The Health benefits associated with stand up paddleboarding are crazy good but when it comes to longevity sup has some great tricks to keep you paddling well into your later century. Stand up paddleboarding has gained popularity over recent years all over the world its reported as the quickest growing water sport with more first-time participant’s than any other, so what’s the hook? Well, stand up paddleboarding has so many benefits and so diverse as it can reach such an array of people in many different areas. If you got a lake, river or the sea by you your good to go. So how does stand up paddleboarding help me live longer, well check out the list below to see why supping is good for your life expectancy.
Why stand up paddleboarding will help me live longer
Stand up paddleboard for a lot of people can be a weekend activity or just for holidays but for the committed it can be a real lifestyle and one that has a few benefits for these people it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle which can be beneficial to your mental and physical health.
(1) No Gym Required Sup Will Keep you in shape
If you go out for a paddle for an hour or 2 you will defiantly feel the benefits just like going to the gym, it has been shown to be very similar to running and aerobic activity’s. Competing again a friend of group members can really up to the intensity and has been shown to develop great overall & increased strength, especially in the upper body & core whilst also improving stability. Other improvements for your cardiovascular health are huge, not only working your heat & Lungs your muscle and skin will get a damn good sweet, you’ll be burning calories left right and centre. Helping to reduce your overall body fat and improve heart health will intern help to reduces the risk of diseases like heart attacks, strokes. so next time you trying to blag going out on the water remember it’s for your health
(2) Saltwater/Air
Yes, that classic saying of the sea air will do you good hold more promise than previously thought. depending on how good you are you might spend a lot of time on top of the water or in it but either way your breathing in that fresh sea air. Spending a lot of time at sea or in the water has massive benefits to immunity and oral health the sea not only keeps a lot of nasty bugs away, but it’s incredibly beneficially for lung health and your respiratory system will be cleansed. as well as the incredible mineral contents from salt water that helps improve the function of our skin.
(3) The Sun and vitamin D
Yep, there is no escaping it the sun is going to be on you, and admittedly the sun can get a bad wrap when I come to skin damage but it also provides us with a very important vitamin. Vitamin (D) Adequate vitamin D helps with the regulation of calcium and phosphorus absorption, which is required to keep our bones healthy and also fight diseases like cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. keeping this thing in check can decently help extend your life so ensuring you get out and absorb some vitamin D is a must.
(4) Natural Environments
One of the best things about paddleboarding is that you are in nature interacting with sun sea and air, as well as all the natural wonders of the sea, lakes and rivers being out on the open water battling mother nature, is what its all about for some and that is we really feel most alive and your not wrong Nemours studies support the idea of being in a natural environments especially water as it has calming benefits for mental health. Engaging with nature can have a positive effect on your outlook attitude and stress levels.Stand Up paddle boarders especially spend a lot of time in natural environments interacting directly with the water and other elements its this interaction through an exercise in natural environments that have been shown to have more benefits for spiritual and mental health than anywhere else. and I’m sure every paddler can relate to a feeling of peace, relaxation and mindfulness that comes with being out at sea on just paddling through the water.
(5) Cold water therapy
If you head in to the British waters in the winter months you will know what I’m talking about, sometimes taking a plunge can be an icy experience or a cold water flush can be a brain freezer but if your brave enough to venture in to the cold waters it might just keep you young as research suggests that cold water exposure can be a benefit to your health. Cold water exposure allows the body to burn more calories than it usually would trying to keep you warm compared to a hot days paddling you also get a massive rush of endorphins, adrenaline and cortisol, which gives you that good feeling inside. If repeating this can change your physiology massively which can intern help to improve the immune system fight off bad bacteria and reduced inflammation so next time you take the plunge you know it’s doing you good.
(6) Focused Mind
The Focus of stand up paddleboarding can be something that can really consume your life, But a focused mind can really help with living longer when your focus doesn’t have to be. A number of research papers looking at people jobs and social activities as they got older and they found that people who had focus goals and purpose in their everyday life lived longer and had a better quality of life. In stand up paddleboarding our focus can be on the next race or swell or next set training getting fitter staying strong researching better equipment. We are lucky because our sport can give so much back to us and reward that focus and reward that patience and dedication. This never ends as supping like surfing is a lifelong journey one that we can constantly try to master but always just that next swell away, I think personally it’s a great way to live one swell one set one wave at a time.
(7) Easy on the body
The low impact nature of SUP means it has been a great cross training method for athletes recovering from injuries and a low chance you will get injured or cause damage to joints of ligaments. The low impact is great for recovery and building your back strength and getting a cardio work out without having to bust a gut. A lot of paddlers I know moved to the sport because of injury’s in other sports and allows them to still exercise with minimal to no pain. Great for cross training and improving balance it will keep you active even if you can’t run jump or lift heavy things so stand up paddleboarding is pretty ideal for the older generation to keep fit.
(8) Relaxing
One of the greatest reason to paddle, Yep we all know that feeling of having an amazing an amazing day on the water paddling in the sun on tranquil flat water or an epic downwind session is battling the surf for a few hours. it give your body a feeling of peace you just keep coming back for its partly to do with the physical exhaustion, but also the mental release of all that energy that has built up from work or stresses of life and as soon as you on the water the stress goes and replaced with a feeling of relaxation, I don’t think there is another feeling like it. Also the tranquillity you feel from just being in the water sometimes alone having time to reflect on things is a real added bonus as in most people’s busy lives they don’t get time to reflect and process things. This process can be really relaxing and calming helping to lower stress levels. stand up paddleboarding can also help to give you that good feeling of accomplishment of overcoming the barriers and trial of the surf or distance sometimes the harder the paddle or more difficult the conditions the sweater the accomplishment. Remember living long is one thing but having a great quality of long life is the goal that why SUP can really help keep your well-being and joy at is max. As long as you get enjoyment every day from the surf then life is pretty good
