A breeze ripples across Lake LBJ as pink paddleboards bob gently on the surface, tethered to a blue-and-white mooring buoy. Soft music drifts through the air while a yoga instructor cues her class through each movement. This is no ordinary session; it is Board and Body paddleboard yoga.

At the center of it is owner and instructor Jes Butler, a local entrepreneur whose concept for Board and Body grew from her own experiences and a deep connection to life on the Highland Lakes.

The idea took shape after two challenging postpartum experiences. With her first child, Butler struggled with postpartum anxiety and the mental strain of finding moments of peace. After her second, she faced physical challenges, including rib flare and abdominal separation that led her into physical therapy.

“Having those two challenging postpartum experiences laid the foundation for what Board and Body became,” Butler said.

In search of quiet and recovery, Butler began taking her paddleboard onto Lake LBJ, using the water as a place to reset. She incorporated physical therapy exercises, discovering they were even more effective while balancing on the board. Over time, she realized the practice could extend beyond her own experience.

“That was kind of the seed of the idea, just going out and doing it myself and then recognizing that there were probably other moms who would feel the same way about getting some time to themselves,” Butler said.

Fitness has always been a passion, but it soon became the foundation for a new endeavor: paddleboard yoga. Butler pursued certifications, including an Athletics and Fitness Association of America Group Fitness Instructor license and a Peak Pilates FitCore Mat certification, to formally build out the concept.

With help from friends and family, she began developing classes, testing equipment, and refining the experience, often with input from her husband, Alex.

“My husband has been a great person for me to bounce things off of,” Butler said. “He’s had two major knee surgeries, so figuring out how to make modifications for him has allowed me to feel I can make modifications for just about anyone who comes out.”

Board and Body officially launched in March, offering 45-minute Saturday classes for up to five participants at Crockett Park in Granite Shoals. The business also has private sessions, including on-site classes, Champagne toasts, custom playlists, decorative setups, and half- and full-day experiences.

Beginning Board and Body was not Butler’s biggest hurdle. Both the Lower Colorado River Authority and the city of Granite Shoals helped her swim the sometimes difficult waters of permitting and location approval. Instead, she said, the greater challenge was personal.

“Being a stay-at-home mom and then putting myself out there and bringing this brand-new concept to a community without being sure how it was going to be received, it requires bravery and courage,” Butler said, emphasizing the importance of stepping outside her comfort zone.

For Butler, the most meaningful reward comes from watching participants grow through the experience.

“My absolute favorite part is when someone comes out and has expressed to me, ‘I’m so nervous, I think I’m going to fall off,’” she said. “Those kinds of things, and then watching them transform through class going from so unsure to all smiles and laughs and being proud of themselves at the end of class, that’s the best part.” 

Beyond those moments, Butler also focuses on ensuring every class is accessible and safe from start to finish. Participants receive confirmation emails with preparation tips, attend on-shore safety briefings, and are provided life jackets if needed. Once on the water, they paddle out to a buoy just offshore, where they hook in to keep from drifting away.

Throughout the class, Butler offers cues and modifications set to calming music, allowing participants to take in the quiet beauty of Lake LBJ in the early morning light and briefly forget they are not on solid ground. From breathing exercises to core work, she keeps the session flowing so participants can challenge themselves without feeling overwhelmed.

At the end of class, paddlers return to shore, where Butler guides them back to the ramp, helping them safely find their footing. The experience is capped the following day with a thank-you email.

At its core, Board and Body remains rooted in Butler’s passion for supporting postpartum women. Through a philanthropic initiative, she partners with local providers, including the Highland Lakes Pregnancy and Life Center and area doulas, to offer classes to women in need.

The program operates on a 10-to-1 model; every 10 classes sold funds one donated class. Participants can also gift a class at checkout.

“I wanted to be able to create something that not only offers a fun, enjoyable activity for when people visit the lake but also something that’s nurturing the women in our community who are here year-round and could use a little something for themselves,” Butler said.

On the water, that mission unfolds in a quiet, steady rhythm as movement and balance converge on the calm surface of Lake LBJ, where participants discover stillness even in motion.

For more information, visit boardandbodylbj.

maci@thepicayune.com