Episode 4: The Anna Levesque Story

Join us for a powerful conversation with paddling and mindset pioneer Anna Levesque, who works to bring a more holistic path to paddling culture through coaching, yoga, breath work, and cultivating awareness.

About Anna Levesque

Anna is a Canadian paddler, former World Freestyle Kayak medalist, and author of Yoga for Paddling. She founded Mind Body Paddle, blending kayaking, yoga, Ayurveda, and mental agility coaching to empower paddlers—especially women—and has been named one of the “most inspirational paddlers alive” by Canoe & Kayak Magazine .

Anna hosts The Discomfort Zone podcast, helping listeners navigate fear and embrace discomfort as a path to growth and flow. She’s interviewed on other shows, including For the Love Of podcast, discussing fear, confidence, and mindset strategies.

Explore her work at annalevesque.com and follow her on Instagram: @annaclevesque

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How she moved from being overlooked as a female paddler to pioneering women’s coaching in kayaking
• The emotional and practical journey behind producing the first female-focused instructional DVD
• Her personal system: the 5 Tenets of River Running and mental agility tools for paddling and life .
• Why she integrates yoga, Ayurveda, and breathwork into paddling coaching
• How Mind Body Paddle has reshaped paddling culture toward inclusivity and emotional resilience
• Balancing flow, fear, and identity on the water and off

If Anna’s story inspired you:

Please subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen. Share her journey with fellow paddlers and anyone craving confidence, courage, and connection—on water or off.

Episode drops in two weeks!

This episode is sponsored by the American Canoe Association. Head over to the ACA and join or renew your membership today!

Mentioned in this episode:

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