{"id":43597,"date":"2022-06-01T23:13:25","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T23:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=43597"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"is-kayaking-good-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Get_your_personalized\" >Get your personalized<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#What_Is_Kayaking\" >What Is Kayaking?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Can_A_Beginner_Do_Kayaking\" >Can A Beginner Do Kayaking?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Kayaking_While_Holding_A_Combined_Paddle_With_Both_Hands\" >Kayaking While Holding A Combined Paddle With Both Hands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Kayaking_While_Holding_A_Divided_Paddle_With_Both_Hands\" >Kayaking While Holding A Divided Paddle With Both Hands<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Is_Kayaking_A_Good_Exercise\" >Is Kayaking A Good Exercise?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Increased_Strength\" >Increased Strength<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Upper_Body\" >Upper Body<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Lower_Body\" >Lower Body<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Can_You_Get_Ripped_From_Kayaking\" >Can You Get Ripped From Kayaking?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Better_Postural_Balance\" >Better Postural Balance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Increased_Endurance\" >Increased Endurance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Improved_Focus\" >Improved Focus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Increased_Core_Stability\" >Increased Core Stability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Helps_You_Burn_Calories\" >Helps You Burn Calories<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Increased_Relaxation\" >Increased Relaxation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Gets_You_Outside\" >Gets You Outside<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#Is_Kayaking_Safe\" >Is Kayaking Safe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you live near bodies of water like lakes, you may be interested in participating in water-related activities like kayaking, rowing, and canoeing. Kayaking has become one of the top preferred outdoor activities as more and more people try it out. That said, the majority are still holding back, with more questions than answers about this activity. Is kayaking good exercise? This is the most asked question about this activity. Let us analyze its benefits and risks to better understand where kayaking lies in the exercise spectrum.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-single-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-title-wrapper\">\n            <h3 class=\"ad-single-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_personalized\"><\/span>Get your personalized<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n            <span class=\"ad-single-sub-title color-green\">\n                <svg class=\"icon-sparkle\" width=\"36\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 21\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                          d=\"M34.6837 0.515943C34.8247 0.835947 34.9421 1.16291 34.9891 1.48987C35.1417 2.64466 35.3179 6.51949 35.2592 7.29863C35.2592 7.53515 35.1887 7.7995 35.0243 8.01516C34.7307 8.39777 33.9791 8.4256 33.5681 8.07081C33.4154 7.94559 33.3215 7.77863 33.2745 7.61863C33.1453 7.15254 33.0396 6.68645 32.9809 6.22035C32.8165 4.81512 32.6638 3.40293 32.5581 1.9977C32.5229 1.53161 32.6051 1.05856 32.6991 0.592466C32.7695 0.244637 33.251 -0.0197144 33.6973 0.00115537C34.2257 0.0289818 34.5546 0.230723 34.6837 0.515943ZM18.6184 9.78225C18.5734 9.67557 18.5344 9.57528 18.4971 9.47956C18.4178 9.27568 18.3465 9.09257 18.2426 8.91267C16.7159 6.24133 14.2615 3.86217 11.4665 1.60128C11.1377 1.33693 10.7267 1.08649 10.2687 0.919531C10.0221 0.829095 9.52885 0.843009 9.247 0.933445C9.03562 1.00301 8.88295 1.27432 8.92992 1.42736C9.01213 1.71954 9.18828 2.01868 9.4349 2.28303C11.0555 4.02913 12.6879 5.76829 14.3437 7.50048C14.8308 8.0068 15.3395 8.50887 15.8473 9.01L15.8473 9.01001C15.9883 9.14921 16.1293 9.28833 16.2697 9.42746C16.4811 9.64311 16.7159 9.85181 16.9626 10.0466C17.2327 10.2692 17.6437 10.4014 18.0547 10.2553C18.0691 10.2501 18.0836 10.245 18.0981 10.2399C18.1097 10.2358 18.1213 10.2318 18.1329 10.2278C18.3785 10.1424 18.6184 10.0589 18.6184 9.78225ZM1.98942 20.1407C2.17783 20.1221 2.37674 20.105 2.58175 20.0875C2.99012 20.0525 3.42272 20.0154 3.84492 19.9598C6.34632 19.6259 8.84771 19.292 11.3374 18.9442C11.8776 18.8676 12.406 18.7355 12.8875 18.5824C13.5334 18.3807 13.7566 18.0954 13.6509 17.7824C13.5452 17.4694 13.1224 17.2746 12.3826 17.2676C11.8776 17.2607 11.3374 17.2676 10.8559 17.3372C7.69683 17.8102 4.5378 18.2972 1.3905 18.7911C1.03819 18.8468 0.674137 18.9442 0.404034 19.0833C-0.2771 19.4242 -0.065712 19.9598 0.803314 20.092C1.01858 20.1228 1.25262 20.1258 1.51135 20.1291C1.66195 20.131 1.82092 20.133 1.98942 20.1407Z\"\n                          fill=\"#17B991\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n               meal plan!\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-desc-wrapper\">\n            <p class=\"ad-single-desc\">What's your main health goal?<\/p>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Lose weight<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Feel great<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <img class=\"ad-single-img\" alt=\"health-food\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/health-food.webp\">\n    <\/section>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Kayaking\"><\/span><b>What Is Kayaking?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At first glance, you could mistake kayaking for canoeing. However, the two are quite different exercises. The main difference between the two lies in the <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/agility-exercises-at-home\/\">technique<\/a>. Unlike a canoe, the riders in a kayak are always strapped into their seats\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to its small size, most experts suggest steering using a double-sided paddle. That means, when kayaking you hold onto the paddle using both hands, dip it into the water on alternating sides to propel it along (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_A_Beginner_Do_Kayaking\"><\/span><b>Can A Beginner Do Kayaking?