According to personal trainer and stand up paddle fitness instructor, Nikki Gregg, "There's nothing worse than a boring workout!" Stand up paddling has quick become the perfect sport for many of her clients.
Nikki is currently on tour giving stand up paddle boot camps around the country sharing the incredible health benefits of the sport. Whether it's on the lake, ocean, or in river rapids, Nikki is constantly breaking new ground for the sport.
From a very young age, Nikki's parents instilled in her the desire and knowledge to pursue a life of healthy living. Always a gym rat, her first job at the age of 14 was working the front desk at a local gym, which led to managing, personal, and group training.
Nikki Gregg has been certified to be a personal trainer through ACE and NSCA. She has her EMT-B certification training, and Swift Water Rescue.
Check back often for the latest articles by Nikki Gregg!
This is the advanced version of the plank exercise in my upcoming Stand Up Paddle Fitness DVD due out this spring. Practice this exercise on land to get ready to perform it on your SUP board. For all those that plan on attending one of my SUP Boot Camps this will be on list of things 'to do' if you are already holding a static plank pose for up to one minute and have some solid core strength already.
1. Begin in a plank position on your stand up board out on the water. Make sure that you are centered in the middle of the board so that you don’t rock from side to side. 2. Keeping your shoulders, hips and knees in line, bring your right knee up to touch your right elbow. Keep your back straight and use your abdominal muscles to do the work for you. Don’t let your hips sag or raise up. 3. Return your right leg to the starting position and repeat the exercise with your left leg. Continue for 3-4 sets of between 16-32 repetitions at a slow tempo to strengthen your core! Stop this exercise immediately when your form becomes compromised or your low back starts to hurt.
Please consult with a physician before starting any exercise program.
For more on Nikki visit her website at www.nikkigregg.com
Getting a muscle cramp while paddling is no fun. Stand up paddle fitness professional, Nikki Gregg www.nikkigregg.com, talks to nutrition expert, Tish Berman, to find out why we get them along with preventative measures to keep you feeling your best on the water. Find out more about Tish at her website www.TishBerman.com
Stand up paddle fitness expert, Nikki Gregg, shares an excellent stand up paddle shoulder stretching technique.
This shoulder and chest stretch has become one of
my favorites, especially after a long paddle session.Over time, this exercise will help increase shoulder
flexibility and may help alleviate shoulder pain.
1.First,
take a wide and loose overhand grip on the shaft of your paddle.Let the paddle rest against the front
of your legs.
2.Next,
inhale and raise the paddle up and over your head while maintaining completely
straight arms.The key to this exercise is to keep your
arms straight.
3.Bring
the paddle all the way down behind your back again maintaining the straight-arm
position.Your chest will be
facing outward and shoulders pulled back.
4.Last,
exhale and lift the paddle back over your head and down in front of your body
to the starting position.This
counts as one repetition.
**If you find it challenging to execute this movement then try
loosening your grip on the paddle’s
shaft and widen your grip spacing between hands.Remember
to
keep your arms straight.
**Perform two sets of 10-12 repetitions, slowly working up
to sets of 25-30.Over time, after
you have gained enough shoulder flexibility and are able to move your
grip
closer on the paddle, you can perform up to 50 repetitions at time.
**Perform this exercise in a slow tempo and in a controlled
manner.Please be careful with
this one and only do what is comfortable.
The best stand up paddle surfers in the world will migrate to Santa Cruz, California this Friday to battle it out at Steamer Lane. The natural stadium venue is one of the most unique locations on earth for both competitors and spectators alike.
Returning to defend his Surftech Shootout title, Dana Point's Chuck Patterson is fired up about the solid swell forecast to unload on the Lane this weekend. "Last year's Surftech Shootout was really well run and the competition was formidable." said Chuck "This weekend the forecast is calling for a double to triple overhead WNW swell so the real challenge will be whether to sit on Middle Peak and wait for bombs or hope for a few lined up bowls at the Point."
The best stand up paddle surfers in the world will migrate to Santa Cruz, California this Friday to battle it out at Steamer Lane. The natural stadium venue is one of the most unique locations on earth for both competitors and spectators alike. 