Kayaking can improve fitness and improving fitness can improve kayaking. Many people are drawn to kayaking to seek out the general fitness benefits it offers - lose weight, build strength and muscle tone, increase health and overall just to look and feel good. The paddling done on a kayak is good for the cardiovascular system and a great form of upper body strength training. Kayaking also requires core strength. Core strength is the foundation of total fitness. Strong muscles in the abdomen give you better posture, slim you waistline and support the body physically during every activity. Increased time and intensity on the water builds up these muscles, but paddlers can also improve their fitness by specifically targeting these areas with exercises done indoors.
Kayak Fitness: The Fusion of Sport and Exercise (DVD)
This DVD, created and taught by Tanya Dillard, is presented in a direct, no-nonsense style. Dillard, owner of Reform Bode Pilates Studio in SC, takes time to explain the proper use of each piece of equipment and the proper technique of each movement. She also addresses precautions to avoid injury and achieve proper alignment.
Regular use of this indoor video workout, with its variety of movements, will increase your fitness level and allow you to paddle with ease. It will also balance muscles to help prevent injury during outdoor workouts on the kayak.
While kayaking involves the use of the entire body, this fitness workout mainly focuses on increasing the strength of the upper body and core. To provide total body muscle balance, elevate the heart rate and provide an added challenge, each upper body segment incorporates lower body work. The program requires the use of a stability ball, a medicine ball, resistance tubing and a door attachment.
The Workouts
The DVD contains three pre-programmed segments, each broken down by the main muscle groups used in paddling. Program A consists a warm up, exercises focused on chest, shoulders, triceps, and forearms and concludes with stretches. Program B begins with a warm up, then works the back, biceps, core strength and stability, and finishes with stretches. These two workouts are intended to be done on alternating days. They are broken up by large muscle groups and will allow you to train on consecutive days. Program C is a full program of all the exercises which is meant to be done every other day. The DVD is also interactive and allows the user to program 10 exercise segments into a workout.
Kayak Fitness will improve your fitness, make you stronger and keep you motivated.
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