I have recently spoken to other rowers and kayakers who have complained about soreness in their hips. I talked to my doctor about this and he told that this was very common with this sport. I am a certified Yoga Instructor. So in this newsletter, I would like talk about yoga and kayaking.We have always heard that it is best to stretch before exercising. Well, the same is true for kayaking.
Before I go out in the mornings, I do a couple rounds of Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara). This is a great warm-up and it helps me get my head in the right place before I head out the door.
It is also a good idea to stretch after you get out of the water. I like to do some asanas (poses) that open up the hips. Some good ones are; the Cobbler’s Pose (Baddha Konasana), the Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana) and the Extended Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana).
Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) is great for the back, rear-end and the back of the thighs. Even though this pose is part of the Sun Salutation, I like to do it again when I am done kayaking.
When you are done with your stretches, the Child’s Pose (Balasana) is a beneficial resting pose for the back, thighs and hips. Then I like to meditate for twenty minutes and reflect on what a wonderful morning I have had out on the water and how lucky I am (smile).
Try these poses to see if they help you to loosen up. Go lightly at first with these stretches. Do not push your body. A little goes a long way. If you practice these poses, you will find that you will get better at doing them. But remember there is no one to impress here or to compete with.
For information on the Sun Salutation and the poses (asanas) discussed here, there are a couple web-sites that you can visit. They are www.yoga.about.com and www.yogajournal.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kayaker@kayakgirl.com.
