Photo by iStock/Stephen Wood
No one needs to tell you that exercising keeps you healthy and fit.
But maybe you’re tired of your walking route, you can’t keep up with the kids on the basketball court, or you’re uncomfortable at the gym.
Why not consider kayaking? Lauren Ridley, owner of Blue Moon Outdoor Adventures in Fort Lauderdale, says kayaking bookings by locals have surged during the pandemic. “People are looking for an outdoor activity that’s safe and fun,” she says.
A low-impact sport, kayaking allows people of all ages and abilities to work at their own pace for increased strength and endurance. Even better: you can decide how fast — and how far — to paddle. This full-body sport will activate your core, legs and shoulders for a full-body workout, says Ridley. “If you suffer from joint pain, difficulty walking or arthritis, this sport doesn’t impact those conditions,” she says.
The experience is sure to get you in shape, but also does much more for your body than just build muscle. Kayak a few hours a week and you’ll likely notice that you’re less stressed thanks to the calming power of fresh air. Plus, overcoming challenges like paddling a lengthy distance can raise your confidence and self-esteem.
Kayaks come in several shapes and sizes — and you can launch into a river, lake, ocean or other body of water, then glide through the water using a double-bladed paddle.
Seats — which can be high or low-back — can be repositioned so they are comfortable for people of any size or weight. It’s a good, safe sport for almost anyone.
“If you can get out of a pool, you can get back onto a kayak,” Ridley says. “They’re not meant to go fast. It would be very unlikely they would flip over.”
Still, kayakers of all levels should always wear a life jacket.
“It can be done alone or with a group of friends,” Ridley says. “It caters to the nature person or the party person.”
Ridley holds a lifelong love affair with kayaking, turning her passion into a career. “I like that I can do it by myself or with my friends,” she says. “I can do it all over the world. I like sharing my knowledge and taking people out on the water.”