20 Health Benefits Of Kayak Exercise

Kayaking is a great form of exercise any way you look at it. Not only does it benefit your physical body but it also benefits your mind.

The reason to add paddling a kayak in your to-do list are endless – it's exhilarating; you get access to remote locations, the serenity and peace is relaxing; you're also working out because you're strenuously using your core and upper body. The following article first appeared on Floating Authority.

Paddling a kayak consistently helps your cardiovascular system which has great benefits for your heart. Doing any physical activity helps with this however kayaking is one that is actually distracting in a good sort of way. How many normal people do cardiovascular exercises is go for a run or on the treadmill but it can be quite boring. Kayaking allows you to be out in nature and explore your water ways. This really distracts you from feeling the burn a lot of the times.

Kayaking is like the equivalent of doing a single arm dumbbell or seated cable row in that every stroke you take works the lats. While one of the arms is rowing back the other is being stretched and then contracted. The difference is you are doing this exercise for a longer period of time.

Not to many people think of this but your abs get worked quite a bit when kayaking. The rotational movements of moving the paddle back and forth for an extended period of time really work on your abdomen and obliques. This puts a huge load on your core.

These muscles are being exercised when you are steering and balancing the kayak with every stroke. The longer you go the more work is being done to them.

During a kayaking session the two main bi- products of the work is the biceps and triceps. As one arm rows in the biceps are hit, the other arm is using a forward extension thus putting torque on the paddle which creates work for the triceps. A similar gym exercise that can be compared to this is very high rep pull ups. Your hands and forearms will be tired after a period of non-stop paddling.

Believe it or not shoulders are actually more involved in a kayak exercise than a typical back workout. The motion of the paddle coming up after each stroke and extending forward again really works the shoulders. The muscles being used in that motion are the large lateral muscle up to the shoulders as well as the rear, anterior and lateral deltoids. Your grip also has a part to play in what muscles are being used more just like in the gym.

The movements involved can be compared to a single arm dumbbell bench press, but different in a way. Anytime you do a rowing motion of any particular kind the pectoral muscles flex to stabilize the shoulder and the arm as they pull in. While not as noticeable as doing a full on bench press over time you will notice a subtle difference.

The legs are an important part of balance within the kayak. As you learn a better paddling technique you learn to work the legs with the hips to help turn stabilize or brace the kayak.

Weight loss is a common problem in today's society. However with the combination of the above exercises being utilized kayaking actually does help you lose weight. However, as with anything, you have to be kayaking consistently to start seeing a difference. Paddling a kayak once will not make a difference in that regard. The more seat time you get in your kayak the more weight will shed off.

Vitamin D is something that our bodies need to properly function. Unfortunately, a lot of us don't get enough of it. It is hard to get Vitamin D in foods so what is the alternative? Go out and get some sun! Being Outside in the sun helps your body get that special vitamin it needs to properly function. Just remember to bring sun screen!

Similar to any physical activity, the more you do it the better you get at it. Kayaking is no different. As you kayak more you will be more in tune with how the boat behaves and how much longer you can paddle without getting tired. It is definitely one of the more enjoyable ways to increase your stamina.

Kayak exercise helps bring positivity and clarity to your mental health. For many people who suffer from depression they often underestimate their self-worth so as a result it makes their thoughts spiral out of control.  Kayaking helps bring clarity to that feeling in the sense that you are using your whole body to propel you forward. That in turn releases endorphins in the brain from the physical activity. There is also a feeling of tranquility involved in being in the open water.

Being out in the open water is very meditative and allows your brain to release those thousands of thoughts that are racing through your brain and instead enjoy the moment. In fact many people make it a routine to do some kayak exercise after work as it helps them de-stress and enjoy being in the moment.

It's a long day at the office, you are thinking of all those emails you have to send and how the boss hates your guts. Well, forget all of that stuff and jump into a kayak after a long day of work. A consistent amount of added stress can be dangerous to your long term health so why not take a breather?  Truth is there is lots of ways to destress including going to the gym, going for a walk but none of them can be compared with the tranquility that the combination of floating on the calm water and being in the great outdoors can provide. When you add the physical activity of paddling it can greatly reduce stress loads allowing you to think clearer and giving you a better night's sleep.

You may think it's weird to put this in with health benefits but they actually go hand in hand. Humans have evolved over time to be social; they need to be with other human beings in order to achieve some level of happiness. If you don't have a lot of friends or your job takes you away from being around different people meeting new friends while kayaking is a great way to go. You could even join a club or take lessons.

A lot of people can grow up with mental disorders or depression as they grow up which takes quite a toll on their confidence. However, if you take up kayaking and meet people with similar interests as you, all while being outside, kind of makes you forget about all of that stuff. Once you start feeling good about yourself or what you are doing, it helps you in your quest for happiness.

It has been proven time after time that doing some sort of physical activity then getting back to work helps you get through the day with more focus and determination. This is no different for kayaking. Perhaps introduce your boss to kayaking?

The time spent in nature is probably one of the most surreal things you can experience. If you are a couple kayaking with a favorite activity such as fishing or touring then it increases your positivity tenfold. It also has the opportunity to bring people closer together such as families, couples or friends.

If you enjoy kayaking you want to do it more right?  With all the benefits listed it would be a good idea to schedule it into some sort of routine where you designate certain days to go kayaking. Don't have a roof rack or a truck? Get an inflatable kayak. There is really no excuse for you to get some physical exercise and enjoy the peaceful tranquility nature has to offer.

The combination of any kind of physical exercise and spending time in the great outdoors has a proven effect that makes you happier. So if you like kayaking, go out and explore what waterways are out there. Kayak exercise helps you maintain a more active, healthy and happier lifestyle all while exploring new areas.