Meet the Team
Two people, who believe life is better outdoors.
Welsh Wellbeing Collective was created by Ruth Astbury and Tony Bain — a therapeutic wellbeing coach and an expedition paddler who met in the mountains of Mid Wales and have a love of everything outdoors
Ruth Astbury
Co-FounderTherapeutic Wellbeing & Fitness Coach · Women's Health & Wellbeing Specialist
Ruth is a certified Therapeutic Coach, Level 3 Personal Trainer, and hormonal health and lifestyle coach, with specialist training from Burrell Education's 3rd Age Woman Certificate and qualifications as a Nutritional Advisor.
Her approach blends therapeutic coaching with evidence-based movement, nutrition, recovery, and somatic mind–body practices - so progress feels sustainable, not punishing.
She specialises in supporting women 40+ through perimenopause, burnout recovery, chronic stress, and midlife body change — helping them rebuild strength, confidence, and vitality with practical tools that work in real life.
"Midlife isn't a slowdown. It's your time to reset, refresh, and get stronger. I'm here to help you do that — with practical tools that actually work."
In her spare time Ruth loves to hike, bike, swim and lift weights. She regularly takes part in endurance events around the UK and overseas. Check out her health and wellbeing blog here
Tony Bain
Co-Founder Tony Bain – SUP Instructor, Leader, Expedition Pioneer
Tony Bain is a New Zealand–born, Wales‑based stand‑up paddleboarder. He moved to Wales in 2007 to be able to enjoy the epic Welsh Wilderness attributes similar to his homeland.
His participation in long‑distance river expeditions helped shape the early culture of adventure SUP. In 2013 his journey began on a Source‑to‑Sea mission on the UK’s longest river the Severn, where he first stepped onto a paddleboard and discovered the blend of endurance, river craft, and quiet determination that would define his career.
From that moment, Tony pushed SUP past impossible, far beyond calm coastal waters, taking SUP deep into the world’s great river systems.
Over more than a decade he has completed an extraordinary catalogue of expeditions: the 220‑mile River Severn, the Great Glen across Scotland nonstop and overnight crossings of Loch Ness, the Menai Straits and the nonstop circumnavigation of the Isle of Anglesey, and major New Zealand white water rivers, including the full lengths of Clutha, Buller, Rakaia, Waimakariri and Wairaurahiri.
Internationally, First and only person allowed to enter New Zealand infamous 243km Coast to coast event on a SUP, he became one of the earliest SUP competitors in the Yukon River Quest and later the Yukon 1000, cementing his reputation for resilience in extreme environments. He was behind the introduction of SUP to the 330km Amazon SUP Challenge in Peru, adding another wild river to his story.
Alongside his expedition work, Tony is a respected SUP instructor with 13 years of experience teaching paddlers of all levels. His coaching blends technical precision, river paddling skills and safety, and confidence‑building, shaped by thousands of hours on moving water. From beginners taking their first strokes to athletes preparing for endurance challenges, Tony’s approach is grounded, practical, and deeply informed by real expedition knowledge.
With bases in Bala, North Wales and Llanwrtyd Wells, Mid Wales, Tony continues to coach, plan and lead expeditions. His work blends exploration, storytelling, and community leadership, inspiring paddlers to venture further and discover what’s possible on a SUP board.
17 yrs running Green Dragon Activities across Wales. Over 3,000 people coached to paddleboard. 10+ Major river expeditions worldwide. He is one of the region's most experienced SUP leaders.
Tony makes the adventurous feel achievable - without ever adding pressure. After all this is about you, never about Him.