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The Benefits of Kayaking as a Recreational Activity

Key takeaways

  • Kayaking brings you closer to nature and allows for great sun exposure, providing your body with Vitamin D
  • Kayaking is a beneficial way to lose weight, reduce stress, and enhance muscle strength and reflexes
  • It also promotes a positive self-image and is great for bonding with family and friends

Recreational kayaking is a casual paddling in a calm, well-protected, flat lake, bay, slow river, or a calm ocean. There are no rapids involved, and no Eskimo rolls; typically, it uses a wide and stable vessel, allowing for a safe and enjoyable paddling. So, what are the benefits of kayaking as a recreational activity?

1. It brings you closer to nature

Nothing feels as good as being closer to nature in a kayak. You’re exposed to the sky, you can navigate pristine beaches and spots, spot animals you rarely see, and enjoy a calm serenity. A kayak can take you to areas that other boats can’t access, and it does so quietly, making it perfect for shallow, near-shore floating to spot animals, such as ducks, turtles, blue herons, and other animals.

2. It allows for great sun exposure

Being an outdoor activity often done during the day, kayaking allows for direct exposure to the sun. And, as you spend more time in the sun, you obtain more vitamin D. It is difficult to get enough vitamin D from the diet, with 80% of the body’s total requirement usually synthesized on exposure to the sun. Remember, lack of vitamin D can cause your bones to become weak and soft, and in extreme cases, trigger deformities, pain, and tenderness. However, you need to apply the right sun block and waterproof skin protection during your time in the sun to avoid sunburn.

3. It enables you to lose weight

If you’re out of shape but lack motivation for the gym or other old fitness routines, kayaking can be your special way of losing weight. On average, a 200-pound person can burn 454 calories per hour of paddling at roughly 5 mph. Though recreational kayaking is not an intense exercise and may not be an efficient way to lose weight, you can undertake the activity longer as you won’t feel like doing an exercise. In turn, it helps you lose a significant amount of weight over time.

4. It reduces stress

If you’re stressed, depressed, or feel you need to clear your mind after a difficult routine, try paddling. The activity is characterized by repetitive movements, a breeze on your face, and a sense of floating on water, which provide a meditative focus and heighten your awareness, relaxing your mind. Paddling also pumps up your levels of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which help to improve your mood and relieve stress.

5. It enhances muscle strength

Kayaking is an exciting way to work out your core. As you paddle to steer or turn your kayak, you transfer power from abdominal muscles to the paddle, strengthening your core muscles. And so, with just a few paddling sessions, your core and overall balance improves. Also, as you power your kayak, rotating your torso and applying pressure with your legs, you achieve enhanced leg and torso strength. Recreational kayaking is a low-impact activity that protects joints from wear and tear, ensuring smooth, rhythmic joint movements, which enhance joint lubrication and flexibility.

6. It improves reflexes and hand-eye coordination

As you kayak, you face various challenges. And, as you spot and react to these threats in water, your reflexes improve. Plus, it ensures you make quick decisions, act with haste, and continuously battle to keep your body balanced, improving your hand-eye coordination.

7. It boosts overall health

As an aerobic exercise characterized by repetitive movements and continuous exertion, recreational kayaking elevates heart rate and endurance. And in the long run, it improves heart health, lung strength, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

8. It promotes a positive self-image

As you overcome the various challenges encountered during paddling, your self-confidence and self-esteem improves. From breaking your personal speed, time records, and distance to conquering rapids, recreational kayaking offers various tests, which, as you overcome, you achieve self-satisfaction and increased overall confidence.

9. It is great for bonding

Recreational kayaking is easy to learn and does not require elite-level fitness. But it is also perfect for making new friends. There are several clubs, groups, and meet-ups that are always looking for new members. You can join these groups, go kayaking, and make new friends. Alternatively, you can kayak with your family or workmates. That is, you get two tandem kayaks for your family of four and have your partner and children go out with you for a day or a whole weekend. During the outing, the entire group will develop a stronger bond through adventure, relaxation, and various delights. You’ll also have great stories to share together.

Want to start recreational kayaking? At Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy, we can help you learn and begin kayaking as a regular, beneficial sport. We offer kayak lessons and guided tours to help you master the basics of the activity. For more information on recreational kayaking and other types of paddling, visit the site “Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy.”

References:

Captain Mike's Kayak Academy

Captain Mike's Kayak Academy offer single to group kayaking tours at Three Sisters Springs, Florida. We also offer manatee tours, air boat rides, scalloping and more. Book online now to reserve your kayak.

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