T'ai Chi For Kayaking And Canoes Racing

Kayaking and canoes involve paddling and water. T'ai Chi, a style of martial arts, is practiced on land with neither water nor boats. The two seem unrelated but did you know that T'ai Chi benefits water sports players like enthusiasts of kayaking and canoes racing? Paddling requires moving gracefully, strongly, and balanced on rough waters. It also puts much strain on the arms and the back, if done incorrectly. T'ai Chi improves and enhances paddling skills because the exercise and the sport follow the same principles.

Karen Knight and Betsey Forster, experts in kayaking and canoes racing, admit to doing T'ai Chi regularly. According to them, T'ai Chi provides cross-training. They claim that kayaking and T'ai Chi reinforce the skills and principles of each other which make practice of both relevant for improvement. They add that doing complementary exercises boosts the skills and energy levels of paddlers. The two share kayaking principles and the complementary T'ai Chi practices.

In any water sport, it is necessary to keep your body centered, quiet, and stable. These traits are reflected in your boat and spell the difference between staying on the boat or getting thrown off it. How you position your body and your posture play significant roles in kayaking and canoes racing. Sit straight and spread your weight equally between your buttocks to create a stable pelvic base. This position liberates your upper body and allows your lower body greater control over the boat. It is important to align your nose, navel, and tailbone to create a single unit. Making your body move and paddle as a unit minimize strain and risks of injuries. Another principle, called the paddler's box, incorporates power in paddling strokes. This is achieved by aligning hands and arms front of your shoulder plane. This ensures that your arms and shoulders are moving as a unit no matter how you paddle. Stable paddling is also a key factor in kayak racing. Most regard stable paddling as an accurate measure of the canoeists' skills. It is difficult to paddle quietly and keep the boat from bobbing but a good canoeist can do it. Avoiding pitching and bobbing the boat are done by keeping the boat stable and the paddling movement slow and accurate. Every move must be calculated because unnecessary motions can topple the boat over in rough current.

Stability, balance, and power are the main principles of kayaking. These are the very aspects T'ai Chi practices take care of. The T'ai Chi walk is recommended before launching and can help racers center and quiet their bodies in the water. It is done by elongating the spine much like the aligning of the nose, navel, and tailbone in kayaking and canoes racing, only this time, exercise is done standing up. The walk helps racers focus on their bodies and make them aware of their movements to reduce inefficiency. The steps are taken slowly with deliberate movements from the arms like paddling. The Hold The Ball movement aids in maintaining racers' paddler's box. In this exercise, the waist, arms, and torso do the work enabling them to get used to acting as unit before racing. Waist rotation is another exercise to improve efficiency of movement. The waists and the hips are given added power and stability since paddling action is rooted in the lower body. With these exercises, the canoeists' bodies are accustomed to being stable, maintaining balance, and efficient use of power.

Knight and Forster recommend practicing T'ai Chi regularly for those who are thinking of taking kayaking and canoes racing as a sport. This form of cross training also helps enthusiasts to become better riders and fluid paddlers. Regular training and T'ai Chi sessions keep canoeists ready and fit for succeeding kayaking and canoes racing events.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "River Rafting Kayaking" article category.

People interested in the above article "T'ai Chi For Kayaking And Canoes Racing" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Inflatable Kayak Review - The Best Cheap Kayaks

The fastest growing trend in the kayaking industry is clearly the use of inflatable kayaks. Today's technology makes these inflatable crafts more rugged and maneuverable, while remaining lightweight and portable. Even seasoned kayakers are gradually making the switch to inflatable kayaks.

White Water Rafting Adventure - 7 Tips For Taking the Ride of Your Life

Ever wonder about jumping in with both feet and taking a whitewater rafting adventure? The beginner can have just as much fun and excitement as the seasoned expert. The following 7 tips will help get you safely prepared to take the ride of your life.

The Thrills and Spills of White Water Rafting in Christchurch, New Zealand

Find out why New Zealand's South Island is the adventure sport capital of the world with an exhilarating first hand experience of white water rafting down the Rangitata River, found just outside of Christchurch. Going down the rapids is a truly awesome experience and one that you'll be raving to your friends about for weeks.

Whitewater Kayaking Safety

Kayaking is on the rise, as it offers the best in outdoor activities full of thrills and spills. Chasing the spray meets much of today's need for exciting sports, but being responsible and knowing basic safety rules about kayaking can make the difference between a great trip and one where someone lands in an emergency situation.

Learning to Kiss the Rock or Buy A New Kayak

Paddling a river is an immense joy because you get an intimate feel of the power of nature below you in the flowing water. Ah, but what if mother nature throws you a curve?

Getting In and Out of Eddies When Kayaking

If you are just getting into kayaking, you should know that eddies are your friend. No, eddie is not a person. It is a natural rest stop on a river.

Kayaking From One Side of the River to the Other

There you are standing on the shore. A hundred feet across the river on the other shore sit your buddies. And they have the food and beverages! How do you get across?