Training the Machine Part 2
OK, for part 2 let’s dive into the fitness discussion. Good time of year to refine your training for the upcoming season.
I will repeat what I said in part 1 that we are all different, and have different physical needs to bring the machine to top performance. But we all have the same end goal, to tune us so we have the opportunity to get into the flow state.
But to get into the flow state does not just happen by chance, you have to train for it, just as you have to do with all the elements of training the machine for the life style.
This is where professional people who have studied the body and know how to help you train for a balanced, smooth, powerful motion can help.
Most of you reading enjoy the world of sailing. Sailing has many different physical requirements based on the type of boat, and position you are in on that boat. For this discussion I will focus more on singlehanded sailing, windsurfing, windfoiling, SUP, and wingfoiling. All disciplines I have enjoyed working hard at to keep my machine tuned to preform my best.
Training needs to be part of the life style. You need to find what you love and make that part of your training. For instance we love SUP, I have worked to refine my paddle stroke for years, and that started with my kayaking. Training to have smooth power, and efficiency from the big muscle groups.
Same with my shorthanded sailing, get to know the boat, and how to move on the boat. Then increase the cadence to build boat handling before the speed.
Example; I would train, doing tacks for miles, getting up to speed and then tack again. While doing reefs in, reefs out, and navigating. After that I would set a kite doing jibes all the way back. Changing kites if the wind changed. Great training to dial in boat handling, while having fun. The timing, moves, thinking through the boat handling sets you up for the speed work. Do the basics first, training the machine, and the speed will come easier.
Same for all board sports. But, they are a lot more proprioception based. You need to train properly for proprioception. One of the best for me has been the years I have spent in PT. Learning how to work smooth power into hard balance exercises. This is the key to proprioception, and needs to be trained year round. I cannot emphasize this enough!
An excellent option if you don’t have access to a great sports PT is to find a course for proprioception training. My first choice is Ocean Monkey Jedi, by Sarah Hauser. I just finished this training routine, which delayed this post until I finished. This will now be part of my year round training. As Sarah told me, take the parts that help, and build your own routine to use throughout the year.
Sarah has designed this program specifically for board sports. Sarah is a top professional world champion windsurfer and wave rider. To see the video of her windsurfing down a huge wave at Jaws is an impressive site. I really like her teaching style, while she does it with you. She is a fun, easy to follow teacher.
I have also been through Sarah’s Solid Shoulder routine. This was a huge help, during our year of wingfoiling. These are the type of talented athletes/teachers that I like to support.
Other days I have a customized PT+ routine. After my last surgery I worked with my PT for three months dialing me back in, and developing a routine to take me forward. This routine I adjust, do it weekly in the season, and more in the offseason. Interesting how some of the exercises are part of Ocean Monkey Jedi program.
Also I add in cycling which I love, year round. And yes, if there is ice I ride the trainer.
For me it is not at all about muscle mass it is about fitness, and how I feel 90 min into foiling. That is my path, you may have very different goals, and I get it, that is great. Build and adjust your own training to keep it fun, and help you stay healthy, while you live the life style, and get into the flow.
I am happy to say I now have wingfoiling days in the flow state. The last thing I think about is foiling when this happens. I get a song stuck in my head, relaxed it is a pure pleasure, all while pushing hard. These are also my fastest days foiling. A good start in a new discipline.
Don’t forget to take days off. I trust what I feel, especially in December and early January. Enough surgeries and you learn this the hard way. During the season I do more maintenance workouts, keeping the effort on sailing.
I realize a lot of my PT work and Sarah Hauser’s workouts have forms of yoga in them. And they all help me improve my range of motion, power to be smooth when tired. The things that really matter when you are in the heat of it.
Keep your training part of your passion. Find what works for you, and adjust how it fits your life style. Trust your gut, find your path, and always Have Fun Every Day doing it.
Hope this helps you in some small way to live the life style that makes you smile, and find the flow.
See you soon, Paul