Paddling into a body of water in a kayak under the warm sun can be an attractive alternative to simply working out in a gym. If you are the outdoorsy type, why don’t you try it out on your upcoming Bear Lake vacation rentals here in Idaho?
Kayaking 101
It looks easy enough when you observe kayakers from the beach. The leisurely paddling of a solo kayaker on a smooth coastal sea seems relaxing. You can transport the same kayaker to a stormy ocean, or a raging whitewater and the story changes.
Kayaking is fun and relaxing, but it can also be strenuous and challenging. You can choose which type of kayaking works for you. There are physical, mental, and spiritual benefits reaped by avid practitioners of the sport. Essentially, it comes highly recommended by doctors, life coaches and elite adventurers alike.
A very good workout
An average person can burn as much as 300 calories in one hour of kayaking. The paddle stroke that moves the vessel along the surface of the water improves the tone and strength not only of the arm and hand muscles but of the back muscles as well.
If you don’t have enough stability from the core muscles, you will find out soon enough what is lacking when you start kayaking. The repeated movements require not only strength but muscle endurance as well. Kayaking is also a balancing act, and racing kayaks make this task more challenging than usual due to their smaller size.
Aside from muscle strengthening and improved endurance, long stretches in the water benefit the cardiovascular system. Overall, kayaking gives you a toned upper body, a stable core, a firm grip, and a healthy heart.
Mindfulness
Being in the present moment can remove the deleterious effects of stress in daily life. There are many activities you can adapt to learn how to be more mindful. Yet, if you are partial to the water, there is no better activity than going out on a kayak.
Solitude in the midst of the noise and calmer of modern life is often a luxury these days. Sitting on a kayak and immersing in your natural environment could do wonders for your mental health.
Start smart
It’s good to prepare well when you decide to grab the opportunity to go on a kayaking adventure. For starters, get a bit of tone around your shoulders and arms. Wake up a flabby tummy with a couple of weeks of general conditioning exercises.
It is also important to dress appropriately, which in kayaking means dressing for the water. Veteran kayakers do not dress for the weather. Even if you head out under a relentless summer sun, the water temperature could be cold enough to be a threat.
You have to be dressed for icy-cold temperatures should you fall into a cold lake or river. Wear proper kayaking gloves as well. You’d also want to protect your hands.
Kayaking is a popular marine sport these days. Some enthusiasts have embraced the hobby without going for the competitive edge because of physical, mental, and spiritual gains. What say you?
