Preparing the Body and Brain to Learn

Preparing the Body and Brain to Learn

PREPARING THE BODY AND BRAIN TO LEARN

The more pliable our mental and physical foundation, the more space we will have mentally and physically for onboarding new concepts and challenges.

Here are some things you can be doing over the next few weeks as our adventure approaches, that will open up your comfort zones! They may feel silly and awkward, that is part of the prep. Just do short bits mixed throughout your day. You should feel no physical discomfort, just mildly unsettled.

Be sure to have your muscles warmed up first with activity or a hot shower, no stretching (that comes after). Do not forget to Laugh.

The Body (and brain)

  • Reverse Lunges – With your hands above your head in a prayer position (palms together), step back with your right foot and lower your right knee to where it hovers off the floor. Your left knee should not be moving forward past your left toes. Alternate. Start with a few reps and build to 15 per side. Hip flexors – Core stability – Shoulder stabilizers

    I like to layer this in for half my reps: Switch the praying hands to extended arms the way you would hold a paddle out in front of you. Now as you lower that right leg, rotate your right shoulder to your left knee (keep those arms extended).

  • Floor Twist – Sit on the floor in that perfect paddler’s posture (centered over your hips, pelvis tipped forward, shoulders back, head high and free). Now rotate to your left and place both hands on the floor about your paddling grip width apart. Chill there for a 3-4 count. Alternate. No forcing or bouncing, just smooth, positive extension. Focus on keeping your butt connected to the floor throughout the reach. Start with a few reps and build from there. Core flexibility and balance.

  • Planks – Elbows directly under shoulders, palms extended out and softly connected to the floor. Your feet will be extended out behind you and your butt should be aligned with your heels and shoulders (like a plank…haha). The head needs to be loose; let go of that tension. 5 seconds to start and see if you can build to 45 seconds. 5-10 reps. If comfortable, raise up off your elbows to your hands or fists making sure to place them directly under the shoulders. Shoulder strength and stability – Core strength.

  • Next level – Mix in some reps with your eyes closed on these. Add a Tree Pose.

Brain (and body)

  • Both hands – This is the single best thing you can do for improving your paddle sensitivity and dexterity, it is a 2 handed sport. Start teaching your other hand how to do things, period. Brushing your teeth, eating, making coffee, talking on the phone. Everything you do through the day, switch it up. Embrace the frustration and weirdness – slow down and learn it – then try to match the pace. Your head will hurt, but it gets better after the first week. You will be amazed!
  • Reverse – You guessed it, start moving around your house backwards. I like to throw in spins wherever I can in both directions. See if you can get to where 10-20% of your indoor travel, is in reverse. Do this on your walks or hikes too.

    • Eyes closed – Choose targets in relatively clear areas, walk to them a few times with your eyes open and then in reverse and sideways. Now close your eyes and see (not really, they call that a pun) how well you can do. Start with small distances and challenges and build from there. Counting steps is counterproductive. The idea is to be completely present and have ALL of your senses engaged and a part of your trust. Practice walking up to trees and walls to find out how close you can get without touching them. This is WAY more fun when you do not cheat.

  • Time management – Pick a target or task and visualize yourself getting there or completing it. Visualize it again and time the process during the visualization. Now go do it and time your live action. Our goal is to have these two times be close. Keep the challenges simple to begin and escalate from your success. Eyes closed and reverse are nice touches to up the level.

These things do not need to be burdensome, in fact I think with humility, you will find them to be just the opposite.

I remember learning once that “every part of our life can be a dance”. I would think about that when I was filling ice buckets at the bar I worked for in Jackson, Wy. back in the day. It was the least, best part of the job, the most, best part was the season pass. I would challenge myself to be as efficient as possible with how many scoops to fill the bucket. Balancing speed and load over spillage. Then try with my eyes closed.

When we fill our life with the dance, we live life full.

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Ireland | Ocean Skills

IRELAND

Build your skills in real-life conditions with multiple days of low-ratio coaching. Donegal has something for everyone, 1,800 foot high cliffs, sea caves, arches, mile-long surfing beaches, protected bays and coastlines exposed to the full effect of the North Atlantic.

Aug. 22nd – 29th

Aug. 29th – Sept. 5th

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Our low student-coach ratios allow us to embrace the environment offering challenges that are accessible and fun. Some skills we might focus on include, rough water boat handling, rock gardening, sea cave paddling, surfing, core stroke refinement,  leadership, and rescues.

florida sea kayaking

Aug. 22 – 29 or Aug. 29 – Sept 5| $2,700

Come with us to County Donegal in the Northwest of the Republic of Ireland for a week of unsurpassed sea kayaking. Donegal has something for everyone, 1,800 foot high cliffs, sea caves, arches, mile-long surfing beaches, protected bays, and coastlines exposed to the full effect of the North Atlantic.

Double occupancy lodging, breakfast, lunches, and some dinners will be provided.  Ground transportation and kayak rentals are also included.

