Paddleboard Workout For Fitness

By: Tina Gallagher

Break Studios Contributing Writer

For the ultimate set of abs, learn about the paddleboard workout for fitness and the ladies will follow you all over the beach. Women love abs, and love to watch men surf. Paddleboarding is the new sport in the water, and it’s growing in popularity every day. The fitness level gained by the paddle can’t be beaten. Of course, you need to work out to get there.

  1. The squat rotation. Hold the paddle across your back over your shoulders, hands grasping the paddle a little wider than shoulder width. Keep the back straight, and your abs sucked in. Take a squat position, keep your head still and bend from side to side slowly, trying to touch the paddle to the ground.
  2. The lunge. Standing with feet shoulder width apart, hold the paddle over your head and your arms straight. This paddleboard workout for fitness will strengthen your whole body. Slowly step forward in a lunge, keeping your arms straight and the paddle above your head. It’s not as easy as it looks.
  3. A little yoga, please. Some call this the inchworm, others call it the downward facing dog. Bend over until your legs are straight and your hands touch the ground. Your butt is in the air. Slowly, try to inch your feet closer to your hands while keeping your arms and legs straight. Yes, this is still a paddleboard workout for fitness.
  4. Side lunge bend. Combine the lunge and side stretches for better abs and butt. Ladies like a tight butt. Holding the paddle as for a lunge, step forward into a lunge, and then bend to the side, trying to touch the paddle to the ground while not falling over. Works the abs, butt, legs and balance.
  5. The lat stretch for shoulders. This paddleboard workout for fitness can’t leave out upper body strength. Place the end of the paddle on the ground and hold it straight up like a pole. Step away from the paddle until you’re at arm’s length. Bend over while holding onto the pole, keeping your back straight. You’ll feel it in your shoulders.
  6. Kneeling stretch. Like the knights of old, this stance is a great stretch for your hips. Kneel, holding the paddle like a pole with your arm out straight. Your other arm is on your hip, and one knee is on the ground while the other is out in front of you. Your forward knee should be straight, and your body is held straight. Stay still for thirty seconds- you’ll feel your hips.
  7. For your shoulders and triceps, work your back. Stand straight, holding the paddle behind you. Both arms are behind you, one is above your shoulders, the other about waist height. Both hands are holding the paddle. Raise and lower the paddle slowly. Switch arms and do again. This paddleboard workout for fitness increases the range of mobility for your shoulders, and increases your triceps.
  8. For core strength, work on a ball. An exercise ball is a great part of your paddleboard workout for fitness. Just sitting on the ball while watching the game helps strengthen your core and balance. Sit on the ball with your back straight and legs slightly apart. Hold that stance. Practice rocking the ball from side to side and bring yourself level with your abs alone.
  9. Weight training is also important for paddleboarding. Strengthening your muscles doesn’t just work for one sport, it works for all. Balance, strength, and yes, bigger muscles before you hit the beach are all important. This paddleboard workout for fitness can’t go wrong.
  10. Pole twist. Lay on a bench with no back, and find your balance so your body is straight. Your shoulders should be able to move freely. Your legs should be off the bench, and straight to help strengthen your core. Hold the paddle behind your shoulders, and slowly move your upper body to touch each side of the paddle to the ground while keeping your legs straight out. This paddleboard workout for fitness will let you hit the beach looking like a million bucks. 
Posted on: Mar. 30, 2011