The Static Brace

December 12, 2009
This was one of the first kayak skills training sessions I have done in years. For until 2008 my main focus was training for adventure and mountain bike and trail races – running, cycling and paddling was where my energy and time went.

My intension in this session was to do a static brace and review some kayak roles – expand my repertoir. I am scheduled to teach an up-coming Greenland course, but all that was on my mind tonight was my inability to do a static brace – it was stressing me out – what a beginner I thought.

Working with my mind – with its never ending thoughts, demands, desires, judgements, analysis, never ending discursiveness…. My mind is focused on the limitations that severe hip joint osteoarthritis poses for me, will I ever be able to static brace, what are my new limitations and why me, why me…the static brace is one of the skills in the course curriculum but the curriculum is already about working with the clinging and struggle to recognize that there’s nothing to hold onto. The changes in my body and my “trying” – to learn the static brace – are good teachers – struggling with the circumstances I am finding myself in…tight, closed, fixed…afraid.

Daniel offered to give me some lessons – he usually welcoming people to the pool, tracking drop ins and moving boats. I had no idea he was a highly skilled instructor too – when he paddled by to offer some instruction I was less then hopeful – the limitations of a tight and fixed mind and body already had me planning for the next pool session or 3 or 6….but in no time I was easily floating in the water…to my disbelief and joy.