Key Takeaways:
- Kayaking is an effective cardiovascular exercise that can burn lots of calories and relieve stress.
- It can increase overall strength and improve your sleep, self-image, and immunity.
- Kayaking is a low-impact sport that is easy to learn and can be done in a variety of water bodies.
Do you treasure an active lifestyle and would you like to engage regularly in a low-impact, high-value sport that is great for your health? If so, grab a kayak and take to the water. A kayak is a lightweight, versatile watercraft suitable for navigating a wide range of water bodies. You can use it to travel through lakes, streams, rivers, or rapids. And so, with your kayak, you can embark on a tranquil outing, immerse yourself in nature, and get a more intimate view of new, scenic surroundings. In the process, you enjoy a full-body workout that’s valuable for your health. So, what are the top 5 health benefits of kayaking?
- It optimizes cardiovascular health: Want an easier way to get your regular dose of 120-150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity? If so, try kayaking. Due to its rhythmic nature, characterized by a fairly steady pace that increases the heart rate and breathing rate, kayaking is an effective cardiovascular exercise. Of course, you’ll navigate your favorite water body at a pace and intensity that you prefer. But as long as you can achieve a steady pace or an alternation between slower and faster intervals, you’ll get your heart pumping and have an amazing aerobic exercise. Generally, the harder you paddle, the higher your heart rate and the better the cardiovascular workout. Remember, increased cardiovascular function will not only prevent heart disease, but also protect you against hypertension, stroke, and other circulatory problems.
- Burns lots of calories: Can you paddle your kayak a little faster? Well, if you can have your vessel going at about 5 miles per hour—requiring roughly 0.1 horsepower of effort—you can burn about 400 calories per hour. And so, in just 3 hours of paddling you’ll have dropped 1200 calories! Now, since the sport is fun and adventurous, you’ll go on and on with the exercise without even realizing it. And the joy of being close to nature will easily motivate you to go on as compared to the alternative of a physical weight loss program. Also, being predominantly a daytime activity done often in warm weather, kayaking encourages high water intake. And as you rehydrate your body regularly, you lose more weight—increased water intake is associated with loss of weight.
- Relieves stress: In the current world, with its high-tech and fast-paced lifestyle, the opportunity to breathe in fresh air as you watch your boat glide through water is a powerful stress reliever. Over the 2-3 hours or so of paddling, you’ll spend time under the sky, watching the ever-changing grey, blue, green, and brown colors, which is calming. Studies also show that by spending at least 20 minutes a day in nature, you can significantly reduce stress. And because kayaking is an aerobic exercise, it triggers the release of brain chemicals that enhance mental health. For instance, during kayaking your brain releases endorphins that help relieve stress and boost your sense of well-being. So, if you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or just need to clear up your mind after a hectic routine, paddling is an ideal activity to rejuvenate your mind.
- Increased overall strength: During kayaking, your upper body sees much of the action. And so, as you raise and dip the paddle and have your muscles struggle against the resistance of water, you achieve an enhanced upper body, including stronger arm, chest, shoulder, and back muscles. But kayaking also works the lower body muscles such as leg, abdominal, and gluteal muscles. For example, the back and forth motion while seated and paddling engages your leg and gluteal muscles, and create stronger, leaner abdominal muscles. Equally, kayaking is a low-impact sport that is easy on the joints. It doesn’t pound the limbs against the ground and is suitable for people with arthritis, other conditions, or at risk of injury.
- Boosts sleep, self-image, and immunity: If you’re struggling to get a sound night’s sleep and are considering using sleeping pills, you need to try kayaking. The activity is tiring, calms the mind, and ensures you easily fall asleep at night. You also end up sleeping soundly and waking up more energized. The sport equally gives you the opportunity to meet people as you paddle in nature’s beautiful sites and to be joined in your trips by your child, friend, or partner. So, it is great for bonding and healthy relationships. It improves self-image, too. It builds a sense of achievement as you overcome the challenges of long-distance paddling or the struggles of whitewater rapids. In turn, you enjoy better social skills, sense of self, confidence, and overall self-satisfaction. And finally, the time you spend outdoors in the sun boost your vitamin D level, which enhances your overall immunity. Remember, vitamin D is one of the most difficult vitamins to obtain through diet.
Amazing kayaking expeditions: Would you like to rekindle your sense of curiosity and adventure while improving your overall health? At Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy, we encourage you to try kayaking as part of your long-term active lifestyle. It is easier to learn, offers a wide range of options, and requires little investment. You just need to spend a little time to learn the basics and build your confidence, then go out there to engage in this delightful, memorable, and healthy sport. For more information on kayaking ideas, tips, and tricks, visit the site “Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy.”
References:
- “Is Kayaking Good Exercise?” Paddling Mag, paddlingmag.com/skills/health-fitness/is-kayaking-good-exercise/.
- “How to Increase Your Kayak Speed.” Paddle Geek, paddlegeek.com/how-to-increase-your-kayak-speed/.
- “Canoeing and Kayaking: Health Benefits.” Better Health, betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/canoeing-and-kayaking-health-benefits.