Health Benefits of Paddle Boarding
How Paddle Boarding Relieves Stress
Stress has been a big part of life over the last year nationally and globally as we’ve all hunkered down during the pandemic.
Paddle boarding has been the perfect antidote during these troubled times both from a social distancing and stress relief standpoint.
1. Nature from a unique perspective
Whether you paddle alone or with a community, being out in nature with the excellent vantage point that standing up on a SUP gives you is something that can’t be duplicated in a low riding kayak or canoe (although all inflatable paddle boards come with kayak seat).
It’s really the ultimate method to become one with the water and the creatures that live below it. Because SUP lets you immerse yourself in nature, it creates a meditative quality in the paddler that allows them to see the world in a slower, more detailed way.
Nature has an overwhelming power to bring calm and clarity.
2. Takes your mind off things
Because paddle boarding takes a certain amount of focus, it’s easy to leave your troubles behind as you focus on the perfect paddle stroke while maintaining your balance at the same time.
Those that lose that focus tend to find themselves in the water at some point - which is a far less severe penalty than if you were to catch an edge on a turn while downhill skiing!
Aligning your body movements with your breath and concentrating on using your core to provide stability and power is a sure way to end any “negative thought loops” that might be burdening you.
3. It's a "Sneaky Workout"
We’ve often called stand up paddle boarding a “sneaky workout” because the paddler doesn’t typically realize that they’ve gotten much exercise until they go to lift their board onto their roof rack and realize that their muscles are shaking!
Because SUP offers a full body work out and hits the larger muscles in the body like legs and arms especially hard, you can count on feeling that sense of calm you feel after a good hard workout once your paddle is over.
The beauty of SUP’ing is that while you are in the activity, you don’t feel that same stress on your body and psyche that you might get from a hard spin class as it’s a more akin to spending an hour doing some challenging sup yoga.
4. Bond with other paddlers
Getting out on the SUP with others is also an excellent and safe way to reconnect with others during the pandemic. We’re all familiar with the surge in depression from the forced isolation of the last year.
Stand up paddle boarding is literally the perfect way to shed those feelings of loneliness by forcing you to be outside and at least six feet from others, but it’s not so strenuous a workout that you can’t talk and laugh with your fellow paddlers thereby enhancing the sense of comradery that has been missing from our lives.
5. Natural Vitamins
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention a couple of hormones that your body will benefit from while you are paddle boarding: endorphins and Vitamin D.
Endorphins are the body’s natural “opiate” and are released during the effort required to paddle a SUP. Endorphins are closely tied to stress reduction.
Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent throughout the modern world and is also closely tied to anxiety. What better way to boost your Vitamin D naturally then getting out on the water?
Stress and anxiety have been maladies that citizens of the globe have suffered with more than ever over the past year. Before you go to the medicine cabinet, try the simple, natural solution: stand up paddle boarding!
Related Topics
What Does Hard Science Say About a SUP Workout?
Improving Fitness on Paddle Board
SUP Fitness Workouts for Off-Season
