Is stand-up paddling healthy? 5 tips for effective training on a SUP board!
Let's be honest: sweating in a gym at 35 degrees while the sun is shining outside and we would much rather be out in the fresh air isn't much fun. It is much more pleasant if you can complete your workout in the fresh air during the warm summer months and at the same time cool off in the water whenever you like.
In many sports, beginners lose interest right at the start if they are completely exhausted after 5 to 10 minutes and have to end the training session. Stand Up Paddling has one significant advantage over many other workouts: you can start very easily as an untrained person and paddle comfortably for an hour right away without being completely out of breath.
Anyone starting with Stand Up Paddling might wonder whether paddling is not only fun, but also healthy and a good workout for the body.
5 reasons why Stand Up Paddling is healthy
- You get exercise in the fresh air.
- Stand Up Paddling is a good balance to a sedentary office job.
- Stand Up Paddling trains many muscle groups and improves balance.
- Stand Up Paddling is suitable for people of all ages.
- In addition to classic paddling, SUP yoga can also be practiced.
How to turn your Stand Up Paddle session into an effective workout!
- Train with a fitness watch or an app!
Do you want to know how long you have been paddling, what distance you have covered, and how many calories you burn during training? Some fitness and sports watches, such as those from SUUNTO, now offer a Stand Up Paddling mode with which you can track your session. In the backend, you can also see the distance or the line you paddled. This allows you to see, for example, what time you need for a paddled kilometer and improve your time through targeted training. - A race SUP board increases the challenge.
Do you like paddling long tours and are you already a pro on a touring SUP board? With a race SUP board, you increase the challenge, because the board is even longer and narrower than a touring board. You can increase your speed even further, and you need even more concentration and a sense of balance. Once you have mastered your race SUP board, it's time to take part in a race! - SUP Yoga as a balance
A new sport has developed from Stand Up Paddling, namely SUP Yoga. SUP Yoga is a new challenge, especially for experienced yogis. As a paddler, you can add variety to your training in between with a SUP Yoga session and train different muscle groups.
- Train with friends
A solo SUP session is great for clearing your head and forgetting the stresses of everyday life. To make your training more varied and effective, we recommend sessions with friends and training partners. This way, you can spur each other on, and if you have an appointment for a training session, you have no excuse to skip it.
With a second paddler, you can organize small races or sprints and exchange ideas about different techniques to improve your performance. If nobody in your circle of friends paddles, take a look at our Facebook group, because you're sure to find the right training partner there! - Simply enjoy the training!
The most important factor in improving is to have fun with it! Create variety by trying out new spots and routes, paddling early in the morning or in the evening, or arranging a SUP tour with different people.
