Picture this: it’s a quiet early morning on the river, cool water so glassy that it reflects the sky, disturbed only by your paddle dipping smoothly below the surface. This is paddleboarding as Perry Thomas describes it. It’s a sensory experience defined by presence, patience, and balance.
“It feels like you’re suspended between two worlds,” she says. “There are moments of stillness where it’s just me, the board, and the water. It’s soothing and reassuring.”
Perry found her way to paddleboarding through a prior love for paddling kayaks and canoes and practicing yoga. To celebrate her 60th birthday, she and her daughter tried a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga class with Endless Summer Paddle Company. She quickly found that paddleboarding unites many of the things she values (physical challenge, mindfulness, and being on the water) into one experience. She was hooked.
“There was something about combining movement, balance, and water that just clicked for me right away,” Perry says. “Unlike many hobbies, it asks for my full attention, and that’s a rare and valuable thing. Part of the joy is the simplicity.”
Beyond the physical benefits, Perry has also found value in how paddleboarding engages her mind. While balance is the most obvious skill she’s refined, she says the experience goes much further than that.
“It’s deepened my practice of mindfulness,” she says. “On the board, if your mind wanders too much, you notice it immediately. That awareness carries over into daily life in a meaningful way. For me, paddleboarding — especially SUP yoga — has become more than just a hobby. It’s a way to step outside the noise of everyday life and reconnect with something simpler. There’s a unique kind of peace that comes from being fully present on the water, and that’s what keeps drawing me back.”
Though she treasures her solo time for SUP yoga and mindfulness, Perry also enjoys going on group outings. She describes the Louisville paddleboarding community as a welcoming and encouraging group that shares a deep appreciation for being on the water. This spirit sometimes carries over into post-paddle meals at Haymarket, where Perry and her fellow paddlers enjoy a delicious meal and fresh air in the outdoor picnic area. She recommends their Harvest Kale Salad as a favorite choice.
Aside from the occasional cup of Heine Brothers’ coffee before heading out, Perry keeps her gear straightforward. Her must-haves consist of basic paddling accessories such as a life jacket, water bottle, sunglasses, and sunscreen. She also packs a towel and extra change of clothes in case she falls off her board and into the water.
“I haven’t yet,” she says, “but it’s always a possibility.”
For Perry, the challenge of staying balanced doesn’t end at the water’s edge. Between her full-time role as program director for the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education and an ongoing project of restoring a farmstead in Henry County with her husband, paddleboarding serves as a restorative escape. Despite her busy schedule, Perry tries to get out on the water as much as she can. In fact, one of her goals for this summer is to practice SUP yoga at least once a week.
“[It’s] part of my retirement plan,” she says. “Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to celebrating my 65th birthday on a paddleboard!”
For anyone looking to add a vibrant activity to their own retirement plan, Perry has some paddling advice. She recommends starting out slowly and suggests guided classes or experiences where an expert can provide support and help you build confidence on the board.
“Start in calm, protected water and give yourself permission to wobble — it’s part of the process,” she says. “You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to be willing to try. Confidence comes quickly once you realize you can do it.”
If you’ve been searching for something a little adventurous to explore, this is your sign to take a plunge into paddleboarding. As Perry can attest, the water’s just fine.
By Mila Raque | Photos submitted
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