Monique’s Muses

Stretching does the body good. Stretching out can be thought of or seen as part of a lifestyle too. No matter how old you are or what kind of shape you’re in, it’s never too late to start stretching.

Stretching  increases blood circulation, relieves pain and tension, increases range of motion and can create a feeling of well being.  It also serves as a great combatant against possible injuries.

You will find with patience, in time your muscles will act like sculpting clay, warming up, becoming more pliable the more you stretch.  Only a few moments a day, several times a week can greatly improve  flexibility and balance.  I’m not referring to the short stretch periods that are done in the boat before setting out to paddle. I’m speaking of doing a full on stretch-out in under 20 minutes a few times a week.  Try it before you go out paddling. I bet you will feel a difference in the way your body moves, flows and responds in a kayak.

I’m often asked what stretches can help make a kayak more comfortable? What muscle groups to stretch to gain more flexibility? How do you loosen your hips?

Stretch your hip flexors (this one’s key), hamstrings, quads, inside thighs, gluts, calves, ankles/feet, lower and upper back. That’s just half….then there’s shoulders, abs and torso. You can also stretch your forearms and hands.

Remember to relax, start out slow and breathe through each stretch. Don’t ever hold your breath. This depletes oxygen going to your muscles. Continue  stretching to where you feel enough resistance to feel a little bit of discomfort but not pain. Never bounce. Stretching gently to where you feel the ” burn” feeling will increase your stretch significantly over time. Just be patient. Keep stretching regularly.  Being and staying limber is a continuous effort and journey.

I believe stretching  is especially important for the beginner paddler since the sitting configuration in a boat is foreign and new to their bodies. Beginners sometimes have a tendency to not be able to relax. Their bodies grow stiff utilizing more muscle power and energy than needed. This can easily become ”pulling a muscle” territory, especially to a beginner. Stretching out regularly (off the river) can and will help reduce chances of muscle strains, tweaks and injuries.

I’ve noticed people who practice or have practiced yoga, dance, gymnastics or martial arts tend to be the much more flexible students. These sports or activities seem to promote stretching as a integral part of  their philosophies.

 I call my new hat the “Monique” hat.

Each one is definitely unique. It was specially handmade for me with much kindness and mine’s green, like my boat. The hat story goes like this…

  My very awesome friend Jana told me recently that she was knitting some hats to donate to a local ministry. She had become involved with a great group of ladies that knit and they were “giving back” to the community. This is just one of many things I often observe in our unique whitewater boating community…”giving back”. Not always in huge ways, not always boating related but very often in the small ways. I urge everyone to think about how they can participate in giving back. You will only be the richer for it, I guarantee you.

 Seeing how I knew she always comes up with something great, I asked for one and she kindly knit one for me and my husband too. The “Jim” hat is black/white like his boat. Since then, I’ve heard rumor that there are more “Dry Hair” hats out there, made specially by Dry Hair Boater. I love mine, thanks so very much Jana.

Rumor has it………there will be sightings of others who love their Dry Hair hats too.

I got the chance to try this new sport last summer. Kluge….you ever heard of it?

My friends Danny and Russ were kind enough to film us as we all took turns trying out Danny’s prototype Kluge. It was a very cool design he came up with and a total blast. I’m wondering if the Po was at very low water levels when he congered this thing up.

Here is my first driveway decent in Danny’s awesome Kluge.

Monique’s Kluge

I wonder if SUP got it’s start in a similar way. You can get a good amount of speed depending on the gradient. Thanks Danny for sharing your Kluge. I had so much fun that day. If you want to see more Kluge footage check out Danny’s website Whykayak.com

 When I teach, the first thing I do before hitting the water is making sure my students are properly fitting in their boats. A good instructor will make sure that the boat is actually sized for the individuals weight, height, inseam and shoe size. Instructing out of the Jackson Fun series has made this especially easy, since they are very quick and easy to adjust to each paddlers specs.

 Would you wear a pair of pants too small, or wear them too loose and need a belt?

Small means, too tight and constricted, even cutting off circulation. Loose means, contact with the boat is minimal (meaning one is able to slide around in the boat). How deep one is sitting in the boat (where is the cockpit rim hitting you?) also plays into the right fit. If your bottom rib is perpendicular to the cockpit rim edge, you are sitting to deep in the boat. You shouldn’t feel like you are sitting in a bath tub. Raising your center of gravity is key. You can do this by placing a pad of foam underneath you. People with short torsos especially have this issue and lifting themselves up a bit more in their seat helps.

 Rolling will take much more effort trying not to slip out of the hip pads and thigh braces. Contact inside the boat, with the proper outfitting, should be in the hip pads, with the help of shims. If legs or feet are falling asleep, look at the hip pads first. Changing their position or removing a shim can be the remedy for poor circulation. The knees/thighs fitting in the thigh braces should be splaying out, touching the inside walls. The back-band should “not” be tightened super aggressive, being the main reason for a tight fit. You should also be able to scoot yourself forward in the boat as far as you can. Moving the seat is sometimes necessary. You don’t want to be sitting on the edge of your seat. You want the “trim” in the boat to be level from the bow to the stern.

I’ve learned these fit tips from “the best”, My mentor…  C.K. the Supreme “Tailor” of foam and outfitting.

 Like an artist with a sculpting tool.

Need I say more….. what an excellent way to say “I love you”. Going “plastic” for our 26th wedding anniversary was a no brain-er. Beats jewelry any day.

You can find us out paddling together sharing our passion and love for kayaking on any given day.

 I’ve always been a firm believer that one can, as does wear many different hats in a lifetime.

What I mean is, you can become really proficient at many things if you put yourself out there and just “try”.

You can think of it this way, you are placing yourself out of your comfort box. This is especially true for whitewater kayaking. Trying and learning something new, excepting failures along with success as you practice working a new craft. When the practice starts to take on a flow of understanding, that’s where the true empowerment comes in.  Adults seem to have more issues with the “instant gratification thing” in my opinion. Sticking with it, patience and practice will reward you with strong skills.

As always, when learning something new, and becoming good at it, there’s usually some “work” involved.

I’ve often reminded my students of that. “You shouldn’t expect to play like Eric Clapton in 3 weeks”. Wouldn’t you expect your kid (if you have one) to practice to play an instrument? Same goes for kayaking, martial arts, music, I’ve taught them all. Seems to me that this philosophy works well for me.

I’ve always been a firm believer of being the “turtle” rather than the “hare”.

Heartbreak To Heartbreak

Over the years I’ve been witness to this amazing phenomenon after floating or paddling on water countless times. I too have been and am the recipient of the (soothing soul) high, that’s one of the great benefits to paddling I like to share. I realize that the endorphins have a lot to do with it, but there’s something about the water, and the empowerment one gets directing ones own path and pace paddling on the water. I’ve often seen daily stress, worries, and bad day moods melt away literally, moments after sliding themselves into the water. Have you ever noticed that relaxed big smile at the take-out? To me, it seems the perfect medicine for what ails you. There’s something in the water, I think sometimes people don’t realize they are “having a blast” and oh….and by the way…. exercising. What a wonderful way to have fun and get healthy benefits too.