Next time you hit the beach, try a new aquatic activity, like stand up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, swimming, or surfing. Water activities are great forms of exercise. Even when you can’t make it to the beach, you can work out at the local pool. Water activities keep you cool while engaging your whole body.
Take surfing. You use shoulders, arms, and chest when paddling in the ocean. Once you stand up on the board, your core, glutes, quads, and hamstrings keep you stable.
Aquatic workouts are a great way to stay active in the summer. The exercises are low-impact and can help you strengthen your muscles through the resistance of the water. The resistance is higher, making it harder to move through, which helps strengthen your muscles. Because water exercises have a lower impact, they take the pressure off bones, joints, and muscles. Aquatic activities also have mental benefits.
Here are a few of the mental and physical benefits of water activities:
- Keep joints moving. This increases mobility; flexible joints are a priority for people with arthritis
- Increase endurance and strength of muscles
- Reduce stress by releasing “feel good” chemicals (endorphins)
- Improve mood and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression
Being outside can increase your mood, so the next time you want to exercise, try an outdoor aquatic activity. It can be in a river, a bay, or a beach. If you do, prepare properly by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing and staying hydrated.
Email us at:
For more health and wellness tips follow us on: