Do I need to be in shape to be able to kayak?

Kayaking is a great way to get out on the water, enjoy the wonderful outdoors and see nature up close. So whether you are looking for the peace and serenity to rejuvenate your body and mind, an economical pet-friendly outing for your entire family, a heart-stopping roller coaster exhilaration or an easy-to-learn sport that offers a variety of experiences, kayaking is a good choice. It is an effective form of exercise that improves strength, balance, flexibility and endurance, strengthens the heart, tones the body, boosts blood flow and improves overall fitness.

Do you need to be in shape to go kayaking?

Kayaking is a simple activity that is often undertaken at an easy, strain-free pace. It just requires moderate overall fitness. In fact, people who regularly engage in swimming, bicycling and hiking are already in good shape for kayaking. Nevertheless, because paddling requires a reasonable degree of exertion and can cover up to 10-15 km (3-4 hours) per day of exploring areas and making long stops, keeping your body fairly fit and agile is a great way to ensure that you go through the entire trip without problems. While you do not need extreme physical conditioning or big muscles to go kayaking, basic fitness is necessary for a comfortable and pleasurable outing.

Reasons for strength training

When planning for a kayaking trip, it is a good idea to engage in some kind of strength training as part of preparation. Such exercises would help to prepare the body for the repeated and prolonged motion that paddling entails. Strength training also helps the body to quickly adjust to and maintain any strenuous efforts you may need to apply when faced with strong and unavoidable headwinds. Strength exercises build muscle tissues, improve muscle balance, coordination and body awareness, develop endurance for the long trips and more power for paddling strokes.

Necessary exercises before paddling

If you have not been exercising regularly, it is advisable that you engage in activities to work your upper body, shoulders and arms and prepare them for paddling. You may require up to 2 weeks of exercises to get your body into shape for your paddling adventure. An appropriate preparatory workout regime should include moderate aerobic exercises, such as walking or cycling, yoga and pilates classes to strengthen your core and boost control and stability, and exercises for core rotation and stretching of hamstrings to get you ready for an all-over-body paddling venture. Choose exercises that help you achieve a reasonable degree of fitness, endurance, flexibility and balance necessary for total control of your kayak when you paddle in any conditions.

Kayaking is a wonderful way to escape the stresses and hustles of daily life, spend time together with your family, bond with workmates and improve your overall physical fitness. And you get to experience the wonders of the outdoors up close. You do not need to buy a kayak for your adventure. You can engage in this sport using a rented kayak and equipment. At Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy, we offer a wide range of stable, comfortable, maneuverable and inexpensive kayaks that will suit your paddling needs. Just come over and make your choice. For more information on kayaking and kayak deals, visit the “Captain Mike’ Kayak Academy” site.

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Is kayaking a good way to lose weight?

Are you flabby and out of shape but do not want to visit a gym or lack the motivation to perform the same old fitness routine? Are you thrilled by the thought of engaging in a fun and exhilarating adventure sport to burn those extra calories? If so then you should consider kayaking as a way to lose weight.

Kayaking engages the body

Kayaking in the open waters, springs, estuaries or small channels of Crystal River, Fl., is a great exercise for the upper-body component that is hardly achieved in the more traditional cardiovascular workouts. Balancing a boat during a paddling excursion engages the abdominal muscles and lower back, works the biceps, triceps, upper back and shoulders, and hammers the core as force is transferred from the paddle to the hull of a kayak. Apart from building up body muscles, strength and flexibility, kayaking is also a quick and effective way to burn calories and lose weight.

Factors affecting weight loss through paddling

The amount of calories burned when paddling depends on how quickly or slowly you go at it. If you take a scenic route and stop to enjoy the sights every few minutes or paddle leisurely, occasionally grabbing a beer as your craft drifts along, your calorie loss will be minimal. But if you paddle your boat for miles on Crystal River at a sustained speed, then you will burn many calories. Like any other weight loss workout, kayaking helps to burn a significant number of calories when you put in real effort.

How much calories can you burn?

Generally, four hours of sustained paddling burns up to 1,600 calories. However, it depends on a number of factors, including the weight of the paddler, the length of time spent on the water and the type of kayak used. According to the American Council on Exercise, the average number of calories burned per hour by a 125-pound paddler is 283 while a 150-pound paddler burns 340 calories per hour. The Harvard Health Publications also has reported that a 125-pound kayak is capable of burning up to 150 calories within half an hour while a heavy-class weight kayak of 200 pounds burns 450 calories within one hour. Similarly, a heavy-class weight kayak of 175 pounds burns 397 calories within one hour.

Effort equals quantity of calories burnt

The basic principle in burning body fat through kayaking is that you burn more calories if you drag more weight across the water. But other factors such as wind, current as well as your paddling speed also will affect the amount of calories burned. So essentially, anything that makes paddling tougher or more strenuous is good for you because it enables you to burn more calories.

Get in touch with Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy in Crystal River, Fl., to rent a kayak. At Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy your safety and convenience is our priority. We offer high quality kayaks and provide the education to all our clients on how to get the most from their paddling ventures. For more information, visit the “Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy’” site.

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