Where to Find Us
The MMY Paddleboards Shop
Ottsville, PA
Lake Nockamixon in Ottsville, PA, is now MMY’s home base for paddleboarding. It is the home of our 625 square foot paddleboard rental shop and business office. Our shop is next to Owowcow Ice Cream Store, just a short drive to our primary launch location of Haycock Boat Launch within the 5,286-acre Nockamixon State Park. Nockamixon is close enough to Philadelphia for a day trip but far enough away for a vacation. Our shop is your destination for paddleboard rentals, gear and board sales, and MMY merch.
- Free parking
- No bathrooms
Haycock Boat Launch, Lake Nockamixon
Ottsville, PA
Our Primary launch on lake Nockamixon, Haycock Boat Launch is within Nockamixon State Park. You'll find SUP Yoga, Social Paddle, Paddle & Hike, Full Moon events, Paws on Boards, and more hosted at this location.
- Free parking
- Bathrooms on site
Three Mile Run Launch, Lake Nockamixon
Perkasie, PA
Located at the opposite end of the lake from our shop, this peaceful spot on Lake Nockamixon is a treasure trove of coves and nooks to be explored within Nockamixon state park. You'll find our bi-weekly PaddleFit class offered from this launch.
- Free parking
- Bathrooms on site
Lehigh River Route 33 Boat Launch
Bethlehem, PA
Route 33 Boat Launch on the D & L trail Lehigh River Boat Launch is our newest location for classes in the tri-state area. Located centrally between Bethlehem, PA, and Palmer Township in Easton, PA, we have come to use this location for our signature Paddlefit, Flotillas, and Social Paddles. When the river is calm and quiet, we see deer, beavers, and various types of waterfowl. We love using this location to paddle up the river, using the resistance of the current to build strength and stamina, then floating back down the river. Please note that a valid DCNR registration sticker is required to bring your board to these classes.
- Free parking
- Early season porta potty
Downtown Easton, Larry Holmes Drive
Easton, PA
Our newest addition to the MMY Launch spots. Enjoy the sights and sounds of downtown life as we hop in the water of the Lehigh River above the falls. Conveniently located by Scott Park, our spot here makes hopping off the water and grabbing a bite to eat a snap - the ultimate Summer Friday evening combination! This river has a lazy quality to it, making it the perfect spot to learn to paddle and/or socialize with friends old and new. You'll find a monthly Social Paddle here, as well as our Labor Day Flotilla and an annual Witches Paddle at Halloween time.
- Metered parking
- No bathroom facilities
Riegelsville Launch, Delaware River
Riegelsville, PA
A picturesque spot on the Delaware River, this "primitive launch" in Riegelsville sits alongside the D&L trail and Route 611. This spot is host to our Adventure Paddles for good reason: a stronger current with ample features to navigate creates a fun and challenging paddle setting. Closer to the launch, you'll find us practicing SUP Yoga and the occasional Sound Bath.
Note that this location is different from the Riegelsville Boat Ramp. Follow the button below for the exact location.
- Free parking
- No bathroom facilities
Spruce Run Recreation Area, Car-top Boat Launch
Clinton, NJ
Surrounded by the rolling hills of Hunterdon County, Spruce Run Recreation Area is popular with picnickers, swimmers, fishermen, boaters, and campers. The reservoir was one of the first water supply facilities to be constructed and operated by the state. It covered 1,290 acres with 15 miles of shoreline for recreation. Spruce Run is the third-largest reservoir in the state after Round Valley and Wanaque reservoirs. Spruce Run has been the home of our signature SUP Yoga classes since 2015. We meet at the car-top boat launch for energizing and peaceful paddles and yoga classes several times a week.
- Free parking
- Bathrooms on site
Or Join Us From the Comfort of your home via Patreon!
Join us on the MMY Paddleboards & Miss Melanie Yoga Patreon for movement videos, meditative moments, pro paddling tips and more! Membership tiers are:
- Namaste Light: $6 per month
- 1 Mindfulness Meditation Videos per month
- 2 Mini Classes Per Month (10 to 20 Minutes Each)
- 1 30 minute to 60 minute classes per month
- Unlimited access each month so you can revisit your favorites
- Weekly Inspirations from the Team at MMY to keep you going!