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, they can. Like cycling, kayaking is a relatively simple activity to learn. All you need is to pick up the correct technique and postural requirements. However, it is worth noting that there are different types of kayaking, such as flatwater kayaking, sea, and whitewater kayaking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, note that there are different ground kayak paddling exercise techniques. These stem from the differences in hand positioning and paddling form. If you are interested in picking up this activity, be sure to inquire about the correct technique for each type. Here is a look at some of the different techniques in this exercise:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kayaking_While_Holding_A_Combined_Paddle_With_Both_Hands\"><\/span><b>Kayaking While Holding A Combined Paddle With Both Hands<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this form, you are required to do the following (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spread both arms out with the elbows flexed at a 90-degree angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paddle on only the right, then on the left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reach forward.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a lateral flexion of your trunk while holding the paddle horizontally.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kayaking_While_Holding_A_Divided_Paddle_With_Both_Hands\"><\/span><b>Kayaking While Holding A Divided Paddle With Both Hands<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When kayaking using this technique, you must (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raise both hands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rotate the trunk while vertically holding the paddle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a lateral flexion of your chest while holding the paddle vertically.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paddle on the left, then on the right.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/anaerobic-exercise-vs-aerobic-exercise\/\">Anaerobic Exercise Vs Aerobic Exercise: What\u2019s The Difference?<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43761 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207531-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is kayaking good exercise\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207531.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207531-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207531.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207531.png 1441w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Kayaking_A_Good_Exercise\"><\/span><b>Is Kayaking A Good Exercise?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking is an excellent outdoor activity that you can perform for leisure or reap several health benefits. Let us look at some scientifically proven benefits of kayaking to elaborate on that. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_Strength\"><\/span><b>Increased Strength<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to build strength through outdoor activity, consider kayaking. It targets your legs, arms, shoulders, and many more muscle groups. So, it is a practical activity to help you build strength in the following areas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Upper_Body\"><\/span><b>Upper Body<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking uses the majority of your upper body muscles. The constant rotation of the paddle works your forearms, with the steady rowing motion targets and strengthens the deltoids, trapezius, and upper back (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, the paddling activity works your upper and forearms. The pull and push works your biceps when you have one paddle in the water. Additionally, the counter-movement of the thrusting works the triceps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your paddle&#8217;s raising and dipping motion and the water resistance make your muscles work further, particularly those in your arms, chest, shoulders, and back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lower_Body\"><\/span><b>Lower Body<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it may not seem like it, kayaking also works your lower body muscles, particularly the legs. However, most people do not know that your legs are actively engaged during a kayaking activity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, while paddling, you will realize that you have to turn, roll, and brace your legs to stabilize the rest of your body. Additionally, to maintain a good kayak stroke, you have to lodge your legs firmly on the foot braces. This means you are actively working your leg muscles and improving their overall strength (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BetterMe app will kick you out of the mental funk, shake off your extra weight, rid you off your energy-zapping habits, and help you sculpt the body of your dreams. Intrigued? Hurry up and <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\">change your life for the better<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43760 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207530-1024x577.png\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"770\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207530.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207530-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207530.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207530.png 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_You_Get_Ripped_From_Kayaking\"><\/span><b>Can You Get Ripped From Kayaking?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people expect to build strength and get ripped at the same time. That said, it is not surprising to find individuals questioning if kayaking can also help them get ripped. Unfortunately, it cannot, especially at a recreational level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, kayaking and rowing activities primarily help build endurance since you perform these activities for long periods. Although they do not help you get ripped, these activities are great for building your aerobic fitness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_Postural_Balance\"><\/span><b>Better Postural Balance<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking is an activity that requires you to maintain good posture and balance. For example, you are not allowed to paddle while leaning back because it will make the boat unstable and perhaps flip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, you have to assume the correct sitting posture. It entails sitting with your back supported by the kayak seat. Position the balls of your feet on the foot pegs and heels angled toward the kayak&#8217;s center. Bend your knees upward and outward so that your legs apply pressure to the thigh braces. That is the correct sitting posture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ability to continuously maintain postural balance while kayaking helps you effectively maintain a good posture. Research suggests that due to its benefits in increasing muscle strength and postural balance, this activity is appropriate for physically able and