Jessie Benson Takes Balance to the Next Level with SUP Fitness
/By Jill Farr
Shortly after 29 year old FloYo© creator Jessie Benson was introduced to stand up paddle boarding (SUP) she found herself dreaming what many thought was an impossible dream; introducing East Coast inhabitants to SUP yoga.
“Stand up paddle boarding was still brand new, almost non-existent on the East Coast,” says Benson. “I had a vision for FloYo© but when I told people about the workout and the experience on the water people in my community thought I was crazy.”
“There were a lot of challenges to overcome--a very short SUP season, a perception of polluted waters that were unsafe to be on, to name a few—but I knew that once I got people on the boards they would fall in love with the SUP fitness experience. I just had to figure out a way to get them to take that first step and get on board.”
Benson’s love for fitness started early, and was encouraged in her home.
“I fell in love with fitness when I was in high school,” she says. “I was a bit overweight in middle school, but always played sports and was active. My parents went to the gym religiously and always instilled the importance of fitness.”
Before discovering SUP, Benson had another activity ignite her fitness fire; spinning.
“When I discovered spinning as a sophomore in high school, I fell in love,” she says. “I started to lose a bit of weight and gained so much confidence. I loved the rush I felt after a spin class. I felt as though I could take on the world, I could do anything I set my mind to.”
Benson wasn’t simply content to spin as a student; her excitement led her to want to share her passion with others as a teacher.
“As a freshman in college, I got certified as a spin instructor. I taught spin and other group fitness classes all through college and continued after I got a corporate job right after graduation.”
The business world may have beckoned right out of college, but Benson’s heart was solidly in the fitness world, and her characteristic drive and belief in pursuing what fulfills you led her to look for a path to change.
“I knew that fitness was my passion,” Benson says. “I felt so fulfilled when in the gym inspiring others to live up to their fullest potential. I dreamt of how I could make fitness my career and then when I discovered SUP, I knew I had found the answer.”
“It was a bit of a journey creating FloYo© and figuring out how the brand would develop but now I am able to travel the world doing what I love- introducing people to SUP yoga. It truly is my dream job and I couldn't imagine doing anything else!”
Now an ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors) SUP Yoga trainer, Benson leads ASI trainings in addition to FloYo© trainings all around the world.
Benson not only has a penchant for taking the initiative and learning how to teach others when she finds something that speaks to her, she realizes the importance of gratitude as well, towards the mentors that have helped her shape her fitness future.
“I still keep in touch with my very first spin instructor,” Benson says. “I give her a lot of credit for where I am today. She ignited my passion and inspired me to follow fitness as a career!”
Inspiring a similar type of excitement in others and sharing the great lessons she learns from SUP is the icing on the cake for Benson; the true accomplishment is teaching women to overcome the biggest obstacle in pursuing that passion…fear.
Holding challenging yoga poses is a daunting enough task for many when standing on solid ground, but taking it to the water—while balancing on a board—is not only a significant physical hurdle, but a great metaphor for other areas of life.
As one of the pioneers of SUP fitness on the East Coast, Benson credits the fueling of her passion and drive to bring the pastime to others with the feeling that being on the water gave her.
“I loved the feeling of freedom I discovered while on a paddleboard in the middle of the water with nothing holding me back,” Benson says. “That passion is what made others want to come out and experience FloYo© for themselves.”
“I encourage strength in women in each and every FloYo© class- showing women what is possible. Women often come to class very skeptical, fearful of falling in the water, nervous that they will not be able to stand up and do yoga poses on the board. I have created an experience on a paddle board that encourages women to drop their fears, to get free and to have fun.”
“FloYo© helps women find freedom, and finding freedom is finding possibility. Once my students take that leap and sign up for a class they commit to surrendering their fear and finding their strength.”
Even if you don’t have the chance to get on a paddle board and try out your Warrior pose, Benson believes the essence of her program comes down to something any of us can do…test our limits.
“My biggest piece of advice for women is to step out of their comfort zone,” says Benson. “If they are always doing the same fitness routine- running on the treadmill or always taking the same yoga class- I encourage them to try something new.”
“Trying something that makes them feel slightly uncomfortable, something out of their realm of normal gives them the confidence they need to face any challenge in life head on. My favorite part of my job is seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment on women’s faces after a class--they come in thinking they will never be able to stand on a board and leave feeling like they could take over the world.”
“Fitness helps women find that sense of empowerment, and that’s what FloYo is what it is all about!”
(Visit www.FloYoFit.com and follow FloYoFit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more.)
