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July 24, 2010 : Maui, Women’s Free SUP Clinic with Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui
 Girl Power! Wow, we couldn’t have asked for a better day here on Maui! Water clear and calm, and lots of smiles of success! We arrived at 7am and boards off the car and ready to rock! In the line up, Lark, Karen, Amy, Suki, Joan, Elaine and Rhonda was my assistant “sweeper”.
I was so impressed with the enthusaim and immediate skill with these eager gals, I just couldn’t believe it. We started with some light stretching and then we discussed the importance of water and board safety, followed by land instruction and off we went past the small break.
( see comments below from participants)
A special thanks to “Coach” from the Naish Maui Pro Center, for filling our goody bags with awesome beach towels. Also a big thanks to Matthew from OluKai Premium Footwear for our special VIP cards. I love my OluKais! And lastly to Amy Hampton who also joined us, who is the director of the Maui American Heart Association, and gave us healthy recipe books and walking pedometers to encourage our goals of living a healthy lifestyle!
Here’s a fun slide show that shows off these sporty wahinee’s SUP skills.
“Today was really special, made so by a beginner’s Standup Paddleboard lesson for women by a woman, Suzie Cooney — fitness trainer/paddleboard racer/and model.
I have to admit, though, that I did have some deep reservations. Would I be able to standup without repeatedly falling off? Would my inexperience keep me from the experience? And, more importantly, would I still have my two front teeth afterward?
Well, I’m happy to say that my worries faded away almost as soon as I met Suzie, who with her calm and confident manner shortly had me feeling much the same way! We started with stretching exercises, water awareness and proper board techniques, all of which gave us a better understanding of what we were about to face. Then with boards and paddles in hand, off we slipped into the ocean, belly butterflies in tow.
Within minutes we were all standing and paddling this way and that. Photos were taken, laughs were shared, boards were traded and at one point we even did pushups on them! How’s that for new-found confidence?
I guess it proves the theory correct, that if the instructor is all she should be, so shall we be all we can. Funny how that works because today, one woman – Suzie — instilled new confidence in six other women — through Standup Paddleboarding! Now that was really special!” Elaine from Lahaina
“Suzie –
I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful morning. As you know I’m not a regular “water person”. My first time trying SUP, I wouldn’t have imagined I would have had such a good time. Your instruction and coaching made it a great experience. As you saw when we were out there I couldn’t stop smiling. Your tips and encouragement made all the difference. Meeting all the girls was great, what a great way to spend a beautiful morning. I’ll be looking forward to the next time I can get out there with you. Thanks for being such a good teacher, friend, and example of an empowered woman. I always feel so cared for when I join you on one of your adventures.”
With Love and Aloha, Lark from Makawo
“If you haven’t taken a SUP clinic from Suzie yet, I highly encourage you to do so! Her enthusiasm for the sport is infectious and very obvious in the way she handles both herself and the participants. She takes great time and care in helping us to prepare both mind and body through stretching exercises and safety awareness before we enter the water. And she does it in a way that is fun and enjoyable. Once we are on the water, the fun continues and I can guarantee that you will lose track of time and not want to get out. Thank you, Suzie, for your time and patience in empowering women to be healthy and active through the sport of stand-up board paddling!”
Rhonda, Makawao
“Thank YOU so much Suzie! I had such a great time with you and ladies out on the water yesterday! It can be intimidating to try a new sport like SUP (especially for women) but your safety briefing and instruction instantly put me at ease as a first-timer. I appreciated your taking the time to tell us about all the different options for equipment and the goody bags were amazing! I look forward to paddling with you again soon!
Thanks again!” Amy Hampton, Kihei, Director of Maui American Heart Association
“Aloha Suzie, Thank you and Naish for sponsoring a truly special day. The day was everything I could have imagined and more. You are such a professional from the first phone call to the follow up emails. Your love for life shines through and makes everyone around you happy to be out on the water with you. (even when you had us doing 20 push-ups on our SUP boards!) Your SUP instruction was why I came to a SUP clinic and I was not disappointed. However, it is the joy I felt sharing the day with such an amazing group of women that I will remember always. Suzie’s love for the ocean and desire to share health and fitness is inspirational. Mahalo for a wonderful experience!!!” Karen Gallagher, Paia
I am so glad to know these women and may this special day inspire you and everyone you know to be as healthy as you can be. Now get out there and paddle!!!
See you on the water, your fan, Suzie Cooney.
Join me my Face Book Page: http://www.facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui.com
Stop by and see Coach and the rest of his great team at the Maui Naish Pro Center, 111 Hana Hwy in Kahului.
 
 Dr. Susanne Bennett It was a joy to meet Susanne and learn of her journey to Maui for our special day. Her genuine, warm smile was contagious. As an experienced SUP paddler, she even brought her own board and her passion for the sport was quite obvious!
Her professional interests are in integrative and lifestyle medicine- specializing in chronic illnesses, allergies, environmental medicine, nutrition and detoxification.
