Kayaking is more than just a fun water activity.
It benefits the whole body the same way aerobic exercises do by conditioning your cardiovascular system and improving your bodily strength. Whether you want to be alone with nature or bond with your family and friends, kayaking is always the perfect water activity when surrounded by the great blue waters.
What It Does to Your Body
Is kayaking a good exercise? Absolutely! While it is considered a low-impact exercise, it helps you burn as much as 500 calories per hour. Just imagine if you paddled for two hours or more? It’s a fun way to shed those extra pounds.
Kayaking helps build better stamina and strengthens your muscles to avoid early exhaustion and allowing you to travel further with every go. The effort exerted while paddling simultaneously puts your chest, shoulders, and back at work. With every stroke, your muscles contract and are fully engaged throughout. Because traveling a mile by paddling requires at least 500 strokes, you can treat each as another rep at the gym. Kayaking also improves blood circulation and strengthens the heart.
The sport doesn’t neglect your lower half either. Paddling demands perfect balance to avoid falling off, so your core and legs are pushed to provide enough pressure to stay afloat, especially when making turns.
What It Does to Your Skin
Spending time in the sunlight provides the necessary Vitamin D for strong bones and muscles. While Vitamin D can come in various forms, nothing beats the sun. An insufficient daily dose can lead to multiple medical complications that a bit of exercise can easily prevent. By going kayaking and basking in the great outdoors, you help your body avoid issues like osteoporosis that can weaken your body and hinder your lifestyle.
What It Does to Your Mind and Soul
Stress is a major player in your mental health.
To combat the stressors of life, there’s no better sanctuary for relaxation than in nature. When you kayak, you get to bear witness to the splendor of Mother Nature and water-locked coastlines. Private beaches and massive caves are waiting around every corner, untouched by man. The sport is perfect for reconnecting with yourself and self-reflecting.
The rhythm of your strides while paddling helps you focus and hone your attention. Physical coordination energizes your soul and fills your body with unpolluted oxygen, revitalizing and re-energizing your lungs.
Your mind’s self-satisfaction and self-image are likewise indirectly improved through the exercise. The knowledge that you push past your distance records and travel faster than you did last is a well-deserved ego boost. The benefits of kayaking go beyond atmospheric therapy. As it is a form of exercise, kayaking dramatically helps improve your mood and your confidence by triggering your brain to release dopamine, the feel-good hormone.
What It Contributes to Relationships
Kayaking is a fun way to bond with those close to you. It allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of city life to be one with nature among family and friends. Surrounded by a relaxing environment and nothing to worry you, you get to bond without any unnecessary distractions.
Another way to enjoy kayaking is by competing with one another. Experience the rush of adrenaline by participating in friendly races and gauging who is the fastest among you and your friends. Friendly competition greatly helps strengthen relationships and simultaneously prepares you for more official ventures if you’d like to try out for a local contest.
Additionally, kayaking clubs and groups are filled with people who have similar interests and are always looking for new members to recruit. Many have weekly meetings and kayaking sessions, and by simply attending, you train both your kayaking and social skills.
When all is said and done, is kayaking good for you? Absolutely.
Kayaking is a healthy way to improve your body and wellbeing. Nothing’s better than exploring the great outdoors and pampering yourself with a breather from city life atop the water in a kayak.
If you’re in Madeira Beach and in search of a kayak rental for your next water adventure, Island Marine Rentals is here to serve you. We’ll cater to all your kayak, bicycle, scooter, paddleboard, and boat rental needs in the Madeira Beach, FL, area. Whether you’d prefer to sail alone or with a partner, Island Marine Rentals has single and double kayaks available. The necessary safety gear is included with every package. For more information on our rates and inclusions, call us at 727-595-0000 and book with us today!
