Inflatable Kayak Blog

Contributed by Sheryl Brennan

Ahhhh… February.  A time for Love, Presidential Birthdays, African American History, and Water Sport Conditioning.

Oh sure, kayaking LOOKS like an effortless activity, but it’s definitely an exercise-intensive sport. Get in the water before properly stretching and you could end up… well… running aground.

So how do you build stamina during the off-season? How about regular stretching workouts? A session of stretches improving your flexibility is as vital as any strength or endurance building exercises. Especially for the larger torso muscles comprising a segment of your body called “the core”.

By increasing flexibility, extension, and range of motion you’ll be better prepared for the water sport season.  And by the time you put your traditional or inflatable kayak in the water, you’ll find you can paddle further forward and draw through a greater range.

If you have access to Yoga or Pilates classes, take advantage of them. Many gyms now include programs focused strictly on increasing flexibility, but if you are among those winter couch potatoes, try adding these stretches to your pre-bedtime routine:

Neck Stretch: Standing erect with hands on hips, tilt your head as far forward and hold; then tilt your head as far backward as possible and hold again. Next tilt your head as far to the right as possible; then repeat to the left and hold.

Arm over Head Stretch: Standing with feet at shoulder-width and holding your back and neck erect, gently pull the right elbow over the head. For a greater stretch, you can lean your torso slightly to the left. Hold for 30 seconds while breathing deeply, then repeat for other side.

Rotator Cuff Stretch: Standing with feet at shoulder width, bend your left arm at the elbow and place the top of your wrist at your side above the waist. Use your right to hold the left elbow and ease it forward. For a greater stretch, you can twist your torso to the right. Hold for 30 seconds, then repeat for other side.

Bar Chest Stretch: Dust off your paddle and use it before kayaking. With feet at shoulder-width, hold the paddle behind your back, keeping both palms facing backward. Hold for 30 seconds. You can vary this stretch to target different chest areas: at shoulder height stretches the mid-chest, and below the shoulder height stretches your upper chest.

Deltoid Stretch: Keep your left arm straight, then reach across the length of your chest and pull the left elbow into your chest with your right hand, keeping your shoulders straight. Hold for about 30 seconds, and repeat for the other side. For a deeper stretch, you can bend the left arm at the elbow and twist your torso to the right.

Standing Side Stretch: With a shoulder-width stance, ensure the back is kept straight so your stretch comes from the lower back.

We’ll focus on some lower body stretches in a blog post tomorrow.

Sheryl Brennan is the author of Celtic Sacrifice, single mother of three rambunctious pre-teen girls, and an avid outdoors woman. Read more about Sheryl at www.sherylbrennan.com.