Kayaking is a relatively new sport and is now a popular pastime for many people. It is also an excellent way to get in shape and burn calories. It can be especially helpful for people who wish to improve cardiovascular health, as well as those who are looking to lose weight.
Kayaking is a great way to stay in shape and have fun at the same time. It is much easier on your joints than other fitness machines, which can be great for people who are recovering from an injury or have arthritis. However, one downside to kayaking is that it doesn’t burn as many calories as you might think.
Burn 300 to 500 calories with kayaking
A person can burn up to 300 calories per hour while kayaking on a flat lake, Puget Sound, or other mild body of water. A harsher body of water, such as a river with rapids, can burn up to 500 calories per hour.
To increase calorie burn, paddlers should look to make their stroke as long and continuous as possible.
Fit to your size
It’s important to find a kayak that fits your size so you don’t tire too quickly and have to stop. Dressing appropriately is also important- dress lighter and layer up while on the water. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes!
With a leisurely pace, kayaking can have many of the same benefits as running. It is an aerobic exercise that strengthens muscles in the body, along with burning calories. The intensity is lower than running so it can be continued for longer periods of time without any risk of injury.
Fresh air
Kayaking strengthens muscles in your arms, back, and legs. As a bonus, fresh air is released from your lungs which speeds up your metabolism which in turn increases weight loss. Not to mention the increased mental clarity that comes with being outdoors.
Burn more calories with paddling techniques
Anyone can learn to paddle a kayak with some practice, but some people may need a few pointers from more experienced paddlers. Paddlers can use their upper body strength to help power through the water and make it easier to maintain control of the vessel. In addition, bending at the waist helps blade length stay low in the water for more efficient paddling.
Paddling for longer is important for endurance.
A roll of the neck at the end of each stroke, before coming up onto the paddle, helps to release neck tension. Adding a slight forward tilt with each paddle stroke can also help loosen neck muscles. A final tip is to aim for a little more power on the way out to maintain momentum through the strokes. Apply these tips and you’ll be paddling for hours!