Last Updated on August 20, 2024
Kayaking is similar to various outdoor sports activities, offering opportunities for hobbyists, competitive athletes, or those seeking a delightful holiday pastime. Beyond the sheer joy of gliding across the water, kayaking has notable effects on posture, physical well-being, and mental health. Despite being low-impact, these activities yield numerous health benefits.
This article will particularly captivate beginners and even seasoned enthusiasts who may not fully comprehend the manifold advantages that kayaking effortlessly brings to one’s overall health and well-being.
Physical Benefit of Kayaking
Balance on a kayak on the water requires the commitment of your whole body which brings many physical benefits. For example, you’ll need to use your glutes, abs, quads, and other stabilizing muscles to keep yourself from falling into the water. Let’s see in detail the physical benefits of kayaking…
1. Make your arm strong and healthy
Engaging in hours of kayaking requires significant effort from your arm muscles. Covering a kilometer on your kayak necessitates a minimum of 300 strokes, a number influenced by various factors. Executing these strokes involves the utilization of your upper body and rotational muscles to propel yourself efficiently through the water. Throughout these sessions, your biceps and triceps emerge as the primary muscles, shouldering the majority of the workload.
2. Best workout for upper body
For individuals with extensive kayaking experience, understanding the profound impact it can have as one of the most effective upper-body workouts is crucial. Executing precise and even strokes with your paddle engages every muscle in the upper part of your body. If the traditional gym setting doesn’t appeal to you, kayaking provides a compelling alternative that ensures a comprehensive upper-body workout.
3. Increase your stamina
By navigating these technical rivers with strong currents and waves, you will be more in tune with the behavior of your kayak. You’ll also be more in tune with the weather than you can actually row without necessarily getting tired. So aside from all the fun, you will get from kayaking, this is one of the best ways to increase your stamina.
4. Help you lose weight
If you’ve been struggling with excess weight for years and have tried all weight loss methods with no major success, then regular kayaking is all you need. Because this is one of the best fat-burning activities and could even help you shed those extra pounds safely and naturally.
When paddling at a speed of 8 km/h, an individual can burn approximately 400 calories in just one hour. This highlights the direct correlation between the intensity of kayaking, the effort put into paddling, and the calories expended. The more actively and energetically you paddle, the greater the calorie loss.
Kayaking is also the best way to maintain a lean and lean body. Although it is pretty much less than what you can burn through other exercises, such as running on a treadmill, it’s a whole lot more fun than running on a treadmill.
5. Heart strengthening help
Kayaking is an aerobic sport, which is also known as cardiac exercise. This type of exercise strengthens your heart muscle and improves its efficiency in pumping blood. Your heart is usually made up of the upper and lower abdominal muscles. Since these two parts play a key role in the balance and control of the kayak; it will greatly strengthen your heart. It also increases blood circulation efficiency and the total amount of red blood cells in your body.
6. Cardiovascular health
A healthy heart means fewer heart problems, such as cardiac arrests. This aerobic kayaking exercise also has great cardiovascular health benefits. Normally, these continuous movements of your body often increase your heart rate, which can improve your heart performance and most importantly contribute to the development of your cardiovascular system.
7. Tones your legs
Although the benefits of kayaking are more evident on your arms, shoulders, and upper back, it also has significant effects on your legs. When you are trying to turn or maneuver, you unknowingly tighten and loosen the muscles in your legs alternatively countless times. This can be the best leg exercise you will ever get. After all, these constant contractions of the leg muscles over time lead to an increase in leg strength.
8. Make your shoulders strong
Compared to other outdoor activities you can indulge in today, kayaking has become a physical exercise that engages you more. The movements of your paddle that wake up after each stroke and cause them to stretch out towards you cause a bit of shoulder work.
Also, the rotating movement of the paddle from one side to the other facilitates the symmetrical development of the muscles and strengthens the obliques.
9. Reduce stress on your joints
Kayak paddling is a very low-impact activity; it can bring significant benefits to your joints. Several types of research have shown that, unlike other physical activities, paddling will not produce any wear and tear on your joints in any way. Because kayaking will leave your joints healthy and incredibly flexible. Those joint pains you had to deal with will be a thing of the past.
10. Strength your back muscles
Stand-up paddling is an activity that protects your back, as long as you hold yourself well. Kayak paddling will make your core, which will strengthen your abdominal belt as well as your back muscles. Then, you will be able to refine and cut your figure from the spring and proudly display your new swimsuit on the beach.
11. Vitamin D in Your Body
Biologically, our body needs vitamin D to function properly. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have enough because a few types of food bring vitamin D. Kayaking means getting out and getting more sun. This time in the sun can help your body get the vitamin D it needs so much to function properly.
Vitamin D is also essential to build strong bones and boost the immune system. However, to reduce skin problems, if you have very sensitive skin, remember to bring effective sunscreen with you.
