If you want to take up an exciting new water sport that can keep you toned and fit, while also taking in some gorgeous scenery, exciting travel opportunities, and tranquil evenings on a mountain lake, read on. These three water sports may be just the thing for you! That’s especially true if you are looking for a way to keep fit without playing intense sports, running for miles, or being bored in a gym. Let’s look at kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddleboarding.
Disclosure: This sponsored post offers inspiration for getting in the water and staying healthy!
These activities are perfect for women who want to have solo adventures, romantic weekends away, or family trips to a gorgeous mountain lake. You can keep fit and strong, work your core, back, and arms, and not even realize you are doing an intense workout.
How is that possible? It’s because the scenery will be breathtaking, the activity exciting, and the cool water and mountain air refreshing. You will feel more like you are having a tranquil and beautiful experience in nature than a tough workout. All while enjoying many health benefits. What more could you ask for?
Kayaking
One of the many reasons women now make up around 45% of kayaking enthusiasts is because the activity focuses on fitness more than brute strength. Things like technique and balance are more important than being the fastest or strongest. While it isn’t a high-intensity sport, an hour of casual kayaking can burn as many as 385 calories in a 170-pound person. Moreover, kayaking trips that take place over several days require careful planning and packing, which might be some of your strengths.
Typically, women are lighter than men and have a lower center of gravity. These physical attributes make women’s bodies more naturally suited to kayaking than men, as they will be more stable in the boats. The smaller and narrower a boat you can fit in, the sleeker it will be in the water, due to its lightness.
Kayaking is very different to fast water sports like surfing, motor boating, or parasailing. How? Kayaking provides a slower, calmer experience that brings you up close and personal with nature.
There is also no noisy engine, smelly fuel, or whooping teammates. Instead, a kayaker has the opportunity to find peace and interact quietly with the sea life. You can listen to the birds and take in the surrounding nature.
Of course, you can kayak with friends too. Perhaps you take several single boats out on the water or go with a partner in a tandem kayak. The calm of the water and paddling enable you to be social and chat while you explore the lake, river, or cove.
Canoeing is another great water sport
Much the same as kayaking, canoeing is great for upper body strength. It is a tranquil experience and a great opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery while sharing a calm boating experience with friends.
Canoeing is great for solo or family trips, and it is easy to combine with other fun activities. For instance, you can bring a picnic, go fishing, hiking, swimming, camping, and explore the surrounding areas. It’s a wonderful opportunity to dabble in bird watching, photography, or simple sightseeing.
Canoeing is also a great way to get fit without boring yourself on a treadmill or forcing yourself to play a sport you don’t enjoy. The hours pass by quickly while you canoe and enjoy the scenery, social aspects, nature, and freedom to explore.
As well as moving toward your weight loss goals, canoeing provides you the opportunity to feel more at peace overall. A sense of contentment is one you may find, and you can feel good about the many kilometers you cover on the trip.
Canoes and kayaks are low-maintenance boats, with no complicated engines to maintain. Instead, they simply require you to keep them clean and unpunctured, if the boat is inflatable.
After the initial purchase of a kayak or canoe, you do not need to spend on fuel or other long-term costs associated with other types of boats. That makes them highly accessible, affordable options for women who want to paddle as a hobby without spending too much. You can find more information about canoes and kayaks at this link. You can also find tips and tricks, dos and don’ts, and product reviews so that you can make an informed choice when selecting a boat.
Stand up paddleboarding
Stand up paddleboarding is yet another terrific activity for women who would like to have a full-body workout. You’ll also end the workout full of feel-good hormones. Stand up paddleboarding is a great low-impact exercise that massively improves your balance. Plus, your core and legs work incredibly hard to keep you on your feet and avoid tumbling into the water. On top of all of this, the paddling activity helps tone the arms and back.
For an even more intense balance workout, you can do stand up paddleboarding yoga classes. Many people find these classes to be incredibly fun and challenging. You can also meet other women who share your passion for staying fit. Furthermore, yoga teaches how to connect with the body and mind, so you will leave these classes feeling calm, strong, and centered. It’s a win-win!
Time to pick your water sport and take to the lakes!
By this point, you’re likely inspired to take up a water sport and get fit while having fun. All while surrounded by beautiful nature, alone or with friends. Now it’s time to choose your preferred water sport and give it a go.
Whether kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddleboarding appeals to you the most, there is a water sport for you. These activities are great ways to tone the body, calm the mind, and explore other interests, such as birdwatching, photography, and hiking.
Women who want to feel fit, strong, and more at peace can enjoy these benefits with a stand up paddleboarding yoga class or long kayaking trip. They bring a wonderful sense of accomplishment. You don’t need to spend hours bored on a cross-trainer either or exhaust yourself lifting weights.
Cheers to keeping fit and healthy. Exercise can and should be fun!