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Much like any sport, regular participation in water sports like kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding helps to build a level of fitness over time as well as building your confidence and competence on the water. Whether you’re a beginner, an expert or somewhere in between, we’re here to tell you how these popular recreational sports can benefit your fitness and inspire you to pick up an oar!
Look to kayaking
Kayaking is the perfect way to dip your toe into the world of watersports and explore beauty spots you may never have come across on land. Kayaking offers an upper body, low intensity workout and is the perfect activity to add into your usual fitness mix, particularly when combined with more high intensity activities like running as it offers a refreshing break.
For those suffering with hip or knee problems, kayaking is perfect and is a great way to add suitable movement and balance to your fitness regime as the bulk of the work is conducted with your arm muscles. So, whether you’re looking to tone up, gain some upper body strength or go back to nature and work your core simultaneously, kayaking has fitness benefits by the boatload!
Carry on canoeing
Not a fan of going to the gym? Well, we’re here to tell you about the health and all round fitness benefits that canoeing can add to your lifestyle. Perfect for all ages and abilities, canoeing is a fantastic way to improve strength, flexibility and all round agility. The action of using the paddles to maneuver particularly helps with your arm and core muscles. Whether you’re in the mood for a more leisurely paddle or you’re seeking to get your heartrate up, canoeing is perfect for most and is a fantastic form of physical activity to add to your routine.
Studies show that regular, low impact movements have positive long-term effects on joints, especially when compared with high impact running or jogging. Canoeing is also a great way to improve overall cardiovascular health, maintain a healthy weight and of course, is the perfect way to relax which benefits your mental health too.
Stand up for paddleboarding fitness
Standup paddleboarding, also known as SUP, has many fitness benefits along with the peace and quiet when spent on the water is highly beneficial for your mental health too.
Stand up paddleboarding is a fantastic way to improve your balance and core strength. Unlike the upper body focus of kayaking and canoeing, SUP is a full body workout, from your legs and core work that goes into balance, to the paddle and movement motion of your back, arms and shoulders, SUP is a great way to get your whole body working hard!
Similarly to our above watersports, SUP is low impact meaning that the possibility of damaging tendons, ligaments and joints is less likely and it’s a great way to move your body gently even if you’re recovering from some sports injuries. However, make sure to always check with your doctor before undertaking any physical activity whilst injured.
Finally, when it comes to mental health, watersports has been shown to relieve stress and provides that added boost of endorphins and Vitamin D which make for the perfect feel-good activity and way to get your fitness back on track too!
Now that you’re all up to speed on fitness and the benefits kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding can have on your health, there’s only one thing for it, it’s time to get moving and hit the water!