disabled individuals (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_Endurance\"><\/span><b>Increased Endurance<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced endurance and strength are other <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/balance-board-benefits\/\">positive effects<\/a> of kayak training (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It builds your endurance since you are paddling for hours. With time, you will discover that you can kayak for an extended duration without getting tired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides endurance, kayaking also improves your cardio fitness. You work extra hard while kayaking in rougher water, especially on rapids or the sea. The more you work, the more you burn calories and strengthen your heart and lung system. As a result, this improves your <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wood-chop-exercise-benefits\/\">cardio<\/a> performance and kayak fitness (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2008\/jun\/21\/healthandwellbeing.fitness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Focus\"><\/span><b>Improved Focus<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking is an <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/water-exercises-for-seniors\/\">excellent exercise<\/a> to help improve your focus. It is required while you paddle through the water to help maintain the rhythm of your strides. Additionally, your focus is necessary to help maintain proper coordination of your leg action and rowing motion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, when kayaking, you need to focus on the correct breathing technique to channel the right energy into your rowing action. If not, you lose coordination of all movements and risk being carried by the water or tides.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such focus helps you in your daily <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/chest-stretches\/\">activities<\/a> by getting rid of distractions. Additionally, it enables you to fuel your energy into essential activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/farmers-walk-benefits\/\">Farmer\u2019s Walk Benefits: Burn Fat And Tone Your Body With This Exercise<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43759 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207529-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is kayaking good exercise\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207529.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207529-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207529.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207529.png 1441w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_Core_Stability\"><\/span><b>Increased Core Stability<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking is an excellent way of building core stability. You significantly use your trunk muscles to stabilize your kayak during the activity, especially in rougher water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2008\/jun\/21\/healthandwellbeing.fitness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).As a result you generate more power and speed with each stroke, which builds strength, power, and <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/dumbbell-hamstring-exercises\/\">core stability<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Core stability is paramount because it prevents and minimizes injury risk while doing several exercises for kayaking. Additionally, it protects your spine from bearing excessive load, resulting in back pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helps_You_Burn_Calories\"><\/span><b>Helps You Burn Calories<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking is an <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/powerlifting-for-seniors\/\">excellent aerobic activity<\/a> to help you shed a few pounds and maintain a <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cable-machine-exercises\/\">healthy weight<\/a>. An average individual burns 375 to 475 calories per hour when kayaking. However, it is worth noting that the number of calories burned kayaking depends on your weight, the difficulty of the terrain, distance and speed you kayak (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/captaincalculator.com\/health\/calorie\/calories-burned-kayaking-calculator\/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20burns%20375,hour%20kayaking%20with%20moderate%20effort.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, an individual weighing 200 lbs (90.8kg) and kayaking with moderate effort for an hour burns 477 calories (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/captaincalculator.com\/health\/calorie\/calories-burned-kayaking-calculator\/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20burns%20375,hour%20kayaking%20with%20moderate%20effort.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0An individual weighing 150 pounds and kayaking at the same moderate effort burns 358 calories per hour (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/captaincalculator.com\/health\/calorie\/calories-burned-kayaking-calculator\/#:~:text=The%20average%20person%20burns%20375,hour%20kayaking%20with%20moderate%20effort.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kayak weight you shed will be influenced by these and other factors such as your body shape. Generally, a kayaking body transformation does not happen overnight. Remember that healthy weight loss is steady and not rapid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43757 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207527-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is kayaking good exercise\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207527.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207527-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207527.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207527.png 1441w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_Relaxation\"><\/span><b>Increased Relaxation<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kayaking helps you relax because you are out in the waters, which has soothing effects. Again, because you are outdoors, Mother Nature helps boost your mood because it reduces your anxiety and stress levels. By paddling through the calm and serene waters, you can easily get lost in the moment and momentarily forget all the troubles that make you anxious.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gets_You_Outside\"><\/span><b>Gets You Outside<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being outside has been tied to several physical and mental benefits, some of which include (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/ss\/slideshow-health-benefits-nature#:~:text=It%20Helps%20You%20Get%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=It's%20important%20for%20your%20bones,you%20don't%20need%20much.