Start with building the core muscles a.k.a. abs. While
doing these exercises start to work the legs by doing modified squats
and lunges while keeping the tummy tight. ;-} A very easy exercise
for the legs is to stand with your back against a wall, begin to
squat down and after lowering yourself about 4 inches hold for as
long as you can. Simple arm swinging and twisting will keep the
upper body loose and flexible. While paddlewinding remember to drive
with your legs and not your back. Same goes for gate swinging.
Now to rope hauling. I think you are referring to what is
know as bow hauling. Here we go ... Take the rope in left or right
hand and pass it behind your neck along the shoulders and then down
toward your hip. While holding it in this position, wrap your free
arm around the rope ONE revolution. You should be able to unwrap in
1/2 a revolution to free the rope. While holding the rope at your
hip, slowly lean away from the boat against the rope and drive with
your legs. Usually the weight of your body is enough to get the boat
moving and with the smallest amount of leg power keep the it moving.
The key to fitness on a boat is Core, Legs and Flexibility.
And don't forget the right/left elbow resistance training exercise
... ;-}
Stan ( who still missesss the old Blue Heron of San Geronimo )
P.s. Going slow is not a sign of laziness.
>Living, as we do, in a foreign land we only get a
>month or less on the canals.
>
>That, coupled with our being retired, means we are
>unfit, and getting "unfitter", for the paddlewinding,
>and gate-swinging and rope hauling that are needed for
>getting from A to B along the cut.
>
>So the question is:
>
>Exercises to build/tone muscles etc for the next trip?
>Any physio-therapists, fitness people in this group
>with a list of exercises or suggestions? Ideally, is
>there already a list of same, already on a website?
>
>Earlier this year the Grand Union and its leaning over
>paddle gears proved pretty daunting. An injury that
>messes up a eagerly anticipated holiday I can do
>without!
>
>Signed: Feeble of Nova Scotia
>
--
Judy & Stan Voets, POB 103, San Geronimo, CA 94963
Tel: 415.488.0985
You may never know what results come from your action,
But if you do nothing, there will be no results - Gandhi
