It Begins in Thought, It Flows into Feeling
Thinking gives the dream shape. Feeling gives it life.
"Think then Feel"
– Tanya, Head Coach of the Australian Dragon Boat Squad (Sat 03 May 2025)
Summary
Every paddler begins somewhere—drawn by curiosity, connection, or quiet purpose. Over time, what starts as uncertainty becomes intention. Through awareness, discipline, and the influence of others, paddlers learn not just to move, but to move with others. And eventually, they become part of the rhythm they once followed. “Think then Feel” captures this shift—from conscious effort to instinctive presence, shaped always by the team.
Explanation
There are many ways to step into a dragon boat for the first time. You might see boats gliding across the water on the bay and feel a pull you can’t explain. Maybe a friend said, “Just try it.” or your company entered a corporate team for the Lunar New Year races. Or perhaps it was someone you love—a family member, friend, partner, or colleague—someone you lost, or someone still fighting—who gave you the reason to begin. Sometimes it starts in joy. Sometimes in loss. Sometimes with nothing more than curiosity. All of these beginnings are real.
Then, you’re in the boat. Paddle in hand. Water beneath. Crew beside you. You move. Hesitantly, maybe—but something clicks. Not perfection, not even confidence—just connection. For a brief moment, you’re not just in the boat—you’re part of it. Part of the team. That’s the first spark.
Then comes the thinking. You begin to notice your stroke, your posture, your timing—not in isolation, but in relation to those around you. You start to sync, to listen, to adapt. You learn not only how you move, but how the team moves, and how to meet that rhythm. Slowly, thought deepens into intention—a choice to stay, to commit, to honour not only what brought you here, but also what’s here now: the people beside you, the rhythm unfolding, the moment itself—a gift you get to share.
And somewhere in that process—sometimes unexpectedly—you feel. You catch a moment of flow. The boat lifts. The rhythm locks in. For a few strokes, you’re not thinking anymore—you’re simply there. In time. In sync. You move with the crew, with the boat. It doesn’t happen all at once, and it doesn’t always last. But those moments grow—more frequent, more natural—and with them, your trust in the rhythm deepens.
At the same time, you become aware of the team in a new way. Some are new, learning like you. Others are further ahead—strong, steady, generous. You watch them. You’re moved by them. Their presence anchors you. Their example lights the way forward.
No matter where you are in your paddling journey—just beginning or years into it—the fundamentals remain. The need to think doesn't disappear with experience. Neither does the need to feel. And perhaps most importantly, the need to dream stays with us. Every paddler, no matter how seasoned, carries that quiet hope: to move better, to race harder, to contribute more—to discover something new in a stroke they’ve done a thousand times before.
Then one day, quietly, you realise: You’ve become that person—the one others now look to. The one who helps hold the rhythm. The teammate who steadies the boat. The rhythm you once inherited now lives in you. And through you, it begins again.
About the Author
Tanya is the Head Coach of the Australian Dragon Boat Squad, leading the national team toward the 2025 World Championships in Brandenburg, Germany. Her leadership blends elite athletic strategy with a grounded, reflective approach, prioritising mental clarity and embodied technique. Her phrase, “Think then Feel,” reflects not just competitive insight but a philosophy of measured, intentional practice—hallmarks of a coach guiding athletes towards both success and growth at a personal and team level.
An After Afterthought
“From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun”
—Circle of Life, Elton John / Tim Rice
From the moment we first step into the boat—uncertain, curious, maybe even overwhelmed—we’re entering more than just a sport. Like stepping into sunlight, it takes time to adjust. There’s more to see, more to understand, and more to become than we could have imagined at the start.
No one arrives fully formed. We grow through movement, through effort, and most of all—through each other. The paddling journey reminds us that while there may be more to learn than can ever be learned, that’s the point. The boat keeps moving, the team keeps growing, and we each find our place—sometimes slowly, always together.
Maybe, it’s not about reaching the end. It’s about joining the rhythm that was already in motion—and helping to carry it forward.
One Heart, One Soul, One Team, One Goal - 2025 Auroras