Awesome Benefits of Kayak on Health and The Body

Do you need new fun ways to burn some calories? If your answer is yes, then choose a sit on top kayak and go out and explore. Of course, if it is your first time, doing some research into how to stay safe would be beneficial. But once you get the hang of it, there’ll be no stopping you!
The physical importance of kayak as a workout includes increased aerobic capacity, weight loss and core conditioning. You will be in harmony with the water as you glide through with every stroke. Kayaks are great for streams, rivers, lakes and rapids; they are versatile and easy to support. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, doing activities that are enjoyable promote exercise adherence and lead to weight loss.

Benefits of Kayak on Health

1. Weight loss:

Does paddling kayaks help in weight loss? Absolutely yes! As stated by Men’s Fitness, depending on the conditions, kayaking helps to burn 205 Calories per hour. And according to Mayo Clinic, 1 pound of body weight equals 3,000 calories; so, as long as you watch your caloric intake and stick with a regular program of paddling, you will slowly but definitely burn those pounds away! It is estimated that 0.1 hp of effort is required to move a kayak at about 5 mph. A great way to increase the burn is to paddle against the current and wind.

2. Stress reduction:

Most paddlers have discovered that kayaking on their favorite. The river is an amazing way to enjoy the natural world and reduce everyday stress. Spending some time under the sky, seeing your boat glide through the water through your effort, viewing the colors of the greens, blues, browns and the grays, is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Getting this kind of exercise a couple of times a week for some hours can make you feel better relaxed.

3. Core conditioning:

Paddling a kayak can help grow your core muscle groups, which are your major trunk muscles that support, stabilize and moves your spine. The little but constant movements needed to balance while kayaking, together with the movements while paddling have muscle benefits and help to build core strength. With regular paddling events, your core muscles will strengthen progressively – along with your skills as a kayaker. When your core muscles become stronger, it adds benefits to your off-the-water activities.

4. Mental health:

According to Harvard Health Publications, aerobic exercise triggers to release of chemicals vital for the brain that can improve your mood quickly. If you feel depressed or just want to clear your mind, kayaking is a great way to have a relaxing exercise.

5. Community:

Not many sports are suitable for all levels of fitness, and at the same time offering the chance to meet new exciting people. Due to its popularity, there are paddling clubs near most kayaking areas. Kayak is a unique activity that can be enjoyed by singles, couples, friends and even your entire family.

6. Source of vitamin D:

Spending time outdoors comes with one major bonus – that is the intake of vitamin D. Dr. Michael F. Holick stated in the HuffPost that “the sunshine vitamin” can be one of the hardest to acquire from food, and most people take up to 80 percent from sunlight.

7. Heart health:

The various movements involved in the sport are another importance of kayaking. The constant movements can benefit the body by increasing the rate of the heart and cardiovascular health.

8. Increases positive self-image:

Having to overcome tough challenges like paddling a longer distance or whitewater rapids is a great way to build positive self-image and confidence. According to a research by the Journal of Leisurability, kayak as a workout can boost the sense of self and social skills, and an overall increase in self-satisfaction.

Uses of Kayak

Kayaks have grown into various types that can be categorized according to how they are used. The most common uses of kayaks are for recreation and racing. Recreational kayaks are made for comfort and are for covering longer distance on lakes and oceans; while racing kayaks are made for maneuvering and speed on rivers. Kayaks are also used for other activities such as:

• Touring
• Surfing
• Military
• Fishing
• Rafting

You can use kayaking as a means of relaxing, either through sea photography or fishing. Kayaks used for touring have bigger cockpits to make entry and exit much easier. Kayaks designed for surfing are made to use ocean surf wave.

Conclusion

If you are new to this sport, we recommend you ease into kayaking gently, being careful so as you don’t go beyond your limits. If you have a condition that might not enable you fully participate, consult with your doctor. Apart from the physical conditioning that kayak as a workout offers, you can learn the basics in a day or two. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can continue to get better over time as you paddle your way to fitness. By the time you’ve become confident kayaking, you might decide that you want to go further afield and try your kayak out on a different river or lake. You could transport your kayak on a trailer similar to the Portage Pal t-2000 for canoes or kayaks. This could further improve your fitness by working towards tackling more treacherous bodies of water eventually. With the option of a trailer, you could take your kayak anywhere you wanted!

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Tim Fox is Co-founder of The Elite a blog that thrive to help you enjoy your life on the outdoor.