Me on the paddle board in Maine!
Looking for a new kind of workout this summer? Try stand up paddle boarding. I discovered this workout a few summers ago in Maine when I nice gentleman offered his paddle board to our family while we were staying on Lovejoy Pond. I was amazed at how easy it was to get up. Staying up those first few minutes wasn’t as easy. However, after about 10 minutes I got the hang of it and ventured out onto the lake for my first paddle board workout.
It is more of a core workout than I first imagined. Staying balanced on the board requires core muscles and legs muscles. Of course the arm muscles are working, and switching paddling sides allows for both arms to get a workout. Concentration is involved as well, especially as you get used to the feeling of the board across the water. As I became accustom to the feel of the workout, I could look around at the beautiful Main scenery and really enjoy the “workout”. On that first paddle board run I made my way back to the dock where my family was enjoying the waterfront when a boat cruised by causing choppy waters to emerge…and causing me to land in the water!
There are a lot of other things that you can do on a paddle board while it is in the water. Some people do yoga. For a complete set of paddle board exercises click here. The cost of this type of workout varies depending on where you are. Some parks near water will rent paddle boards for $15.00-$40.00 an hour. Or often you can rent them for full or half-day prices.
Some other different summer workouts…
Water Running! You can strap on an aqua jogger or use just your own body in deep pool water. Jump into the deep end and run from one end of the deep end to the other for a total of 30 minutes. The water is a cool place to be on a summer day and you can even watch the kids while you swim if they are swim safe.
Trail Running! The trails are usually mostly in the woods and away from direct sunlight which makes running a lot cooler. If you hit the trails in the early morning you might even find it “cool” (depending on where you live). Be careful if you are not used to running on trails as they are root-filled and the terrain can be challenging. Your pace will also likely be slower.
What is your favorite summertime workout?
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