The Paddler ezine Issue 50 Autumn/Fall 2019 | Page 76
8
THE HEALING POWER
OF PADDLING
#ShePaddles
Canoeing was a family affair for 38-year-old Emma Kitchen. Her father introduced her
to the sport as a child building an open canoe in which they spent many happy holidays
paddling around the Lake District and Scotland’s Loch Lomond.
Aged 17 she followed in her brother’s footsteps
becoming a member of Lower Wharfe Canoe
Club where she pursued kayaking. But that
was before university life took hold followed
by a 21-year hiatus from paddling.
Sitting along the bank of a sun-soaked canal,
Emma tells us how emerging from an abusive
relationship led her to find healing on the water
and a new family in her local canoe club.
“I saw the freedom as an opportunity to come back to
something I love and do something for me,” she says.
“To anyone who is thinking about taking up canoeing
I would say definitely do it. Find your local club,
head down and give it a go. There are a variety
of different disciplines so there is bound to be
one to suit you. By going to a club you’ll have the
support you need to give you the confidence and
guide you through your first time on the water.”
Emma is now looking forward to getting
to know more of the women in her online
paddling community by taking part in a clean
up event along the Leeds Liverpool canal.
“Paddling makes my soul sing. It calms
me, it helps me heal. It is like a therapy
for me.”
“I do all three disciplines now; kayaking, canoeing
and SUPing and I’m a member of two clubs, plus
an online community! They’re all different but
everyone is welcoming and helps each other out.”
Emma’s four-year-old son also shares her love of the
great outdoors and any opportunity to get on the
water. “He can be a little tearaway,” she says, “but
once we’re in the canoe he’s often found falling asleep
slumped over the buoyancy aids or trickling his hand
in the water. Our time paddling really calms him.”
Having only started back on the water a year ago,
Emma’s confidence has grown so much, she now
coaches at Lower Wharfe Canoe Club and is a
#ShePaddles ambassador. “I love being able to help
others grow their passion and develop their skills too.
Find out more about
our #ShePaddles
community at
britishcanoeing.org.uk/
news/2019/shepaddles-
spread-the-love.