Outrigger canoeing to be the next great aerobic workout
By Thea Shoemaker 07/09/2009
I am a bona fide “chicken of the sea”! I’m not afraid of what lives in the ocean, just intimidated by the swell. When I was little, I was knocked down in the surf and I’m pretty sure that’s what did it. Despite my fear, I absolutely love the ocean.
I like living near it. I appreciate and respect it.
My friend Stephanie has been canoeing for more than 20 years. She has been on outrigger teams that go across the Hawaiian channel. Recently, she invited me to try outrigger canoeing with other women who haven’t tried the sport. I immediately declined. “I’ll help you find some ladies,” I offered, “but you won’t get me out there.” Kindly she replied, “Oh, you just have to try it once, Thea. I know you will love it!” I just smiled.
Little did I know, a seed had been planted; from that day on, I kept thinking about trying it. I pondered: it could supplement my running and be a great way to cross-train. It would also be an opportunity to get reacquainted with the water without going in too far! A few weeks after our original conversation, Stephanie invited me to join her and a few other women for an evening paddle. This time I accepted her offer.
To my surprise, there were a bunch of us waiting to get started, and only two had done this before. Stephanie arrived, immediately introduced us, and then we were off, carrying the canoe down to the water’s edge.
Our “coach” showed us how to handle the paddles and how to get in the canoe. We learned that in Hawaii, the outrigger is very spiritual, and canoeing, a sacred sport. When in and around the boat, it’s customary to treat the canoe with respect.
For example: you don’t cross or step over the boat, but enter and exit the canoe from the left side. Stephanie described which muscles to be aware of and to use when paddling, and also which muscles we should not use.
Once we were in the water, I immediately liked being in the boat. Stephanie cued us which side to paddle on. For example, three of us started on the left and the other three on the right. She would shout “Ho!” and we’d switch sides, working on power drills and switching our paddle side simultaneously, working together as a team the whole time. Once we got back to the launching area, Stephanie informed us that we had just covered about five miles!
I was amazed at how much of a total body workout this was. I definitely got a cardiovascular workout, using the muscles of my entire back, rear end and abdominals. We were all invited to come back next week, and without any hesitation, I accepted.
In order to keep motivated on your journey to stay healthy, sometimes it helps to try new things, even if you have initial fears. I never thought that being in the ocean could be so enjoyable, and getting such an awesome workout while enjoying a sport can be just the thing to re-energize your workout routine, or just add some variety. Give ‘new’ a try! And always remember … you’re worth it!
*Notes: If you’re not sure what an outrigger canoe is, keep reading.
Most outrigger canoes are about 40 feet long. On the left side of the boat, there are two arms called the ”iako,” which support a small canoe-shaped float called the “ama,” which helps balance the boat. The canoe sits six people. The person in the very back is the steersman. Usually, the third position calls out paddle changes. The lead person is the “stroker” and sets the pace for the crew. The canoe is designed to move swiftly through the ocean.
Thea Shoemaker, CPT, is the owner of TS Fitness Systems, a personal training business located in the Oxnard beach community. Contact Thea by phone (805) 985-7867 or e-mail ts_fitness_systems@yahoo.com, or visit her on the Web at www.tsfitnesssystems.com.
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