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increasing Social Interactions.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Besides enjoying Mother Nature, being outside allows you to interact and connect with other people. Such social connections may help ease your tension and lower anxiety, stress, or depression.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Getting Enough Vitamin D.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Your body makes vitamin D from direct sunlight when you are outdoors. It is essential for it helps your body absorb minerals like phosphorus and calcium. Additionally, it is vital for your blood cells, bones, and immune system (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/ss\/slideshow-health-benefits-nature#:~:text=It%20Helps%20You%20Get%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=It's%20important%20for%20your%20bones,you%20don't%20need%20much.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>It Makes You Feel Good About Yourself.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Being outside for as little as 5 minutes helps improve your emotional well-being and self-esteem. That is particularly true when you are near or in the water performing water-related exercises such as kayaking (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/ss\/slideshow-health-benefits-nature#:~:text=It%20Helps%20You%20Get%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=It's%20important%20for%20your%20bones,you%20don't%20need%20much.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improves Your Sleep Quality.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Being outside resets your sleep cycle by making sure your internal body clock works right. As a result, you ward off any problems with sleep (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/ss\/slideshow-health-benefits-nature#:~:text=It%20Helps%20You%20Get%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=It's%20important%20for%20your%20bones,you%20don't%20need%20much.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Boosts Your Immunity.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Being outside improves your immunity in several ways. First and foremost, it helps with vitamin D production, which is vital for an excellent immune system. Secondly, it enables you to absorb organic compounds like phytoncides that boost immune functioning. They are released into the air by plants (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/ss\/slideshow-health-benefits-nature#:~:text=It%20Helps%20You%20Get%20Vitamin%20D&amp;text=It's%20important%20for%20your%20bones,you%20don't%20need%20much.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Lean and toned up body isn\u2019t just a far-fetched fantasy. Check out the BetterMe app and watch it <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\">propel your weight loss journey<\/a> into high gear!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43758 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is kayaking good exercise\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207528.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Kayaking_Safe\"><\/span><b>Is Kayaking Safe?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although kayaking is listed as a good exercise, your kayak may flip. In such a case, a paddler faces the risk of suffering a fracture or concussion (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3547536\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Similarly, paddlers also face the dangers of hostile, cold waters which can cause drowning, cardiac arrest, hypothermia, and ventricular fibrillation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3547536\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, repeated immersion from slipping kayaks increases your risk of paronychia infections, blistering, otitis, softening of the skin, and sinusitis (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3547536\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). You can minimize the chances of your kayak flipping or reporting these medical conditions using these safety tips (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/paddling.com\/learn\/top-5-kayak-safety-rules\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Paddling when sober.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Alcohol and kayaking do not mix. Do not drink and then kayak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wearing a life jacket.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Although some people find it uncomfortable to kayak with a life jacket on, it is best if you keep it on. It might save you from drowning if your kayak was to flip. It would be best to find a fitting, comfortable, and unrestricting life jacket so that you paddle comfortably.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dress for immersion.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Yes, you heard it right. Experts suggest dressing for the water conditions to avoid hypothermia in the cold water if your kayak flips (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/paddling.com\/learn\/top-5-kayak-safety-rules\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It would be best to consult a professional on the best gear to wear if you are to kayak in cold or cooler water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Paddle in your skill level.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is essential to stick to calm bays if you are a beginner. So, avoid an environment with rough tides and unnoticeable currents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Practice.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice always makes perfect. So, before you go kayaking solo, make sure you practice first with an expert.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is kayaking good exercise? Indeed it is, based on its long list of health benefits. It helps burn calories and increase cardio fitness, endurance, strength, core stability, focus, relaxation, and postural balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, it gets you outside, which helps you get enough vitamin D, relax, and get better sleep. However, kayaking poses a risk of flipping and experiencing hypothermia, concussion, fractures, drowning, or cardiac arrest. So, it would be best to work with a trainer and implement the suggested safety tips to minimize or prevent these effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Kayaking_Good_Exercise\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you live near bodies of water like lakes, you may be interested in participating in water-related activities like kayaking, rowing, and canoeing. Kayaking has become one of the top preferred outdoor activities as more and more people try it out. That said, the majority are still holding back, with more questions than answers about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":43598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114],"class_list":["post-43597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-betterme-fitness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605 IS KAYAKING GOOD EXERCISE? \u27a4 Find out in this read as we explore the physical and mental benefits, risks, downsides, and safety tips of kayaking.