Stand-up paddle boarding is considered the fastest growing water sport in the world. And for good reason; it’s a great workout, relaxing and fun.
Stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding is becoming more popular each year. Hawaiians have been using it for years as a means to keep fit when the waves are not adequate for surfing. Once you get acquainted to SUPing, it’s like any other rigorous exercise – an excellent cardiovascular activity – however it is also uplifting and relaxing in a way few other sports can match.
How Intense Is The Workout
SUP boarding can provide you with a very good overall workout. You will make use of balance and strength in order to remain upright and propel yourself in the water. The level of intensity you will experience will vary depending on conditions. If you are paddling in the ocean and there are a lot of waves and an ocean current, your workout will be intense. If you are simply drifting in relatively placid waters, it will be very low intensity and relaxing.
Core Benefits
Paddling while standing up will provide you with a great core workout as well. Almost every muscle in the body is used at some point. A large part of SUP boarding is balance. Your leg muscles will be hard at work attempting to maintain your balance. In addition, paddling utilizes the arms, back, and shoulders to propel the paddle board in the water. The core back and abdominal muscles are constantly at work to maintain your balance.
Low Impact
An additional benefit of SUP boarding is that it is a very low impact exercise. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will cause any damage to joints and soft tissues. If you lift weights in the gym or you engage in high impact sports, then your likelihood of injury is far higher than with stand-up paddling. It is particularly useful for injured athletes e.g. runners that are experiencing shin splints or knee and hip pain, that want to keep exercising during their recovery.
Fitness Benefits
One of the clear benefits of SUP boarding is the very fast and obvious improvement of the fitness level of those you engage in it. It is a very good sport if you are cross-training since it uses almost all the muscles in the body. SUP boarding is a form of simultaneous aerobic and strength training.
Health Benefits
There are numerous health benefits to SUP boarding and the best part is it will not cause any damage to your body while you enjoy them. The cardiovascular benefits are outstanding – you will be able to substantially improve your level of cardio fitness. Of course this translates into many benefits for your body, including a decreased incidence of heart attack and stroke. In addition, you are going to consume a lot of calories. This will likely translate into a loss of weight, which can reduce your chances of getting diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and joint problems.
Improve Your Balance
Many activities and sports require good balance. SUP boarding will definitely improve your sense of balance as you try to stay upright while paddling. For instance, what football player could not improve his game with better balance? You may fall a lot when your first start out, but if you keep at it your overall core balance will greatly improve and far quicker than you would expect.
Stress Relief
There is one more great benefit to be aware of… it is very relaxing and a great way to relieve stress. Stress, has countless adverse health consequences and negative effects on the body. Once you get out on the water and start paddling, you can literally feel your body and mind relaxing as you get into the paddling rhythm.
For information regarding injury management or prevention and improved fitness contact one of the Physiotherapists at Jubilee Sports Physiotherapy.
