Introducing ASI SUP Yoga Instructor, Jemimah Quiambao

AUSTRALIA. Introducing ASI SUP Instructor, Jemimah Quiambao. Originally from Canada, yoga teacher Jemimah moved to Australia 10 years ago, with more water around her to explore she took up SUP and eventually decided to become a SUP Instructor. She is currently instructing in Adelaide, South Australia.

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What is your background?

I am a Yoga Teacher in Adelaide South Australia but only lived here in the last 10 years. I'm originally from Canada and my partner is Australian.  

What got you involved in the sport?

I've only tried SUP boarding in Canada twice in 2011. I really enjoyed the challenging balance factor of it, the core strength and just having fun in the water! Being a yoga instructor, I tend to have fairly good balance as well so that definitely encouraged me to tie both of the two together for my own practice. Moving in Adelaide, more sea around, I thought there would be more opportunities to try SUP but there was zero. Adelaide took a while to take SUP Boarding on as a leisure activity so it dawned on me to take it up for myself. Possibly do private SUP Yoga lessons after my Level 1 SUP Training. By the time I finished my course it felt like everyone was buying SUP boards. Then two small business that hire SUP boards near me popped up, so I decided to collaborate with them for setting up SUP Yoga lessons. Now I get super pumped for summer as I teach SUP Yoga to students. 

Why did you become an ASI instructor?

Like I mentioned above, there was no SUP Yoga close to me. There was I think just 1 instructor at the time and she categorised hers more of SUP & Pilates. So, I thought I'd take the initiative to be the first one closer to our river & beaches and take the ASI Instructor Course

What are you doing now?

I tend to start teaching SUP in January where it's much warmer in the water. We live by the river so during sunny days in the winter I take my SUP Board out as much as I can. I tend to not risk falling in the ocean during the winter, it can be fairly chilli. 

What do you like about being an ASI instructor?

I want/wanted to learn how to surf but my fear of sharks stops me from ever going too far in the water by myself. I still have some hope I'll snap out of it. SUP boarding is the next best thing, I still have fears of sharks but somehow not having my feet in the water helps with the security. Being an ASI Instructor forces me to just step out of my comfort zone, well that's what I'm telling myself.

Tell us about funny or interesting or nice situation that has happened to you with instructing?

I instantly thought of one! There was a lady visiting the area and saw there was SUP Yoga lesson on. She's never done yoga and never done SUP boarding, but she thought why not as she's on holidays. She fell in the water so many times that I'm guessing she was only on the board for 5 minutes the most! This may sound awful, watching a grown woman fall in the water so much but she was absolutely loving herself! She'd laugh so hard every time she fell in, like a kid experiencing water for the first time! Then the class basically became SUP Board Laughing Yoga because her laughter was contagious. She didn't mind at all, even after the session she told me how much she loved it and that she felt like a kid again. No one else was bothered of the interruption because it was a joy to watch her enjoy herself.

A big thank you to Jemimah for taking the time to share her experience!

If you fancy becoming an ASI Instructor like Jessica then click here to find out how to get started and make your dream job a reality!