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2605 IS KAYAKING GOOD EXERCISE? \u27a4 Find out in this read as we explore the physical and mental benefits, risks, downsides, and safety tips of kayaking.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_492011542.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"665\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"R. Mogeni\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"R. Mogeni\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"R. Mogeni\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f34f31e15f42d03282ccb834ad7055dc\"},\"headline\":\"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\"},\"wordCount\":2037,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_492011542.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Fitness\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">If you live near bodies of water like lakes, you may be interested in participating in water-related activities like kayaking, rowing, and canoeing. Kayaking has become one of the top preferred outdoor activities as more and more people try it out. That said, the majority are still holding back, with more questions than answers about this activity. Is kayaking good exercise? This is the most asked question about this activity. Let us analyze its benefits and risks to better understand where kayaking lies in the exercise spectrum.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>What Is Kayaking?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">At first glance, you could mistake kayaking for canoeing. However, the two are quite different exercises. The main difference between the two lies in the <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/agility-exercises-at-home\/\\\">technique<\/a>. Unlike a canoe, the riders in a kayak are always strapped into their seats\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Due to its small size, most experts suggest steering using a double-sided paddle. That means, when kayaking you hold onto the paddle using both hands, dip it into the water on alternating sides to propel it along (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>Can A Beginner Do Kayaking?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Yes, they can. Like cycling, kayaking is a relatively simple activity to learn. All you need is to pick up the correct technique and postural requirements. However, it is worth noting that there are different types of kayaking, such as flatwater kayaking, sea, and whitewater kayaking.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Additionally, note that there are different ground kayak paddling exercise techniques. These stem from the differences in hand positioning and paddling form. If yo ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/\",\"name\":\"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? 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She believes adopting such a lifestyle is easy, as long as you are consistent, hopeful, and disciplined.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/rodahmogeni\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking - BetterMe","description":"\u2605 IS KAYAKING GOOD EXERCISE? \u27a4 Find out in this read as we explore the physical and mental benefits, risks, downsides, and safety tips of kayaking.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking","og_description":"\u2605 IS KAYAKING GOOD EXERCISE? \u27a4 Find out in this read as we explore the physical and mental benefits, risks, downsides, and safety tips of kayaking.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":665,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_492011542.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"R. Mogeni","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"R. Mogeni","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/"},"author":{"name":"R. Mogeni","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f34f31e15f42d03282ccb834ad7055dc"},"headline":"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? A Guide To The Surprising Benefits, Real Dangers And Safety Tips For Kayaking","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/"},"wordCount":2037,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shutterstock_492011542.jpg","articleSection":["Fitness"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you live near bodies of water like lakes, you may be interested in participating in water-related activities like kayaking, rowing, and canoeing. Kayaking has become one of the top preferred outdoor activities as more and more people try it out. That said, the majority are still holding back, with more questions than answers about this activity. Is kayaking good exercise? This is the most asked question about this activity. Let us analyze its benefits and risks to better understand where kayaking lies in the exercise spectrum.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Is Kayaking?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At first glance, you could mistake kayaking for canoeing. However, the two are quite different exercises. The main difference between the two lies in the <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/agility-exercises-at-home\/\">technique<\/a>. Unlike a canoe, the riders in a kayak are always strapped into their seats\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to its small size, most experts suggest steering using a double-sided paddle. That means, when kayaking you hold onto the paddle using both hands, dip it into the water on alternating sides to propel it along (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6026380\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Can A Beginner Do Kayaking?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, they can. Like cycling, kayaking is a relatively simple activity to learn. All you need is to pick up the correct technique and postural requirements. However, it is worth noting that there are different types of kayaking, such as flatwater kayaking, sea, and whitewater kayaking.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, note that there are different ground kayak paddling exercise techniques. These stem from the differences in hand positioning and paddling form. If yo ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-kayaking-good-exercise\/","name":"Is Kayaking Good Exercise? 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