With the fast-paced, often stressful lives, that many of us lead, it’s important to get out into nature every now and then to unwind. Being exposed to the natural environment is beneficial for your mental health as you can sit back and enjoy the quiet, peaceful surroundings of nature. Having this experience from the comfort of your kayak, however, adds an entirely new element, allowing you to gain a unique perspective of where you are and to interact with your environment in a unique way.
Kayaking gives you a complete body workout, as you have to work hard to navigate your kayak through the water. Each stroke of the paddle will work your entire upper body, your core, and, contrary to what you might think, your legs will be engaged too. Not only is kayaking a fantastic way to stay fit and healthy but it is also a wonderful way to spend time with your friends and family in the outdoors. Getting into kayaking is a great decision and this sport can provide you with a lifetime of amazing memories.
Let’s take a look at just a few reasons that you should get into kayaking.
Unleash Your Inner Adventurer
Once you have the basic skills mastered, kayaking can allow you to explore places in a brand new way. With a kayak, you can reach secret beaches, inlets, and sections of National Parks that are just not accessible on foot. What’s more, you can enjoy nature without disturbing the environment around you. Embrace your inner adventurer and take the water to explore new places by kayak.
A Full-Body Workout
While kayaking can be a great way to unwind and destress, it can also be a fantastic way to get in a full-body workout on the water. Kayaking works out your back, shoulders, and arms hard while giving your core a good workout at the same time. Your legs are used more than you might think to steady the kayak as you glide through the water, making kayaking a highly-effective, low-impact way to stay in shape.
The Social Element
Kayakers are typically nature-loving, easy-going folk who are passionate about their sport and protecting their environment. Kayakers are a welcoming group who love to share their sport with others. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people and friendships tend to form quickly as you spend more days on the water together. The unique experiences you will have on the water make it easy to bond with people and create long-lasting friendships.
Good For Your Mental Health
Many kayakers will tell you that being out on the water, surrounded by nature is the best stress reliever you could ask for. And, while that is true, there are also emotional and mental benefits that you can gain from kayaking. Kayaking has been proven to improve self-confidence, enhance feelings of self-worth, confidence physical appearance feelings of adequacy, and a sense of improved worth in social interactions. With so many mental health benefits to be gained from kayaking, this is a great reason to get into this exciting sport.
Broaden Your Horizons And Take Up Kayaking
Kayaking is one of the best ways to safely get out on the water and spend time in nature. Whether you choose to use kayaking as a way to find solitude or to spend more time with your friends and family, this alluring sport is a lot of fun. There is a range of styles of kayaking you can try from the very intense to much more relaxing experiences.
If you are new to the sport, be sure to get some basic training before you hit the water to ensure you know how to stay safe. Once you feel confident in your skills, you can start exploring further afield and start truly immersing yourself in the world of kayaking.
