Chelsea Novak
Rossland News
Dusk is falling, a fountain gurgles in the background, and yoga instructor Danielle Hachey instructs her students to jump up on their yoga mats into a surfer stance, demonstrating the move as she speaks. Five others, including Paul Girardi, mimic the move, sticking their landings on an ocean of green grass and clover in Pioneer Park.
Hachey and Girardi are owners of Feathers and Fur, a company they started to bring yoga and surf experiences to the Kootenays. Hachey teaches regular yoga classes in town, while Girardi’s expertise is surfing. The two of them recently returned from a surf retreat to Nicaragua in May, and are already planning another excursion to Mexico in the fall.
Thursday’s yoga class was followed by a screening of Hachey and Girardi’s favorite surf film, Picaresque, which focuses on long boarding.
“When you can actually walk on it — that there’s enough space, it’s long enough — that’s long boarding,” explains Hachey. Rossland Recreation donated a screen, projector, and speakers so the film could be shown outside.
While there was no cost for the yoga class or the film, Hachey and Girardi did collect donations for the Rossland Youth Action Network, and Hachey says they hope this will be just the first of their summer events.
“We’re hoping to do two more for the summer,” she says.