Benefits of Kayaking – Physical & Mental Health Advantages
Kayaking has countless benefits for people of all ages. Besides getting your body, heart, and mind in shape, you can explore the wonders of nature and discover new places you never knew existed. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top physical and mental health benefits of kayaking that will have you heading for your kayak right now.
Physical Benefits Of Kayaking
Besides being an adventure and fun activity, kayaking has many physical benefits. Let’s understand those benefits.
1. Weight management
Kayaking is an excellent exercise for people of all ages because it exerts only slight tension on joints and muscles. Researchers have found that paddlers weighing 125 pounds can burn 150 calories in a 30-minute activity, while paddlers weighing 180 pounds can burn 210 calories.
2. Increase upper body strength
Kayaking is one of the best upper-body exercises you can do without going to the gym or doing endless crunches in your living room. It works on the muscles and also in your shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen and is one of the best ways to build and strengthen muscles. As a substitute for weight training or any other form os strength training, kayaking can get your muscles working hard.
3. Core strength
Every stroke requires you to contract your abs as you reach forward, and your lower back muscles as you pull. When you twist your body, your obliques are activated. Furthermore, if you are sitting on or in a kayak, sitting upright will keep you balanced.
This engages your core muscles throughout the activity. During a kayaking trip, you engage your core muscles even while sitting upright in the boat. As a result, it’ll help you tone your abdominals, obliques, and lower back.
4. Tone your legs
Although kayaking strengthens the upper body and arms, it is not only limited to those muscles. Leg muscles are used while kayaking, and the movements involved in kayaking are just as powerful as upper body muscles. A kayak's balance is maintained by putting pressure on the inside of the kayak with the legs. You may also unintentionally strengthen and relax leg muscles numerous times as you try to turn or maneuver the kayak.
5. Improve your muscular endurance
Kayaking is a fantastic way to increase cardiovascular endurance while also boosting strength and toning the muscles throughout the body. It strengthens and fortifies your core, which makes it easy to support your head, back, and spine. When kayaking, the lower back, obliques, and abdominal muscles are all used.
Every stroke you make causes your abs to contract as you stretch forward, and your lower back muscles contract as you pull back. Your obliques will be engaged as you rotate your body from left to right, giving your core muscles a great workout. It's a good idea to try kayaking, even though there are many better core exercises because it can keep the core muscles active the entire time.
6. Improve cardiovascular health
Kayaking is an aerobic activity, also referred to as heart or cardiac exercise. Cardiovascular exercise improves heart pumping efficiency by strengthening the heart's muscles. Additionally, it helps to increase the number of red blood cells and improve blood flow throughout the body.
By raising the heart rate to a healthy level, kayaking accomplishes this. You will also exercise your heart muscles as you engage in the activity on a regular and consistent basis, strengthening and improving them.
7. Source of vitamin D
A daily dose of vitamin D is necessary for immune system development, bone growth, and tooth development. Sunlight is an excellent way to obtain vitamin D, as well as consume it through food such as oily fish, red meat, liver, and egg yolks. You are exposed to UV rays regardless of the shade; this replenishes your vitamin D levels.
Mental Benefits of Kayaking
One of the best ways to rejuvenate the mind is to spend time outside and take in the scenery. Here are the mental health benefits of kayaking,
1. Stress Relief
Fresh air helps relieve stress when you spend time outdoors. Although stress can be beneficial to mental fitness, it can also trigger a number of illnesses and aggravate a variety of illnesses. Kayaking, like any other physical activity, helps to relieve stress.
2. Increase your self-esteem
Kayaking is the perfect outdoor activity if you want to have the best time possible.In addition to the natural environment having an impact on your mood, kayaking increase the release of particular chemicals in the body, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and endorphins in the brain. Therefore it promotes mental health and reduces stress to a great extent.
3. Improve sleeping quality
If you frequently toss and turn at night, which should indicate that you don't sleep well, taking up kayaking might help with your symptoms and encourage a restful night's sleep. Kayaking during the day burns energy, which makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.
An extensive body of research found that exercise during the day could improve sleep quality and aid difficulty falling asleep. You wake up feeling refreshed when you reduce your dependence on sleep medicines. Overall, you'll sleep better and be more likely to go kayaking again or for a longer period of time.
4. Stimulates memory
Kayaking can tone specific parts of your body as well as specific areas of your brain. Getting out to paddle on a regular basis, even several times per week, will help to tone and improve the hippocampus region of your brain. Kayaking, in addition to toning the area, increases blood flow within the brain and stimulates the growth of new brain cells.
5. Set aside time for some outdoor experience
If you're like most people, you spend most of your day from 8 to 5 at work, in an office, in class, and watching TV. Even if you're an avid athlete, chances are you don't spend more than an hour each day exercising outside. Kayaking is a water sport that cannot be done indoors. So you'll have to venture out into nature to enjoy this outdoor activity.
6. Meet new peoples
Kayaking is a sport that can be very social. While you can go out on the water by yourself, it is always safer to go with two or more friends. Attending kayaking events, taking kayaking classes, or joining a kayaking club are all good ways to socialize and meet new people. You can also build communication and teamwork skills through kayaking.
7. Personal improvement
Many people find that kayaking is a calming and meditative pastime that allows them to travel through rivers and streams where there aren't many other people. Since kayaks provide a close look at many animals' and birds' native habitats, many people are known to enjoy this time spent in nature. Kayaking with your family has the potential to improve the relationship between parents and kids.
Conclusion
Consider taking up kayaking for a low-impact activity that may tone your muscles and get your heart racing. Although there may be an initial financial outlay, the advantages to one's physical and mental health may make it all worthwhile.
Anyone looking to have a great time in nature can benefit greatly from the exhilarating sport and outdoor hobby of kayaking. Kayaking is for anyone looking to refresh their mind, body, and spirit. Just a little patience and confidence are needed to get into the water, learn paddling techniques, and enjoy the ride. With an experienced kayak guide, you can be sure that you're in good hands.