Paddleboarding, especially standup paddleboarding (SUP) is a fun activity to do especially if you love the outdoors and the water. Most people, who have never taken up any water sport activity before, tend to choose paddleboarding. It’s not a big wonder to see why: it is relatively easy to do compared to other water sports. It’s also an ideal activity for the whole family and friends.

But do you know that paddleboarding brings significant benefits to your health and well-being? If you’re a health freak in particular – or even if you’re not – you may want to take up paddleboarding. Besides, it is a fun and rather adventurous way to keep yourself in shape.

1) It helps promote good balance

The more frequently you do paddleboarding, the better your balance will become, whether you’re on or off the water. Standup paddleboarding in particular is all about balance, and when you’re on the paddleboard you’ll be thrown off into a challenge which requires a lot of core stability. Other than surfing or yoga, no other sport will help you to develop your sense of balance than paddleboarding. Improvements on focus and balance as a result from paddleboarding are certainly beneficial to you in a big way as they help you in handling life’s day-to-day activities and challenges.

2) It provides a good full body workout

Standup paddleboarding allows you to use all of your limbs, as well as your every muscle. Because this sport requires you to keep your balance while standing on the board, you get to use your leg muscles working. Your arms, back and shoulders are used to steer and propel your paddleboard on the water. Standup paddleboarding will also act as a mini-crunch to your abdominal muscles, making and keeping them toned.

3) It helps in reducing stress

Any form of fun physical activity does wonders to reduce stress. And stress, as we all know, causes a lot of health problems including chronic and life-threatening ones such as obesity and heart diseases. And standup paddleboarding on the calm waters (while getting close to nature) does give a healing and therapeutic effect not only to your body, but also to your mind.

4) It gives you plenty of Vitamin D

If you haven’t been out on the sun for a while, you might be lacking in vitamin D. Deficiency in vitamin D can cause several negative health effects including bone and muscle pain, hair loss, fatigue and tiredness, and depression. Standup paddleboarding under the sun (best done during the morning, though) will give you a daily dose of vitamin D, something which you cannot get from eating foods alone.

5) It improves your heart health

Standup paddleboarding can help reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke. It is a low-impact exercise which does wonders to your heart. Paddleboarding for at least 15 minutes per day will help in improving your cardiovascular system.

6) It increases your overall strength

Any physical activity makes you stronger, right? While you will feel soreness in your body after paddleboarding – which is but natural – soreness is actually a good indication. Standup paddleboarding allows you to use every part of your body – not just the arms and the legs – providing them strength.

If you are looking for new things, why not try paddleboarding? It is not only fun, but it also boosts your health and improves your well-being.

You may also try bodyboarding, which is similar to standup paddleboarding ina way. When you’re ready to do bodyboarding, look for “Tips for Bodyboarding at the Beach.”