Instant Karma for Your Paddling
Paddlers often complain of lower back, shoulder, and wrist pain or injuries. Incorrect paddling techniques can contribute to all of these. Tight hamstrings and hips also contribute to back problems. Yoga poses such as downward-facing dog and king pigeon can help open the legs and hips.
Paddlers trying to keep a boat from tipping often injure shoulders and rotator cuffs. Poses such as triangle and camel can help strengthen and open the shoulders.
Practicing yoga poses will eventually allow you to become more aware of your body. Just as in paddling, try to allow the body to be soft and relaxed while practicing yoga poses. Tightening the muscles can often do more harm than good. Likewise, posture, balance, and body alignment are important for both paddling and practicing yoga.
Some yoga poses such as camel and cobra can lengthen tight muscles in the chest caused by slouching and rounding the back. Those poses can also improve flow of breath and range of motion. For paddlers, that may mean improving your stroke.
In addition, a stronger, more flexible body means you'll have more fun out on the water. Let's just say that your kayak karma will be at an all-time high.
Kate Reardon is a yoga instructor and an award-winning newspaper journalist from Everett, Washington. She is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation American Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
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