Flexibility
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Chit Chat
Forum Discription: Non Boating Related Discussions
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15330
Printed Date: 25 Sep 2025 at 9:13pm
Topic: Flexibility
Posted By: Matt Haverly
Subject: Flexibility
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2016 at 7:57pm
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Kayakers:
How many of you kayakers comfortably paddling class 3/4 are able to touch your toes? Just curious. You don't have to pull your kayak off to the side of the river or anything to answer this thread. Just FYI - after about 5 months of kayaking, I still can't touch my toes, however, my flexibility is improving, and that is helping boating out as far as getting forward and staying loose. I am sitting her watching a movie, typing this thread, and working on passive stretching at the same time. My 8 year old can bend over and touch her palms to the ground while standing up with her legs straight. My wife can touch her toes, although she does not kayaking or stretching. Me, after much kayaking and improving hamstring flexibility, still have a long ways to go before I can touch my toes. Your input greatly appreciated.  ------------- Matt Haverly Sultan, Washington matthaverlymobile@gmail.com |
Replies:
Posted By: irenen
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 10:16pm
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Hey Matt, You might want to try this girl's stretches, the problem is often (for me for sure) that the tightness is not just in the hamstrings, it's in the lower back, which prevents people from flexing from the hips and they hunch instead. Try the first one on this page (should be 'get to the root of tight hamstrings': http://www.realigntherapy.com/category/blog/ - http://realigntherapy.com/category/blog/ And this one is for hip flexibility, I think it helps with playboating: https://youtu.be/wKW3Y0awiYc?list=PLWyy0YElGjLlAB8hNSY_VThVNDBADHKBV - https://youtu.be/wKW3Y0awiYc?list=PLWyy0YElGjLlAB8hNSY_VThVNDBADHKBV Happy flexing. :) ------------- It's all fun and games until someone loses a paddle. |
Posted By: Matt Haverly
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 10:40pm
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Thank you irenen!
I have reason to think that you are onto something with the tightness not just being in the hamstrings. I crushed 2 back vertebrae in 2011 and have fully recovered and have no pain but I think many of my back muscles have since been holding tight even when they don't need to. I walk slightly different as a result. So this stretch you shared is probably perfect for me. Amazing that the guy in that first link improved his flexibility after just a single stretch session. Thank you for sharing these and I will for sure be working on these. I of course will not let anybody see me while I am working on these but none the less I will be working on these.  ------------- Matt Haverly Sultan, Washington matthaverlymobile@gmail.com |
Posted By: irenen
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 10:51am
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I hear you, not the kind of stretch you do at the put-in. :)
------------- It's all fun and games until someone loses a paddle. |