Stand-up Paddleboarding or Suping is one of the most popular outdoor activities for fitness enthusiasts. Because of this, we are often asked about the fitness benefits of paddleboarding and what makes it the ultimate fitness trend to get fit. We will take an in-depth look at this fantastic water activity with great fitness benefits to answer these questions.
The fitness benefits from paddleboarding can be separated into two major branches and a few sub-branches,
Physical fitness
- Good for heart
- Full body workout
- Calorie burner
- Core exercise
Psychological well-being
- Stress relief
- Calming
- Reduce depression
Paddleboarding the Ultimate Fitness Trend to Get Fit
Paddleboarding is good for your heart
Heart health is one of the biggest concerns for the majority of people nowadays. However, not everyone is willing to do aerobics and cardio for hours.
Paddleboarding serves as an excellent alternative to traditional cardiovascular exercises, and it can be toned up or down as needed. Let us present the simplified process step by step,
- While Stand up Paddleboarding, every stroke of the paddle requires movements from the body’s major muscles.
- The energy for these movements is generated by a higher amount of oxygen being carried by the blood.
- Better oxygen circulation is made possible through rapid breaths, which in turn makes the heart beat faster.
- A faster beating heart performs better and makes the body move with more ease.
With just 15 minutes of paddleboarding, the heart can remain in good condition. Moreover, heart health is related to sleep quality, metabolism, and weight regulation which can all improve through paddlesports.
Spring is a full-body workout
Spring is a compound exercise. At first glance, it might look like an isolated exercise for the upper body muscle group, specifically the arms used to row the paddle.
Yet, an in-depth look shows that paddleboarding involves all the body’s muscle groups, namely, the upper body, the core, and the lower body muscles. We may view the process as,
- The increased heart rate oxygenates the muscles throughout the body.
- For efficient paddling, the upper body turns slightly. This movement is similar to the Swiss Iso Twist.
- Core moves to balance the upper body movement and lower body stability.
- The knees and lower body muscles deliver the generated kinetic friction to the board, pushing it forward.
Different Muscles That Paddleboarding Works
- Abdominal Muscles
- Biceps and Triceps
- Shoulders Muscles
- Back Muscles
- Leg Muscles
Instead of worrying about different muscle groups, simply taking part in the fun activity of paddleboarding can improve the entire body. (For more information about the different muscles that paddleboarding works check out Paddle Board Nation’s post: “What Muscles Does Paddle Boarding Work?”)
An excellent way to burn lots of calories
The human body is programmed to burn calories naturally. Still, exercises help to use up even more calories. For example, paddleboarding can burn 300 to 1125 calories per hour.
Paddleboarding efficiency as a workout is because of how well balanced it is. Almost nothing is wasted, and every bit of the activity cooperates to provide stellar fitness. As for how it affects calorie burning, let us present the procedure,
- Higher heart rate revs up the metabolic functions, which in turn starts to burn lots of calories.
- The muscles constantly work and, in tandem, eating up a ton of calories.
- A higher pace paddleboarding such as paddleboard racing forces the entire body to exert strength while keeping balance which costs calories.
Stand Up Paddleboarding is probably one of the best for improving metabolism through EAT(exercise-activity thermogenesis). Compared to most other sports, it is more effective at burning calories.
Constant motion and balance keep the core engaged
Stability and balance are key factors of paddleboarding. The two factors depend on the core muscle groups of the body.
While paddling, the core works to balance out the constant motions of the trunk, hip, and knee.
The abdominal muscles, hips, and low back must all sync to effectively push the board forward. We may take a look at the engaged core,
- Paddle strokes generate the forward momentum of the board. To deliver the power to the board, the core always remains active.
- Core muscles act as the anchor for the body, standing up on the board, regulating weight on all sides to ensure balance.
- Being active the whole time means it is being worked on, and the muscles improve.
- An improved core raises the functional strength of the entire body.
The usual core exercise requires the use of the trunk without much support. Instead of being a plank, paddleboarding can be a better alternative to achieve core fitness.
Psychological Well Being
Helps to relieve stress
Stress involves both physical and psychological strains. Even so, in the current age, psychological well-being depends on relieving stress. Paddleboarding provides a change of situation for the paddler, which is the best way to relieve stress.
Paddleboarding has had explosive growth in recent days. This growth can easily be attributed to its ability to free the mind from stress. We may see it as,
- An activity to divert the mind from daily stress. Keeping balance requires focus, so the mind would have no time to worry.
- A physically demanding activity where working out and having fun eliminates stress.
Weekends can be a great time to get rid of the worries and paddling out the stress.
Paddleboarding is a calming activity
Nothing beats nature when it comes to the ability to calm the minds. Paddleboarding brings one closer to nature.
Managing aggressive, negative compulsions can be very easy with a dose of serenity while paddleboarding casually or for fun. Calming the mind through paddleboarding may include,
- A leisurely cruise through calm waters enjoying the peace.
- Having a rest atop the slowly swaying board and cloud watching.
Resting and having a calm mind is just as important as having a fit body. After all, a sound mind inhabits a healthy body. Fortunately, paddleboarding can deliver both.
Paddling can reduce depression
More than 300 people suffer from depression nowadays. Paddleboarding may not get rid of depression, but it can help reduce the effects.
There is a positive link between the watersport and the quality of life. Paddling upgrades self-confidence and is a good way to deal with depression. We may see the steps of reducing depression as,
- Being near the water passively reduces depression.
- Repetitive paddling is therapeutic and chases away depressing thoughts.
- While paddling, the body releases endorphins, and the brain recognizes it as a refreshing activity.
Depression can cause severe damage to mental health. However, a few scheduled sessions of paddleboarding can nip this problem in the bud.
Paddleboarding has seen explosive growth in recent years. As a result, its popularity is still on the rise. Not only is it a fantastic pastime but also a way to become or remain fit.
There are numerous other health benefits related to Supping apart from the ones we discussed here. For example, Stand up Paddleboard yoga improves breathing, balance, and flexibility. Also, fishing from a paddleboard can be a good way to increase overall focus.
Summing up, this ultimate fitness trend combines fun and workout to deliver a strong impact without burning out the body and the mind. Fitness enthusiasts value paddleboarding because of its easy, versatile nature and excellent benefits. Learn more about roc Inflatable paddle board here.