- Namaste All the Way: $8 per month
- 2 Mindfulness Meditation Videos per month
- 4 to 6 Mini Classes Per Month (10 to 20 Minutes Each)
- 3 30 minute to 60 minute classes per month
- Unlimited access each month so you can revisit your favorites
- Weekly Inspirations from the Team at MMY to keep you going!
- Discounts on MMY Classes & Events
About the MMY Paddle Boards Experience
What to Expect in Your Paddle Board Session:
1. Stand-up paddleboarding is beginner-friendly.
First off, if you’ve never been on a stand-up paddleboard, don’t be discouraged. Paddleboards are extremely stable and built for you to balance on them. Your instructor will know how to get you up on the board and show you the proper ways to paddle for momentum, how to stop, and how to turn.
2. You’ll work your CORE, CORE, and MORE CORE.
Expect to engage your CORE! Your abdominals are essential to proper paddling and avoiding any discomfort in your lower back. By engaging the muscular energy in your core, you’ll not only tone your muscles but will find a deeper sense of strength inside you.
3. It’s truly a full-body experience.
You’ll work your legs, your feet, and your arms. Your feet are your central connection to your board, so think about Tadasana's “mountain pose,” where your feet are your roots. You engage your legs for even more stability, so make sure to put a slight bend in the knee and avoid stiffening up the lower half of your body. Be relaxed. The act of paddling comes from the core, but you use your arms to create a moment with every paddle stroke.
4. It’s relaxing.
Savasana, or “corpse pose,” on the paddleboard will be the best savasana of your life! Ending a class in savasana on the stand-up paddleboard is nothing short of amazing. Imagine, for a moment, lying quietly on your back, floating with the movement of the water with fingers dangling in the water and a warm breeze brushing over your body as you listen to the sounds of birds chirping and water lapping the nearest shore.
5. You’ll wash away your fear.
Expect to fall in! Why? Because we have the opportunity to play, with playfulness comes the ability to let go of our fears and try something daring. The great part about falling in the water is refreshing and makes you feel alive.
You truly connect with yourself and nature in moments where you can let go of anything outside of that moment. SUP yoga uses all aspects of traditional yoga on the mat, but by adding the dynamic of being on the water in a natural setting, you see how we’re all connected. So enjoy, feel alive, feel refreshed and get on a board this summer! You won’t be disappointed if you try it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes you need to know how to swim if you plan on attending a SUP outing with us.
For safety purposes for yourself and your instructor you need to know how to
swim.
Will I fall in or get wet?
Yes you will get wet! This is a water activity in which your hands, feet, toes, arms, and legs will touch the water at some point. However, we encourage you to allow yourself the opportunity to fall in at least once. Bring a towel and a change of clothes for after class.
What happens if it rains the day of class?
All classes are held outdoors, therefore we are at the mercy of mother nature. In
the case of in-climate weather such as downpours, high winds, thunder and lighting classes will be canceled for your safety. If a class is canceled because of weather, we will notify you at least 90 minutes before the start of class either via text message or email. You will have the option of a partial refund of your class payment (your total minus tax and credit card fees) or keep class credit to be used at your next availability.
What should I wear?
No matter if it’s a sup yoga lesson or a stand up paddle board lesson consider
wearing clothes you can move around in and that are dry-wicking materials,
bathing suits, or yoga clothes are ideal. Consider avoiding cotton fabrics.
Should I arrive early for class?
Please consider arriving at least 15 to 20 minutes early for class if this is your first
time. This will help you locate our launch location, complete your waiver, and talk
with your instructor about any questions you may have.
Do you have storage for valuables?
Miss Melanie Yoga is not responsible for any valuables that are lost while on or at
the water. Please consider what you should wear or bring that could potentially be lost at sea. Miss Melanie Yoga is willing to hold onto keys for your cars, but claims no responsibility for cars or valuables in your cars while parked at the waterways during classes.
What should I bring with me for a class on the water?
A positive attitude, a willingness to play, and learn for starters. You do not need to
bring a water proof camera, Gopro, or cell phone on the water unless you have something to carry it in. Most boards have tie down straps to hold shoes or water bottles. However, don’t bring your best ones in case you fall in and items fall off your board. Most items do not float. Do bring a hat, sunblock, a snack and extra water for after class.
What if I need to cancel?
We highly encourage you to take advantage of the option of rebooking your class to a future date and time! However, if the need arises and you are cancelling more than 24 hours in advance, you will have the option of a partial refund of your class payment (your total minus tax and credit card fees), or keep class credit to be used at your next availability. Same day cancellations may be rebooked, or refunded via gift card only. If you choose not to call or show, no refund or rebooking will be granted.
