Getting Ready for Kayak Tours: 5 Upper Body Exercises

Physical preparation for an adventure travel paddling trip is a great way to kick start or enhance your upper body resistance training routine. Many of us are comfortable on treadmills, elliptical machines, or walking/running outside, but fewer women regularly incorporate resistance training into workout routines. Kayaking and canoeing are great oppotunities to exercise the upper body and preparing for such activities can help create a more functional and healthy upper body. Toning your upper body can be simple; there are actually a lot of upper body exercises you can do in your home or without any fancy equipment. Below are five efficient, (and if you choose) equipment-less exercises that can help you maintain arm and core strength between paddles, or when preparing for your next adventure travel  paddling vacation. Each of the exercises incorporates both the upper body (mostly shoulders and back) and core (abdominals and obliques) simultaneously. These exercises can be done with or without hand weights. Performing them 2-3 times a week in conjunction with cardio 3-5 times per week can create a great fitness base and a paddle-ready adventure traveler.