Kayaking is an outdoor activity that offers many benefits. Kayaking can provide you with solitude, peace and serenity on calm waters, or it can offer adrenaline-pumping adventure on choppy rapids. When you are learning to kayaking, it is wise to choose a more recreational style of paddling, on the flat surfaces of ponds, lakes or protected ocean bays, according to Smart-Start-Kayaking.com. Following specific guidelines helps learning to kayak easier and more fun.
Step 1
Put on your life jacket before you begin. It's best to be prepared for all scenarios when you are out on the water, and safety must always come first.
Step 2
Select a kayak that suits your needs when you are just beginning. A wider body helps with balance and stability when you are learning, and a wider cockpit makes it easier for you to get in. Consider renting if you are not sure how often you will be using the kayak.
Step 3
Sit on the edge of a dock and use the edge for support to get in if your kayak is near a dock, or use the blade of the paddle as a crutch if you are on the shore. For each location, place one foot in the cockpit of the kayak at a time, then crouch down and sit. Extend your legs and get your balance and you are ready to go.
Step 4
Sit up straight in the kayak, with no forward or backward lean. Place your feet against the footrest, to create the most powerful stroke.
Step 5
Hold onto your paddle with an overhand grip and your thumbs tucked under. Try to line up your knuckles with the paddle blade's upward edge.
Step 6
Pull the paddle through the water with each downward stroke, while simultaneously pushing the other end of the paddle with your opposite arm. Turn into each stroke with your torso, to minimize shoulder and arm fatigue. Try to create a rhythmic, side-to-side motion. Place the paddle into the water near your feet when paddling forward, and near your hips when paddling in reverse.
Step 7
Turn the kayak by paddling only on the opposite side of the direction you want to turn, or by submerging the paddle blade in the water at your side to create resistance in the water to turn quickly. Continue with your forward paddling motion once you are turned so that you straighten the kayak out.
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