Learn To Paddleboard For Exercise

Though it's not a particularly well known physical activity, making the effort to learn to paddleboard for exercise can pay big fitness dividends. The sport of paddleboarding, first developed on the warm, tropical coasts of Hawaii, is one of those “underground” outdoor activities that enthusiasts love. Shaped much like a kayak with a shallower base, the paddleboard is designed for quick, efficient movement in the water with the propelling force of a large paddle. Of course, this paddle's force is supplied by the paddler, and it takes a lot of it to get going. This, as you might guess, is why paddleboarding for exercise is so effective.

• You will need:
• A paddlebaord, preferably short and fat for beginners.
• A paddle with eye level height.
• A body of water, preferably without current.
• Friends to paddleboard for exercise with.

1. Realize that paddleboarding is a “marathon” style exercise. Though there are professional sprint races held that are as short as a half a mile, a leisurely paddling trip is typically a mile, two miles or more. You'll need decent cardiovascular strength to be able to keep up with the group on a paddleboard. If you don't have it quite yet, there's no need to worry. Paddleboarding will whip you into good aerobic shape in no time.
2. Using the proper strokes, paddleboarding is also a full body resistance exercise. There's a reason that your local gym is packed with so many row machines—the propelling motion you make with a paddle works all kinds of upper body muscle groups. Proper rowing involves making the paddle act as a sort of lever, using your lower hand as a fulcrum and your upper hand to push the paddle through the water. This motion is especially tough on your biceps, triceps, and upper trapezius muscles. The first few times you paddleboard for exercise, don't be surprised to wake up exceptionally sore in the morning.
3. Balancing on the paddleboard strengthens your core. As if aerobic and upper body challenges weren't enough, the act of balancing during exercise with apaddleboard really works your stabilizing core muscles. Keeping yourself upright on the water will push your obliques and hip flexors to their limits—so be prepared to hate bending down after some paddleboard exercise.
4. For added fun, join a paddleboarding group, or get your friends to tag along. Paddleboarding isn't all about exercise. Think of it as hiking on the water. There's plenty of cool stuff to see and good times to be had while on your paddleboard. As unbelievable as it may sound, paddleboarding is one form of exercise that you might actually enjoy.