Six SUP Fitness Benefits To Keep You On Your Board

It’s not as if you needed another reason to hit the open water as summer approaches, but many people are unaware of how valuable SUPing can be from a fitness perspective. SUP fitness and wellbeing benefits range from aesthetics to cardiovascular health, and we have given six reasons why you should be out on your board more often as the weather gets warmer.

It’s a Complete Body Workout

If you want to activate most of your muscles without hitting the gym, SUPing is the pastime for you. Your arms, back and shoulders are consistently activated as you propel your paddle through the water, while your calves, quads, hamstrings and glutes are switched on as you work to maintain your balance. The sustained repetition of using your paddle is fantastic for athletes looking to work on their muscular endurance.

It Will Keep Your Core in Check

The core strength benefits of stand up paddling cannot be denied. Unlike many core strength programs such as pilates, paddling a SUP gives you a complete core workout while you are on your feet. Your inner abdominals, obliques and lower back are all constantly at work keeping you stable. A strong core has practical applications in all walks of life, such as keeping your back strong and healthy and improving your posture.

It Can Keep You Lean

While it depends on the speed and duration of your adventures, SUPing can be a fantastic fat burner. A strenuous SUP session can burn up to 800 calories per hour, and it’s far more picturesque than staring at your treadmill.

For those looking to mix things up, try interval training out on the open water. By working in intervals of short, intense bursts of paddling followed by slower recovery periods, you can burn more calories than you would paddling at a steady rate.

It Won’t Hurt Your Joints

Unlike many forms of exercise, the risk of injury when SUPing is minimal. As a full-body but low-impact activity, SUPing is a fantastic alternative for long-term joggers who experience hip and knee pain or other joint issues. With minimal stress placed on tendons and ligaments, SUPing is a great fitness option for those who suffer from pain when exercising.

It Will Keep Your Heart Healthy

There are noted cardiovascular benefits for regular paddle boarders. As a sustained exercise that forces your body into a fat-burning state, SUPing can enhance the ability of your lungs to provide oxygen to the blood. The sweet spot for improving cardiovascular health is said to be sustained exercise at between 55-90 per cent of your maximum heart rate, for around 20-60 minutes at a time. For intermediate to advanced SUPers, a steady paddle boarding session will get you into this range.

It Can Help You Recover From an Injury

For those wanting to maintain fitness levels while rehabilitating from minor injuries, SUP is the low-impact exercise for you. You don’t need a great deal of mobility to keep your board moving, and ankle and hip problems shouldn’t give you much grief when you are out on the water.

Those rehabbing from major injuries such as rotator cuff surgery may need to take it easy - if repetitive movements are causing pain, you may want to save SUPing for a later point in your rehabilitation.

Summer Bodies Incoming - Visit Ride The Tide

Whether you are a new convert to the joys of SUP fitness or a seasoned veteran of the seas, Ride The Tide have the boards and accessories you need. Our warehouse is open from 9am-12pm on Saturdays for those who want to view our range. For any enquiries, contact Dean on 0403549702 or dean@ridethetide.com.au.