Register: Aug. 22 – 29 or

Register: Aug. 29 – Sep. 5

What to Expect

Day 1: Dublin airport pickup and travel to Dunfanaghy, lunch on the road is not included, dinner at the house is provided
Day 2 – 7: Paddling and developing skills along the varied coastline
Day 8: Travel back to Dublin Airport or your airport hotel

The itinerary is reflective of conditions and group goals. The vast and dynamic environments in Donegal offer something for everyone. Some areas of learning and growth may include rock gardening, rough water boat handling, rescues, navigation, stroke refinement, and open water crossings.

What’s included?  Low-ratio professional coaching, double occupancy lodging in a house, ground transportation, kayak rentals, breakfast, lunches, and most dinners will be provided. Meals that are eaten out or on the road are at your own expense.

As the trip gets closer keep an eye out for an email with more specifics and a waiver. We will also host an optional Zoom meeting prior to our departure. Any questions can be sent to info@thepowerofwater.net.

Cost: $2,700.00. Paid in full or  50% deposit before March 1, balance due by May 1.

Check our our  Youtube channel for videos from previous years.

 

"10/10 would highly recommend! The experience will leave you in AWE! "

-Cung

"This trip offered variety in venue, skill development and experiences. The cliffs and stunningly clear water are truly unmatched. "

– Tara

The Power of Water has been successful at developing the feeling of a welcoming, accepting, community over and over again! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! It’s a great place to learn and grow!

  • Deb

"The Power of Water has been successful at developing the feeling of a welcoming, accepting, community over and over again! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! It’s a great place to learn and grow!"

– Deb

The Beaufort Scale of Windspeed

The Beaufort Scale is a great way to estimate wind speed by visual observation of the sea surface or land features.  The following chart shows the general descriptions for land and sea observations for Beaufort Foce 0 to Force 12.

ForceSpeedDescriptionSpecifications for use at sea
(mph)(knots)Specifications for use on land
00-10-1CalmSea like a mirror.
Calm; smoke rises vertically.
11-31-3Light AirRipples with the appearance of scales are formed, but without foam crests.
Direction of wind shown by smoke drift, but not by wind vanes.
24-74-6Light BreezeSmall wavelets, still short, but more pronounced. Crests have a glassy appearance and do not break.
Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary vanes moved by wind.
38-127-10Gentle BreezeLarge wavelets. Crests begin to break. Foam of glassy appearance. Perhaps scattered white horses.
Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag.
413-1811-16Moderate BreezeSmall waves, becoming larger; fairly frequent white horses.
Raises dust and loose paper; small branches are moved.
519-2417-21Fresh BreezeModerate waves, taking a more pronounced long form; many white horses are formed.
Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland waters.
625-3122-27Strong BreezeLarge waves begin to form; the white foam crests are more extensive everywhere.
Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires; umbrellas used with difficulty.
732-3828-33Near GaleSea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind.
Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against the wind.
839-4634-40GaleModerately high waves of greater length; edges of crests begin to break into spindrift. The foam is blown in well-marked streaks along the direction of the wind.
Breaks twigs off trees; generally impedes progress.
947-5441-47Severe GaleHigh waves. Dense streaks of foam along the direction of the wind. Crests of waves begin to topple, tumble and roll over. Spray may affect visibility
Slight structural damage occurs (chimney-pots and slates removed)
1055-6348-55StormVery high waves with long overhanging crests. The resulting foam, in great patches, is blown in dense white streaks along the direction of the wind. On the whole the surface of the sea takes on a white appearance. The tumbling of the sea becomes heavy and shock-like. Visibility affected.
Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural damage occurs.
1164-7256-63Violent StormExceptionally high waves (small and medium-size ships might be for a time lost to view behind the waves). The sea is completely covered with long white patches of foam lying along the direction of the wind. Everywhere the edges of the wave crests are blown into froth. Visibility affected.
Very rarely experienced; accompanied by wide-spread damage.
1272-8364-71HurricaneThe air is filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white with driving spray; visibility very seriously affected.

Demo Boat Sale

USED and DEMO boats 30-50% off!

All in excellent condition (except the Delphin 150, just good).

Aries 150 $2700 (4000),
Aries 155 Expedition Layup $3600 (5400),
Delphin 150 $950 (1999),
Scorpio LV for $1200 (2099
Islay 14 or 14 LV $750 (1400),
Islay 12 or 12LV $650,
Hurricane Sojourn 146 or 146 LV $900 (1499),
Flex 11.5 $500 (850),
Hurricane Sojourn 126 $750 (1299).
Give me a shout for more photos. Trey 517-927-3859.

 

Rhode Island Ocean Skills Week 2017

Rhode Island offers some of the finest sea kayaking in the U.S.. In a remarkably compact area, you can be paddling rock gardens, surfing clean waves, playing in tide races or making open water crossings. All with warm water, minimal bugs and no crowds in the shoulder seasons.