Water Sports to try for Fitness Goals

Having fun in the river, pool, lake, or ocean is an exciting activity for both kids and adults.

15:02 23 March 2021

Moreover, there are many new ways on how you can fit in your workout in water sports.

 

Nowadays, water sports and staying fit go hand in hand. And for a good reason, these sports provide a fun way to lose weight and develop fitness, coordination, and strength.

 

Happily, there are many water sports to try for your fitness goals. Even if you are a beginner, most of the activities are not difficult. 

 

From river rafting and swimming to paddle boarding, here are five water sports for fitness goals.

 

5 Water sports for fitness goals

 

1. Paddle Boarding

 

Paddleboarding is a great water sport for both men, women, and beginners alike. All you need is to stand on a board, and then use a paddle to push yourself across.

 

Unlike other water sports like surfing, paddleboarding can be done even without waves. This means you can enjoy it on a river, at the beach, or lake.

 

Paddleboarding is an activity where you use more core strength than your upper body strength. It ensures you stabilize yourself on the longboard. The muscles that are involved are arms, core, shoulders, back, and hip flexors.

 

The main health benefits of paddleboarding include reducing stress levels, weight loss, exercises the whole body, and boosting cardiovascular health.

 

The gear you need for this sport are paddles, paddleboard, rash guard, waterproof sunscreen, and life preserver. 

 

2. Swimming

 

The most common water sport is swimming. It is an activity where you move through the water using your arms and legs. It is a sport that can be done by young kids and adults.

 

If you are looking for a simple water sport to try for fitness goals, you need to consider swimming. It is an activity where you move the entire body against resisting water.

 

Swimming is a great workout for all as it keeps the heart rate up and helps the body build muscles, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.

 

Besides, it is a remarkable water sport full of fun and an amazing way to get in shape. All you need is a bathing suit, swim cap, swim goggles, and waterproof sunscreen.

 

3. Kayaking

 

Kayaking is a group water sport that can be great and fun if done well. It is a known sport and a good one to help you stay fit and healthy. You can pair it with other activities such as fishing and camping.

 

Oceans, lakes, rivers, and surfing zones are some of the popular areas for kayaking. It is a sport that can be enjoyed by both beginners and experts.

 

This sport helps you enhance your aerobic fitness, flexibility, and strength. You can do it as a hobby, a fun activity, or a competitive sport.

 

Health benefits of kayaking include weight loss, reducing stress, boosting mental strength, building self-image, and core strengthening.

 

The muscles worked are the shoulders, core, back, neck, and arms. The gears needed are a kayak, helmet, paddles, and life preserver to perform the sport.

 

4. Snorkeling

 

Snorkeling is a unique and fun water sport. It involves swimming along the water surface as you enjoy the underwater world. However, you need a snorkel, a mask, and swim fins.

 

It is a cardiovascular and muscle-strengthening exercise. If you are suffering from joint pains, this is a great sport to consider. 

 

Other benefits of snorkeling are boosting heart rate, strengthening muscles, mental health, and others.

It is a compound exercise since you will dive, swim, and hold your breath. The main muscles involved are the shoulders, core, calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, and hip flexors.

 

5. Kite surfing

 

Another water sport that is gaining popularity around the world is kite surfing. Normally, a person stands on a small board, and then he or she is attached to a kite that looks like a mini parachute.

 

Once the kite catches the wind, you will go shooting across the water. It is a sport that can be done with or without waves.

 

It is a perfect sport for toning your figure, balancing your weight, gaining physical strength, keeping your heart healthy, and boosting concentration and coordination.

 

Kite surfing is a sport that can be done by any person. You do not have to be an athletic person to be involved in kite surfing. 

 

It is more of a muscular activity than an aerobic workout. The muscles involved are the lower back, core muscles, and arms.

 

Bottom-line

 

These are some of the best water sports you can try to stay fit. But it is crucial to be well-prepared before you start any outdoor water sport.

 

Whether it is swimming, paddleboarding, or snorkeling, get ready by having all the gears. In addition, research more about the gears to ensure you get the top from the best. Also, drink a lot of water to avoid being hydrated.