Disclaimer
- Miss Melanie Yoga & MMY Paddle Boards does not guarantee availability for walk-ups. Customers must reserve online in advance to be guaranteed equipment for their time.
- We reserve the right to cancel reservations due to bad weather, strong currents and/or impending safety issues at any time. In the event of adverse weather and/or water conditions MMY will cancel bookings in a timely manner and notify all registrants. In this case, registrants may reschedule to a different date. If a date is unavailable, a partial refund* will be provided.
- Customers have the right to cancel or request a reschedule prior to 48 hours of their reservation for either a partial refund* via payment method, or a full refund via non-expiring gift card to reschedule at your convenience. If cancelled within 24 hours of your reservation there are NO REFUNDS or guarantee of a reschedule. Large group bookings: please see additional terms and conditions in your contract.
- All equipment must be returned in the same condition as sent out. Customers are fully responsible for the cost of damage or late return of equipment.
- 48-hr cancellation policy — due to limited class size, you must cancel your reservation at least 48-hrs in advance to reschedule or receive a partial refund. Please note: credit card processing fees are nonrefundable and $3.00 refund fee will be subtracted.
Our Team
Melanie Smith: Owner & Lead Teacher
Melanie Smith Is 500 ERYT- Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher Through the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn about me, Ms. Melanie Smith, aka…Miss Melanie Yoga. Yoga has been a lifelong journey for me, starting in my teenage years as an athlete looking for something to help heal my body from long days of practice. To what has now developed into a practice of intention setting and empowerment inside a body that I feel comfortable in and love.
After spending ten years in social work, in 2015, I turned my focus full time to teaching the practices of Mindfulness Meditation, anatomical-based Asana, and the empowering practice of Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga. My Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University have served me well in teaching and communicating the effectiveness of the mental and physical benefits of yoga.
Many people have turned to yoga to find healing and change their lives. I can honestly say that yoga as a whole has changed the way I live and carve out my life. My yoga has taken me beyond the mat and into the world, finding myself challenging the template of the “American Dream.” I now find myself an entrepreneur and international yogi, leading retreats, teaching yoga classes & workshops on land and stand-up paddleboards. Working with Shanthi Project, a nonprofit community-based organization leading mindfulness meditation to children in Kindergarten through 12th grade as well as children & families who are involved with child protective services, offering yoga to women in prison, homeless women, and pregnant teens.
For me, yoga is not just about the physical poses. It’s about being in nature, and it’s about helping and healing; it’s about bringing together the goodness in us all and letting it shine forth to find our unique gifts in this world. Yoga has taken me to this place, but where will yoga take you?
Om Shanthi
Melanie
Kate DeSisto: General Manager & Lead Teacher
Kate grew up on the waters of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Having spent her childhood frolicking at her parents’ lake house and her teenage years as a boating and swimming instructor at a local overnight camp, she discovered rather early on that life is better on the water. When she was introduced to yoga at the end of her college career, her understanding of the need for movement only grew. Diving in initially for the physical benefits and stress relief, she quickly realized the depth of her practice. When Brooke Kohler convinced her to take a SUP Yoga class with Melanie back in 2017, she immediately fell in love! The addition of floating to a yoga practice adds something magical: a connection to nature, a new sense of stability, and a full reminder to “go with the flow.”
Kate seeks to help her students find joy in movement while maintaining a mindful approach to instruction, both on water and on land. Kate completed her 300-hour yoga teacher training in 2015 at Easton Yoga, and in 2018 completed her Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga certification with Miss Melanie Yoga and Aerial Yoga certification at Boundless Yoga. She deeply believes that our practice is the perfect place to explore our creativity and observe something new about ourselves: body, mind, and spirit.
Off the board, Kate enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her best canine friend, Blue, her partner, Andrew, and daughter Cecelia. She also teaches music and can occasionally be seen singing with the band Start Making Sense.
