Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding Good Exercise (How Hard Is It to Paddle Board)?

Stand up paddle boarding is a low-intensity, low-impact sport that gives you a full-body workout. It engages all of your body's muscles, from your shoulders to your core to your spine, glutes, and leg muscles. It is also a great activity if you are looking for a way to burn your calories fast.
Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding Good Exercise

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Paddle boarding is renowned for being a low-maintenance sport. The sport is simple to learn and does not need a lot of equipment. To add to the many reasons why SUP boarding is so great, there is a slew of health benefits that your body will reap once you get started on it.

Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding Hard?

While stand up paddle boarding has its challenges; it is very doable. It’s so easy to learn that people of all ages, fitness levels, and skill levels can do it. One of the many reasons why stand up paddle boarding became so famous so quickly is how simple it is to get started.

Although there is a learning curve to stand up paddle boarding, and skills such as balance and focus are required, these are simple to learn, especially if you are under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

How Hard Is It to Stand Up Paddle Board?

Stand up paddle boarding is a relatively straightforward sport as compared to other water activities such as windsurfing, sailing, or even surfing. Getting on the board and balancing can be challenging for a beginner, but these are skills that can be learned quickly.

You don’t need to learn how to use any complicated technology in order for you to be able to ride a stand up paddle board successfully. You would only need to master upright balancing in the water on your stand up paddle board.

Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding Good for You?

Not only is stand up paddle boarding good for you, but it is also amazing for you. It may be a low-intensity activity, but it gives you holistic benefits that are great for both your physical and mental health.

As it helps you to strengthen and build your muscles, stand up paddle boarding simultaneously enables you to improve your mental focus and mindfulness. It also improves your balance and coordination while reducing your stress levels.

Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding Bad for Your Back?

Stand up paddle boarding can be both beneficial and harmful to your back, depending on how you conduct yourself when doing the sport. Because you would be standing upright for long periods, there is a chance of developing lower back pain. But then again, there are more benefits than risks that you can get from the sport.

Stand up paddle boarding needs you to strengthen your core muscles. Since the muscles you develop will strengthen the spine, this will help alleviate lower back pain. This will help to alleviate nerve impingement as the muscle fitness improves.

However, you must remember that stand up paddle boarding is not a cure for all back problems. If you are already experiencing back pains before starting to stand up paddle board, consult your doctor and see if this sport is right for you. If, on the other hand, you began to experience back pain after starting the sport, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately.

Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding a Good Workout?

Stand up paddle boarding is a fantastic activity that will work your whole body. It strengthens your upper body, legs, and core muscles. Aside from that, it is a fun activity that comes with all of the advantages of spending hours at the gym.

It is an activity that involves your whole body, from your elbows to your toes. Your Instagram images may seem serene, but what your friends don’t realize is that spending time on your board is a full-fledged workout in and of itself.

How Good of a Workout Is Stand Up Paddle Boarding?

Stand up paddle boarding is such a good work out people even claim SUP to be the ultimate workout. This is because stand up paddle boarding allows for such an extensive range of exercises while still being fun.

To add to the many reasons why stand up paddle boarding is such a good workout is its simplicity. You can get started on the sport regardless of your age, gender, body shape, size, or fitness level. You also don’t need a lot of gear for you to be able to participate—no need for weights, no need treadmills, no need to go to an actual gym!

Does Stand Up Paddle Boarding Build Muscle?

Stand up paddle boarding is an excellent way to build and tone your muscles. Every action you do when paddle boarding gives your muscle a workout. Yes, even staying upright and balancing on your board will give your muscles a workout.

Your muscles may feel stiff the first time your get on that stand up paddle board, but the more you do the sport and the more your use your muscles correctly, the feeling of being fatigued will be lessened.

What Muscles Does Stand Up Paddle Boarding Work?

All of your body’s muscles work while you are on your stand up paddle board. These muscles are used in the sport, from your shoulders to your sides, your core, and your legs.

Some people believe that stand up paddle board is primarily about developing the arms and upper body, but it is really about strengthening your core. When you paddle on a stand up paddle board, you use a lot of your core muscles.

Some of the muscles that paddle boarding works are as follows:

  • Diaphragm
  • Abdominal muscles
  • Heart
  • Rotator cuffs
  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Supraspinatus
  • Triceps
  • Deltoids
  • Pectoralis major
  • Latissimus dorsi
  • Traps
  • Biceps
  • Rhomboid

Does Stand Up Paddle Boarding Burn Calories?

Stand up paddle boarding burns an immense number of calories. You burn more if you spend more time paddling and if you paddle twice as hard. You don’t even have to do much because even casual paddling is sure to burn more than 400 calories.

It is possible to double the number of calories that you can burn if you try other activities while on top of your board, such as stand up paddle touring, SUP racing, and even a yoga workout.

How Many Calories Does Stand Up Paddle Boarding Burn?

The answer varies, but you can burn as little as 300 to upwards of 1,000 calories when you start stand up paddle boarding. The number of calories you can burn while doing stand up paddle boarding varies from person to person and your riding style.

The number also varies depending on how long you do the sport. But one thing is universal, you will burn A LOT of calories while paddling on your SUP.

How Many Calories Do You Burn Stand Up Paddle Boarding for an Hour?

On average, doing the sport for an hour can help you burn anything between 305 to 430 calories. You can burn more depending on your riding style and on how long you stay on your board.

Paddling at a leisurely pace will burn up to twice as many calories as walking at a moderate pace for an hour. You will burn at least 615 to 708 calories in an hour if you paddle at a moderate level, similar to what stand up paddle board tourers do.

Stand up paddle boarding will burn 713 to 1,125 calories in an hour if you paddle faster. What a great way to lose a lot of calories without even shifting your legs!

What Else Are the Benefits of Stand Up Paddle Boarding?

Aside from the many health benefits, there are other pros that you can get if you start stand up paddle boarding. For one, compared to other workouts, stand up paddle boarding is low-impact, and it promotes relaxation.

Once you are relaxed, it is easy to get into zen meditation mode and to reach a “flow” state of mind. Being in this particular state of mind will improve your cognitive function, mood and focus. It is also said that over time, practicing reaching the “flow” state of mind will improve your memory, creativity, and empathy.

Stand up paddle boarding is also a very stress-free sport that also immerses you in the great outdoors

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