Stiff and tired shoulders are inevitable after a long session. This is especially true if you don’t have a perfect or even efficient paddling technique, inevitably creating fatigue in your shoulders and arms.
Editor's Note: If you’re interested in more surf-centric workout programs designed to improve your wave count and your health, check out Surf Shape with Gershon Borlai.
Stiff and tired shoulders are inevitable after a long session. This is especially true if you don’t have a perfect or even efficient paddling technique, inevitably creating fatigue in your shoulders and arms. This is what usually bothers you the day after a long session, making it harder to surf, all because of unnecessary muscle strain. Even just laying on your board in the perfect paddling pose (with your back arched, high elbows, chest barely touching the board, legs closed) will make your back and shoulders tighter and help them work more efficiently in the long term.
If you are looking for an effective shoulder stretch, this will become your favorite drill.
When you are tired, staying in this pose for a spell will restore your energy. It can also help ease shoulder stiffness as it requires strength and flexibility at the same time.
How does this drill improve your surfing?
The downward facing dog is one of the most popular yoga poses in the world. It should be also a very popular drill for surfers, as it loosens and opens up the muscles of your shoulders (shoulder girdle), upper and lower back, and hamstrings. Through this, you can increase the effectiveness of your paddling.
You can loosen up your back with the simple routine below. This is not magic, it is about taking care of your own body (muscles and tendons) on a consistent basis (You can also download the routine as a 1 page cheat sheet that will help you to stretch the key areas for surfing in 5 minutes at home).
How to do it properly
-Assume a push-up position on the floor.
-Arms should be straight and your hands should be shoulder-width apart.
-Lift your hips so that your body forms an upside down V.
-Turn your hands out slightly to help you extend out of your shoulders.
-As you press down with your hands, try to lift your forearms away from the ground.
-It is an important intention which will stabilize your shoulders.
-Take a deep breath in the starting position and exhale during the movement.
How long should you hold the position?
You can hold this position for about 15-30 sec in each position. If you are measuring in breaths, 3-5 breaths will do the trick. During stretching try to take a deep breath through your nose for 2-4 sec and then exhale through the mouth for 5-7 seconds.
Common mistakes include:
– A bent and rounded back comes from only concentrating on the legs. Try to keep your back straight (slightly bend your knees in order to achieve this).
– Head and face pointing towards the palms will overload your neck. Let your head hang.
– Bent elbows will block the whole movement and prevent your shoulders from stretching.
Yours,
Gershon
Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in more surf-centric workout programs designed to improve your wave count and your health, check out Surf Shape with Gershon Borlai.
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