What if the same mindset that gets you through a Class IV rapid could help you start a business, write a book, or take a bold leap in life? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Melissa DeMarie — international kayak coach, river guide, and founder of California Watersport Collective —
Ep #89 Flowcharts, Fear, and Silverback Courage with Melissa DeMarie Read More »
My left hip and low back have been bothering since mid-summer. I taught a lot of kayaking this year, and also paddled quite a bit for myself – which was super fun! Unfortunately, my left hip/low back got so bad that it was hard for me to bend over and stand back up, I couldn’t
5 yoga for paddling poses for low back and hip pain relief Read More »
(Excerpted from Yoga for Paddling with Anna Levesque) Yoga for paddling emphasizes the importance of strengthening the muscles we underuse in paddling and stretching the muscles that we overuse. Our hips, low back, and legs experience a double whammy in our culture due to the time we spend sitting – at our desks, in our
(Excerpted from Yoga for Paddling with Anna Levesque) Breathwork (Pranayama) is one of the eight limbs of yoga. According to yoga, the breath is our life force (prana) and can be manipulated to warm us up, cool us down, stimulate digestion, energize us or induce relaxation. Another benefit of breath control is to bring you
(Excerpted from Yoga for Paddling with Anna Levesque) Relaxation and stress management are important in maintaining our health, happiness and performance in life. This is especially important in our culture where the focus is almost exclusively on expending energy. Keep moving, keep busy, and keep striving. We fuel our bodies on the move and and
(Excerpted from Yoga for Paddling with Anna Levesque) The obliques are key muscles in the movement of torso rotation and tend to be chronically contracted in paddlers. Twists help to stretch the obliques, give our internal organs a good massage, stimulate digestion, and calm the nervous system. One of my favorite twists for paddlers is
This article is contributed by Rachel Roman, Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and GAP Client. I started kayaking two summers ago and progressed quickly throughout the first season. As time passed, however, a roll that had once been very reliable became less so, even as other skills progressed. I started having to work harder to come up, lying
Self-Care and Listening To Your Body: What I Learned From a Year of Setbacks Read More »
During the long winter months, many of us aren’t out there kayaking nearly as much, if at all. So what are you doing to keep engaged and keep your body and mind in the sport? While it may be too cold for some of us to venture out, there is plenty out there that can
For approximately half of my life, I’ve been on a quest for water. Around the age of 11, when I read a novel about a 16-year-old girl rowing the Grand Canyon, I developed a deep fondness for the concept of navigating waterways via boat. Anyone who’s ever lived with me, traveled with me, or gone
A Quest, a Question and the Power of a Quiet Mind Read More »
Wilderness river trips tend to draw me in with their present-moment awareness energy – whether it’s the Grand Canyon, Middle Fork or Main Salmon. As soon as I put on my focus shifts to what is right in front of me: The River, the people I’m traveling with and the beauty that surrounds me. Some