I really appreciate her kind words that she wrote and I wanted to share the following:
“Hi Suzie and Tommy,
Suzie, as promised here is some of my thoughts about the fabulous event that you created with Tommy.
The first information I received about your Stand up for Women and Health event was from my newsletter from www.supsurfmag.com. It was only one month away but I was determined to register and find some flights from SoCal to Maui! The location of the event in Wailea was perfect even with the intense shore break and Four Seasons Resort gave their best support and hospitality. From the moment I got to the registration booth I knew that it would be a very special day for me and that I would feel it close to my heart.
Everyone listened and received the beautiful Hawaiian chant and prayer, safety information and happily joined in on the warm-up exercises by Suzie. I could feel that each one of us ladies were here for many different purposes. We were all from different ages groups, nationalities and athletic levels and were here to feel the love and joy for ourselves, women and well being. I was honored to be in this community of paddling waterwomen- we share and receive energy, vitality and strength from the water.
The board caddies and all the volunteers provided safe launches into the water through the big waves as well as getting back to the beach after the paddle. I entered the long paddle headed by Anne-Marie Reichman and with so many women on the water, I felt this sense of oneness with the beautiful waters of Wailea as well with my feminine side- my non-competitive and loving side. What topped the day was the magical humpback whales breaching during our paddle to Makena Beach and back. We must have seem over 20 breaches and each one was so divine!
 After we got back to shore, I felt so alive and peaceful. The Exhibitors and vendors gave out tasty drinks, food and information about their products. And it was so much fun for us to receive the donated gifts! They were awesome! Next year, I want to win the grand prize-a brand new SUP board!
Thank you Suzie and Tommy for providing this gathering, not only for the love of the water and paddling but also to bring awareness to our beautiful bodies and health. Stand up paddling is one of the best ways to keep your heart open and body strong which is a great start to prevention of all illnesses including cancer. Please count me in for next year’s Stand Up for Women and Health, I will definitely make a commitment to join you every year.”
Mahalo and Aloha,
Susanne
Dr. Susanne Bennett, CEO
Wellness For Life Center, www.drsusannebennett.com
PURIGENEX, www.purigenex.com
PurGlo, www.purglo.com
1821 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Clinic: 310.315.1514
PURIGENEX/PurGlo: 877.787.4469
SUP Maui!
Support women’s health and fitness.
Trisha Smith
POSTED: December 31, 2009
Girl power! Beginner Emily Bartow glides across South Maui’s waters during a woman’s clinic with Suzie Cooney this fall. Come join the bold and beautiful women of Maui and abroad for a day of fun in the sun during the “Stand Up for Women’s Health & Fitness” event at Wailea Beach on Saturday, Jan. 9.
Stand up paddle (SUP) surfing is making big waves across the globe and Maui is at the forefront of its emerging popularity.
Hoe he‘e nalu (or SUP surfing) is a water sport rooted in Hawaiian heritage and you can spot several enthusiasts on any given day off our picturesque shores.
It’s sometimes referred to as “Beach Boy Surfing,” yet “Maui’s premier fitness trainer” Suzie Cooney (www.suzietrainsmaui.com) is making it all about the girls this time around.
Join this multi-talented fitness professional and over 100 courageous women from Maui and beyond for the “Stand Up for Women’s Health & Fitness” event on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wailea Beach, outside the Four Seasons Resort Maui.
This free, noncompetitive event was put together to promote healthy lifestyle choices and self-confidence for women through sport, nutrition and self-awareness.
The event is free in order to promote breast cancer education, in hopes participants will make donations to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
Visit www.standuppaddlingfitness.com to register for the SUP event and to donate to this important cause—the fight against a cancer that kills an estimated 40,000 American women each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
“We are all very lucky to be healthy enough to enjoy this day, but there are many others that are not,” said Suzie. “Your donations mean so much.”
Suzie and organizers, including event co-host Tommy Callan of Beach Boy Events, have worked diligently to put together some amazing prizes for the raffle at 1 p.m. (You must be pre-registered and present to win.)
Some of the goodies include an awesome new Starboard SUP board, along with a variety of designer beach eyewear, swimwear, accessories and more.
Not only is SUP a great core workout, but it also brings together individuals from all walks of life who can share in the camaraderie of the sport. Suzie promises SUP can “improve your balance, endurance, strength and mindset.”
Working with the cool and calm Suzie and “the girls,” you will enjoy patient, guided instruction from professionals and experience the “surfer’s glide” sensation.
And don’t be intimidated, ladies—all skill levels, from novice to professional, are welcomed. It’s not a race—just a fun activity with friends. Even if it’s your first time, there will be plenty of experts to assist you.
“The Four Seasons is the ideal location to introduce SUP to beginning enthusiasts,” said Callan, a professional instructor. “It has a beautiful beach and its calm, clear waters offer the ideal safe paddling conditions.”
Women of all shapes, sizes and ages have the choice of three paddle runs: First-timers/beginners may want to choose group paddling in the bay, with beach caddy assistance; Starboard Pro Team Rider Anne-Marie Reichman will lead the long distance paddling for the intermediate/advanced; and Suzie will lead the fast-paced, short distance runs for beginner/intermediate.
