The primary objective is to create the kayak that deciphers as “hunter’s boat” to hunt and fish. Eskimos (who belonged to the North Arctic territory) forged the kayak a long time back. These people tried lumber or chassis of certain aquatic animals to build kayaks.
In the 1850s, kayaks came to be known as famous entities and created genuine interest among the netizens of Europe. Athletes from Germany and France commenced to take it as a sport. From 1951-1981, the design and structure of kayaks transformed drastically. People switched from fiberglass to plastic kayaks.
The activity advanced as a frontier amusement in the United States. But later, after the 1960s, kayaking turned out to be a distinguished mainstream exercise. Presently, an additional ten occurrences of water kayaking are promoted in Olympic games. Also read, Benefits of Exercise Bike Versus Treadmill For Losing Weight
Today, Kayaking is explained as a speeding recreation operating a kayak(a little or thin boat) for changing positions across the sea, ocean, or river, hurled, taking advantage of a double-bladed paddle.
Is kayaking good exercise?
Kayaking is a good exercise if you take it as an exercise. In flat water, the athletes need to paddle as fast as they can to burn some calories. This activity involves the movement of several limbic muscles to help in toning the limbs. It is a workout of the upper body as well as of core muscles.
We will now discuss the mental and physical benefits of kayaking exercises in detail.
Advantages of Kayaking
- Attain standard body weight
This recreational activity is a kind of exercise and generally aids in the process of weight loss. You can burn 400-450 Cal just by paddling your kayak for one hour(with an average velocity of 4mph ). Although other exercises may be beneficial, this particular exercise is adventurous and can help you slash away extra pounds.
- Enhance muscular strength
While towing your kayak, hands and limbs get involved maximally, so this exercise tones the hands and arms. When you paddle for a long time, the upper body comes into action to help in attaining a chiseled chest and shoulders.
- Legs get toned
Despite the maximum participation of the upper body in Kayaking, there is little involvement of muscles of legs or calves as well. So this exertion of leg muscles results in the toning of legs.
- Bolster core strength
Sitting upright on a kayak is an ideal posture, but while towing the boat, your lower body gets involved. Oblique muscles of the lower body get contracted or expanded during the process. So the continuous movement of muscles bolsters the core strength of the body.
- Boost enduring capacity
This recreational sport progresses for hours, so the practice and main event boost the stamina of your body. If you constantly involve yourself in such activities, you will achieve a higher enduring capacity.
- Refine cardiac health
Kayaking involves aerobic exercise, so this kind of athletics bolsters the muscles of the heart. And eventually, the heart begins pumping blood efficiently.
- Help in acquiring Vitamin-D
Kayaking is carried out in open space. Hence, the body acquires enough quantity of Vitamin D.Everytime food will not fulfill the need for Vitamin D so the natural source of it, the Sun, will provide you enough Vitamin D.
Disadvantages of kayaking
- Drown into the water
There are high chances of drowning in Kayaking, and life jackets cannot save you until there is no possession of PFD.
- Lose tracks
Sometimes the kayakers forget the actual path and oar the boat in the wrong direction. Once they lose track, it becomes hard to locate the kayak in the right way.
- Collision with low-head embankments
Generally, low head dams or bridges increase the risk of collision with kayaks. So this disadvantage may even lead to the toppling of the boat.
- Encounter with wild animals
Wild animals such as crocodiles, alligators, or sharks can kill you while sea kayaking. These wild encounters may lead to your death.
- Not enough experience of kayaking
Beginners do not possess ample experience to handle the dangers of kayaking. Therefore it can become a bizarre adventure for them.
- Unfavorable climate situations & Excess heat or sunlight
Such adventurous activities have openness to hostile climatic conditions and excess heat. Kayakers may suffer from heatstroke or can land in an adverse predicament.
- High tidal waves
It becomes extremely difficult to tow the kayak in high currents as the boat may topple, and your life will be in danger.
Mental benefits of kayaking
- Lessen the stress and anxiety
Kayaking is an adventurous as well as rejuvenating sport, so it brings you closer to nature. You enjoy the beauty of nature and forget all the worries; hence it lessens the stress and anxiety.
- Release happy hormones
Hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and others develop a feeling of happiness. Kayaking is an aerobic exercise that releases all these hormones.
- Establish mental peace
These athletic sports usually help in establishing mental peace as they take you to a different zone.
- Develop concentration
Kayaking needs focus and concentration to yank the kayak in an appropriate direction, so this activity helps in developing concentration.
- Better sleep pattern
The body gets exerted and exhausted after tugging the boat for hours, leading to dozing on time.
- Promotes Socialization
This fearless recreation enables you to meet people from different communities. Such meetings oversee the exchange of cultural values and promote socialization.
- Develop self-confidence
When you handle various adversities while paddling the boat, a sense of self-belief gets indulged in your personality.
Difference between canoeing and kayaking
Both Canoeing and Kayaking are water-running sports and are invincible parts of the Olympic Games. But there are few differences between the two sports.
The extensively noticeable distinction is the gear athletes utilize in two of the boats. One will notice a bare top associated with a canoe and can accommodate more than one individual. On the other hand, a kayak possesses a locked roof. It is vastly formulated to accommodate a single individual. We conserve that a kayak settles lower in the water as compared to a canoe. Also read, Short and long term benefits of exercise
What muscles does kayaking work?
The major muscles employed in recreational workouts are your abdomen, lats, flexor muscles, and forearms. Practically, kayaking labors all the muscles in your shoulders and back. Thereupon numerous days of kayaking on many occasions in a week, we commence seeing muscular growth in our lats.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kayak Exercise Benefits:
Q. How good is kayaking for exercise?
Ans. Kayaking is a recreational water running game but also a good alternative for training. Though not as effective as other workout exercises, it can help slash away extra fat of the forearms or abdomen.
Q. Does kayaking burn belly fat?
Ans. Yes, kayaking burns belly fat as it involves the workout of muscles of the abdomen. These activities help in the journey of weight loss.
Q. What muscles does kayaking exercise?
Ans. Muscles of arms, abdomen, and flexor muscles, along with core muscles, get involved in kayaking. Kayaking comprises the workout of the shoulders, chest, and even back of the body.
Q. Is kayaking good for mental health?
Ans. Kayaking is good for mental health because recreation releases happy hormones, reducing stress and anxiety. A sense of happiness and positivity runs through our bodies while surfing the high currents of water.