[Paddlewise] Are legs everything?

Ok, so I started actually *reading* the Paddlewise digests again,
instead of filing them away...
 
I've been getting an exchange of Pilates instruction (on the appartati)
from a friend this summer, and its gotten me thinking about this whole
leg thing.  The driving idea behind Pilates (anybody with depth please
interrupt/correct)is finding a way to get your large, deep muscles (the
psoas, the hamstrings) to do your work, both because they are
potentially stronger, and because they are better situated to do the
work, instead of the superficial muscles (the quadriceps, gluts, biceps,
etc).  So, some muscles in your abdomen and back are functioning to
stabilize you and conduct the force deeper into your body, right?
 
It occurs to me that maybe all the legs are really doing (all sprinting
and professional kayaking aside), is stabilizing the lower torso within
the cockpit to allow it to do the real work.  SO, pushing against the
back band and leg pegs actually makes sense... 
 
...and also not needing either a back band or foot pegs, if your body is
adequately braced within your boat.  I was travelling with the
Feathercraft Kahuna last week, and I've never found the foot pegs to be
very solid on it.  I was experimenting with wedging my knees up against
the rib in front of me, maybe something like a masiq?  I've never
paddled a SOF, and this was a revelation.
 
Severn
 
PS - I've been paddling with a GP for the last two years, but I was
using a Euro last week for the first time in quite a while, and I loved
it!  The GP has improved my bracing considerably, actually.
 
PPS - I found a hack to fix the terribly uncomfortable seat on the
Kahuna - I wedged my inflatable paddle float behind the seat, so I could
adjust seat distance and angle by varying the amount of inflation.  If
the mouthpiece had been longer, I would have been able to do it on the
move...
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************