Picture this: You are out on the waters paddling. You soon start falling into a rhythm.

With every gentle paddling, the surrounding nature’s beauty calms your soul even settles it.

Then your rhythmic body movements start to challenge your physical strength. You subdue feelings of distress on every hurdle you face – testing your endurance in the process.

That is what kayaking does to you. It engages your body and positively affects your mental, emotional and physical health, too.

Paddling a kayak is beneficial to your entire well-being, and here’s why.

1. Physical Health Benefits of Kayaking

Paddling a kayak involves exercises that enhance your body’s core strength.

These exercises employ the use of your forearms, biceps, shoulders, chest, legs, and also your back area.

Depending on the type of kayak, you will experience lots of body twists and rotations, but on a physical standpoint kayaking will, in general:



Strengthen your legs

You really can’t see what goes on inside the boat, but a kayaker often makes rapid leg movements akin to running.

Your hips and thighs are involved in making these leg movements, which strengthens your leg muscles over time.



Burn fat

Paddling a kayak relaxes your body. It’s an easy exercise yet it burns almost 350 calories every hour.

Do this every day, and your heart will thank you. In fact, your whole body will thank you for this simple exercise.

Because burning fats means:

Shedding excess weight

Improving longevity

Suppressing fatigue

Enhancing your immune system

Lowering bad cholesterol in your body

Quick release of natural mood boosters, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OPzfmhH35Y



Reduce wear and tear of body joints

Paddling a kayak takes low effort.

But this low-impact activity on your legs benefits all your body joints.

Compared to walking and running, paddling a kayak will reduce shock on your body joints lowering chances of acquiring arthritis and other joint-related illnesses.

However, it is important to learn the proper techniques of kayaking to enjoy this benefit.

2. Emotional Health Benefits of Kayaking

Alongside positively affecting your physical health, kayaking also enhances your emotional well-being.

It develops mental toughness. It controls your feelings while you are being hurled toward edgy rocks on the crashing riptides.

But how does paddling a kayak exactly impact your emotions?

It nurtures a strong mind

When you are in the crashing waves, you are surrounded with danger.

You hence have to think clearly. This forces your mind to assimilate emotions, even calm them while you try to keep control of your kayak.

This act alone creates a strong mind.

Makes you think objectively

The simple but terrifying motions of a kayak in a gushing river will test your limits at some point. It will stress your mind even.

Controlling feelings of distress while maintaining great control of a kayak will help increase focus your thinking. This forces you to think objectively.

Even when your kayak capsizes, you will have the ability to minimize fear, capitalize on patience, and work on your next move.

Developing such great mental toughness takes your body off its emotional comfort zone. It makes you aware of your emotions, and lets you think straight.

Builds mental strength

If you are an adrenaline junkie, kayaking will challenge your character even develop it for the better.

In fact, it will build your mental strength to insurmountable levels.

There is no doubt kayaking is an activity full of adventure.

It takes you out of your comfort zone and tests your zeal, patience, and self-control.

This regulation of your emotions while controlling a kayak tames your mental strength further improving it.

3. Mental Health Benefits of Kayaking

Want to maintain good mental health? Get on a kayak.

And when it gets fun for your body, your brain will experience a positive impact, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26R8TwZn-jc

You will experience a great improvement in dealing with mental conditions (or symptoms) including stress, anxiety, depression, etc.

But how will kayaking as an exercise treat even moderate these mental conditions?

It encourages the release of feel-good hormones

Each gentle paddle on a kayak encourages the brain to relish the activity.

Your body then releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. When these feel-good hormones flood your brain…

The body experiences an increase in energy

Stress levels are lowered

Self-esteem gets a boost

Brain functionality is enhanced

Focusing well becomes a norm

Positive thoughts flood your system

Improves your skills

Steering a kayak puts you on the path of obstacles.

It challenges you to maneuver through unforgiving waves, riptides, and rocks.

This takes effort.

What’s more?

It improves your kayaking skills in the process while inspiring you to set goals and exceed them.

Test your paddling techniques when on the waters. You can paddle faster or in short successive rhythms for longer periods.

By practicing every day and putting your techniques to the test, you will deepen your sense of achievement and enhance your paddling skills.

Encourages social bonding

There’s no better way to improve relationships than to go kayaking with friends and relatives.

The whole activity becomes fun.

And fun, when experienced with other like-minded people, creates a special bond among peers.

Cherish this new-found bond. Nurture it.

This social bond can last for years on end when well maintained through experiencing and sharing more activities together.

This sense of togetherness, brought about by kayaking activities, creates long-lasting relationships that inspire a happier, fulfilling, boisterous life.

Conclusion

So, there you have it.

Kayaking is laden with a plethora of health benefits. This low-impact activity strengthens most of your body muscles, improves your emotions, and boosts mental activities.

From a physical health standpoint, kayaking strengthens your leg movement and enhances your hip movement, too. It burns body fat in a consistent but slow process, and reduces wear and tear of your body joints over time.

You are more likely to boost your emotional health when you go kayaking. Because constant paddling cultivates your mind even elevates its strength. The paddling rhythm makes you think well when faced with a challenge. This improves your mental strength even more.

If you want to flood your system with feel-good hormones, improve your kayaking skills or create long-lasting social bonds with friends and relatives, start kayaking today.

It will greatly benefit your health. Don’t forget to use the right kayak for you to experience the mentioned benefits.