheater, so you can paddle or float along the river past the venue and catch a show from a new perspective.
Kami is always adding new events and is open to new partnerships with nonprofit and corporate organizations across Berks. She explains, “I’m trying to reach people who aren’t going to go to yoga so they can see how awesome it is and how it can really change their life. That’s my goal.” For a full schedule of classes and events visit aopaddle.com.