Round out your exciting morning with healthy refreshments while listening to inspirational guest speakers. There will also be a hula performance and lessons for those interested.
“This day is to surely be a very special day and a great way to start the new year,” said Suzie.
Tell all the special ladies in your life not to miss this unique international event. You may discover SUP as a new hobby, make some lifestyle changes and meet a few soul sisters along the way.
Call Suzie at 283-2121 or Callen at 250-3748. Make sure you visit www.standuppaddlingfitness.com for more information and register today. Organizers advise bringing your own board or rent one. There will be a limited number of spares.
Check out the helpful “Intro to SUP” video online to get you started.
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 Aloha and Merry Christmas! As we approach the New Year, it’s time for many of us to take special inventory of family, life and our own personal health. I am so thankful for being on Maui and to stand up paddle or surf on Christmas; a tradition in my house!
Not everyone is as lucky to live in Maui, eat fresh fish, and simply enjoy the natural healthy lifestyle that surrounds us. But even if you are in the coldest place in the world, you can embrace health even in the simplest ways:
1. Make YOU a priority each and every day to exercise or do an activity you enjoy.
2.Embrace your life as it is today, and strive hard to make everlasting healthy lifestyle choices. Surround yourself with people that challenge you, inspire you and believe in you. It really makes a difference! I like to surf or do sports with people that are pretty aggressive. It keeps me on my toes and makes me a better surfer. I also have several mentors that act as my compass. Who is your compass?
3. Look in the mirror and like what you see. Having a healthy body image and loving yourself inside and out is contagious and I think very attractive.
People with negative body images have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem and obsessions with weight loss.
I often come across training clients who have a vision of how they want to see themselves vs. who they really are and how their bodies are made. Genetics, medical conditions and other physiological factors play a role in how our bodies take shape.
4. Forget New Years resolutions…. they don’t work. Chunk it down and be realistic with your fitness goals. People expect not to keep their resolutions so it’s almost self defeating. Treat your goals as a process or journey. Reward yourself with a new workout top, new surf board, or whatever makes you happy!
Lastly, reflect back and see where you are now and where you want to go; in life, love and health.
Wishing you all that you love to come your way. Be strong in every step you take. Try something new!
Happy Holidays,
Suzie www.suzietrainsmaui.com
 Photos by Simone Reddingius :http://www.flickr.com/photos/by-simone/
 Starboard donates a new Stand Up Paddle board to the “STAND UP For Women’s Health & Fitness” event to be held at the Four Seasons Resort, Maui this January 9, 2010!
Starboard, an SUP industry pioneer and market leader, has stepped up to the “STAND UP For Women’s Health & Fitness” call for a remarkable prize and will be providing a new SUP board in the highly anticipated RAFFLE event.
“Our event sponsors have shown an incredible willingness to be involved and their generosity has been truly amazing. Raffles are always a fun part to any event and I’m blown away with the sponsor’s gifts. Participants will not only have the opportunity to learn SUP at the Four Seasons Resort, but may also win prizes from the industry’s biggest names. Sponsors include C4, Naish, Focus, Indo Board, Clif Bar, Maui Jim, Vita Coco, Dry Freak, Oxbow, Sambazon, Recharge, Kaenon, Posh Pua, Love Inside Out, Watermans Applied Science and more are signing on daily!” says co-host Tommy Callan of Beach Boy Events.
So come join the Aloha and learn how to do the fastest growing water sport in the world on the beautiful island of Maui at the Four Seasons Resort. Stand Up Paddle Surfing (SUP) is making surfers out of everyone. You’ve seen the “Stars” do it … now it’s YOUR turn! SUP will improve your balance, endurance, strength and mindset. Receive patient, guided instruction from professional instructors and experience the feeling of the “surfer’s glide”.
”STAND UP for Women’s Health & Fitness” is a FREE, non-competitive event to promote healthy lifestyle choices, self-confidence and breast cancer education for women through sport, nutrition and self awareness. You’ll not only enjoy learning to SUP, but also to Hula! Enjoy inspirational guest speakers, plenty of healthy treats and amazing prizes. Maybe you’ll even win your own Stand Up Paddle Board!
Please visit http://www.standuppaddlingfitness.com/ for event and registration information.
You must be pre-registered to participate and be present to win raffle prizes.
Aloha, Tommy Callan
e:tommy@BeachBoyEvents.com
We are thrilled to announce that “T” Tiare Lawrence who is sponsored by C4, will be speaking on the day of our event! She is graceful and strong and can make that SUP board snap on a wave in a fierce way.
Here are a few photos of Tiare. More to come!
Come meet Tiare Lawrence at STAND UP For Women’s Health and Fitness at Four Seasons Resort Maui, January 9th, 2010. Don’t forget to register so you can participate and win great prizes. Go to www.standuppaddlingfitness.com
In good health,
Suzie Cooney, CPT
808-283-2121
e: Suzie@SuzieTrainsMaui.com
Suzie Trains Maui
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