Todd Pollock: Paddle Fit Pro Coach & On Water Guide
Once Todd started to test his endurance with respect to running in 2007, the testing has not stopped. Since 2007, Todd has completed various road, but mostly trail races ranging from 5K to 100 Milers. From 10 Hour Trail Run Challenges to 2 Day Running Challenges. In addition to running, Todd took to his love of passing on his endurance knowledge to others, so he became a Certified Level 1 CrossFit Endurance Coach, created specific classes to test and maximize not only physical endurance, but taught the importance and ways to be mentally stronger in conjunction with not only exercise but forming simple and life enhancing daily habits. Todd realized early on that you can move your body to whatever class, exercise, sport that you want, but proper fueling / nutrition is a must. Todd then obtained his Health Coaching Certificate through IIN (Institute for Integrated Nutrition). He loves all outdoor activities that involve nature, especially in the mountains and on the water. In 2021 he sought to enforce his own rules of including weekly balanced and restorative activities and founded the Stand Up Paddle Yoga classes on Lake Nockamixon s and was immediately hooked. Todd is excited to join the MMY Team, and lead and/or assist with the Pedal & Paddle outings, Social Paddles and most definitely Paddle Fit! When Todd is not on the water you can find him riding his mountain bike, or gravel bike and then most likely running on those same trails too!
Rachel Brown: SUP Yoga & On Water Guide
Rachel loves water and the challenge of learning something new. In 2020, she made her children teach her proper freestyle form and fell in love with swimming. A year later she shocked herself by swimming 2 miles in open water. On a chance stop for ice cream in 2021, she found Melanie’s paddle shop and started joining classes. Rachel loves a slow quiet paddle to help find her center or fun paddle while laughing with friends. Her greatest recent joys have been spending time with her kids and friends on the water.
When Rachel finds something she loves, she wants to share it with as many people as possible. Rachel has been teaching high school science in the Lehigh Valley since 2007 and earned her RYT-200 from Creative Actions Yoga in Bath in 2021. Rachel is a biology graduate student and completing her SUP instructor training with Melanie in 2022. In the future, she looks forward to SUP yoga training, finding more joy, and paddling off into the sunset.
Brian Weaver: On Water Guide
In 2003, when Brian was making his career transition from marketing to teaching, he had the opportunity to take a kayak lesson on the Snake River in Jackson Hole, WY, flat water first day, white water the second. He believes that is when he became enthralled with being on the water. Back in the Lehigh Valley, Brian started his teaching career and concentrated more on cycling and competing in mountain biking and cyclocross, while working on his Masters in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University. As a teacher, he loves the challenge of deciphering the best way to explain a concept for each particular student to connect with and foster growth. Seeing his students truly understand, then have the confidence to apply their learning in novel situations is incredibly rewarding to him.
Fast forward to maybe eight years ago at a yoga class, when Brian was encouraged by Melanie to try Stand Up Paddleboard yoga. He was hooked. SUP yoga tested his balance with the micro-movements of the water, which he says improved his overall confidence, not only on the water, but across all sports: skiing, snowboarding, cycling, rock climbing. After taking some Paddlefit courses, he continued to refine his paddle stroke and is now loving the workout of long distance paddling. He believes the feeling of moving over the water, with the freedom to dance on the board, surrounded by nature, especially the great blue herons, is hard to beat. Unless of course, you count the incredible feeling of floating in savasana, under a sunset, with the ambient sounds of frogs in the background.
Britney Lubert: SUP Yoga & On Water Guide
Britney is a graduate of the Aligned Yoga 200hr Teacher Training as of 2022, and discovered the healing power of yoga when she was 16 years old, finding solace in silence, mesmerized by the seemingly miniscule yet so potent powers of meditation. Brit found that focusing on the innate quality of the breath was what truly healed and continues to heal her from years of anxiety and depression after being diagnosed with OCD and anxiety at a young age. Meditation, being a huge aspect of the yoga practice, was the bridge that would catapult her straight into the world of yoga. Brit’s classes are strength-building in a way that is confident, playful, functional, and mindful. Her students are gifted with the opportunity to flow and breathe in a way that is strong, curious, thoughtful, and aligned. Britney has a passion for creating sequences infused with a constant reminder of the yogic way of life, and a tapping into of how strong you truly are.
Alice Kwiatkowski: On Water Guide
For over two decades, Alice has been immersed in the mental health field with a focus on incorporating restorative and trauma informed practices in her approach toward leadership and community building in her professional environment. She enjoys sharing her passion for the natural world with others and believes fully in the power of play and new experiences to guide us as individuals toward connections and fulfillment on all levels.
She enjoys hiking, biking, bike packing, remote camping and all things outdoors. As a SUP enthusiast and yoga practitioner, she is excited to be a part of the Miss Melanie Yoga team and for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the regions SUP community.
