What basic exercises can you do to increase your hip tilt?
Expert coach, Raf Wyatt replies
Photo credit: Mark O’Donovan
Do we assume you’re doing what you can to lengthen your hamstrings and strengthen your core muscles already?
And that you’ve raised and tilted your seat and/or lowered your feet in the boat?
And that you’re sitting forward on the seat, sit-bones located in the holes provided?
How to improve hip tilt
Then my favourite exercise to improve hip tilt is backing down:
- Sit at backstops, legs straight, blades square in the water.
- Keeping the blades in the water, start by pushing the handle(s) away, say until the handles are over your knees.
- Then, without moving your seat, let the movement of the boat and your handle(s) stretch you forward.
- Lift your knees lightly once your hamstrings start complaining and just keep on following the handle(s) to the catch.
- You can stop the handle(s) moving forward at any part of the stroke by putting pressure on your feet and taking a stroke.
I find there’s something about letting the boat move you into position that has the movement start in your hips rather than back and shoulders.
Give it a go and let us know what happens!