Mental Benefit
The first benefit of kayaking most people would think of would be physical. Yes, it’s true but there is no denying that practicing this outdoor activity is good for mental health.
It’s not just the mind’s job to get your body to coordinate. It is the deeply positive effect of being outdoors and connecting with nature that benefits your mental health. Let’s see…
12. Kayaking allows you to relax
Kayak paddling is recommended for anxious and emotional people. It can even have a little anti-depressant effect in many ways, first and foremost by photosensitization. If your version of relaxation involves action, try doing yoga on the kayak. The body and mind must work together to complete your poses and stay dry. It is an exercise in awareness and mindfulness not to be missed.
13. Help you increase confidence
Many people suffer from mental health problems and even depression, which can affect their self-confidence. When it comes to kayaking, it means you have to get out of the house, and during those great kayaking times, you meet new people and the amount of fun you can get will actually make you forget a lot of things.
The best part, once you feel really good about yourself or even what you’re doing at the time, it will help you conquer your pursuit of happiness in myriad ways.
14. Improves your memory
If you have blackouts and often find yourself forgetting some of the most important things; well, you can start kayaking. It is a pleasant and effective way to improve your memory.
Normally when you are kayaking, you need to be active and trigger the release of chemicals in the body that help improve health and more importantly brain cells.
15. Make your mind happy
Talk to an expert today and they’ll tell you how exercise can improve your mood. So if you’re feeling worthless and can’t move, go kayaking. It’s a great physical activity that can help the body release a good hormone called endorphin, which makes you happier.
16. Emotional benefits
If you are a couple facing many challenges, incorporating your favorite activity, such as fishing, into your kayaking trip can increase the positivity of your relationship. It’s one of the best ways to bring people together. Kayaking improves the range of motion.
- Know of kayak fishing? Check Here.
17. Improve your sleeping quality
For people who have had to deal with sleep issues like insomnia, I really can’t say what you had to deal with. While there is a lot you can do, kayaking is all you need. These great bodily exercises combined with this type of activity tire your body and reduce your stress levels. It can help you fall asleep very quickly.
Other Benefits
18. Kayaking brings you closer to nature
We know it, but it is difficult to realize the ever-increasing length of time we spend in front of our screens (smartphone, computer, tablet, television). We also unconsciously inflict this on our children. It is therefore extremely beneficial to get out and reconnect with our environment.
In kayaking, you have the chance to experience the ebb and flow of rivers, lakes and oceans. As the water flows to your feet and toes, you will be able to experience nature and its creatures by inserting yourself into their privacy. You will first start by reconnecting and then your sensitivity to environmental issues will increase. It will make you, for sure, a better person.
Any paddler will say it’s fun and makes them happier. This joy and happiness only grow when you share the experience with your friends and family. Kayaking gives you the opportunity to transport yourself and your group to unique environments and experiences that your circle will remember and talk about for years to come.
20. It can be practiced in competition
Whether you are someone who always needs to compete against each other, needs speed or race, paddling is still for you. Even if 95% of the practitioners choose the paddle for a fun activity, read sports events related to the paddle are frequently organized.
It only requires water. And there is something for everyone, from novice to pro, from flatwater paddler to deep-sea runner to whitewater warrior.
21. The practice of kayaking is varied
Do you like to go fast? No problem, some kayaks can split through the water and give you the smoothest ride even in rough water. Want to cruise a lake but on a tight budget? A flat hull board (all-around shape) is made for you. From the bustle of the rivers to the calm of the lakes, from the waves to surf to the small eddies of the edge, only the sky is the limit. The field of possibilities is very wide. The choice is in your hands.
22. Kayaking is not expensive
Like most other water sports, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to start kayaking. With the growing popularity of kayaking over the past few years, kayaks are more affordable than ever.
The inflatable kayak, made from a tough and durable material, offers consumers a convenient and portable option, For 200 dollars you can be outfitted and ready to go. An inflatable paddle kayak can roll up and throw in the trunk of your sedan or walk to an alpine lake for half the cost of a standard bulky canoe and a fraction of the cost of a powerboat.
Conclusion
As evident, kayaking offers significant savings both in terms of cost and health benefits. Whether you’re dealing with stress, sleep issues, social challenges, or simply aiming to build muscle, now is the ideal time to embrace kayaking, and you’re equipped with the knowledge to get started. Much like other physical exercises, kayaking can be enjoyed in rivers, lakes, or oceans, presenting a plethora of advantages. In fact, for those aspiring to lead a healthy lifestyle, engaging in kayaking or occasional kayak fishing is highly recommended.
Keep in mind that kayaking involves paddling a small craft through the water. Don’t forget to wear a kayak PFD! To enjoy the most benefits, you should practice kayaking as often as possible.
Are you ready to prepare for your next vacation?