I’m a large fan of Stand Up Paddling. It is my preferred form of physical exercise and play. You can locate me out on the water several days a week all year ’round. Lucky me! There are a lot of good factors why this well-known sport is my favorite and is often rising in reputation:

1) Very first and foremost Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is fun and easy. I think that practically any in a position-bodied individual at any age can participate in this sport. I lately took my 73-year-old mom out. She did wonderful and had a blast. Did she get a little wet the 1st time out? Nicely yes, BUT she had fun, got some excellent exercise and only fell in once…

2) SUP is excellent workout. What tends to make it great? It entails most major muscle groups in your physique and a lot of minor ones. You can paddle harder for a excellent cardio workout or you can take it effortless and it will nevertheless be a nice muscular workout. Either way, the exercise is resistance-based and very low impact.

three) Stand up paddling works your core as nicely as your arms, legs and back. As mentioned previously it is a resistance-based form of movement. As you paddle, your core and your legs resist the movement of your board to maintain you from toppling over. Gentle, however successful.

4) SUP improves your balance. If you currently have fantastic balance this sport will be that a lot simpler for you. If you do not have great balance, you can nevertheless do this sport and with time your balance will enhance. Most stand up paddle boards are big and stable. My board is 12 feet long and 31 inches wide. No problem! The act of standing on the board, paddling and having your body use a lot of tiny and significant muscular movements to maintain you centered and upright via flat water, as properly as small waves and large ones, will help boost your balance more than time.

five) Paddling can be meditative. Gliding along on tranquil water can take you into a meditative space where you are entirely in the moment. Or it can be a quiet time for reflective thought.

6) Or it can be social! Paddling with a group of close friends (or strangers) is a enjoyable social activity. It is simple to paddle and chat.

7) Take pleasure in nature. Final but not least on my list is some thing that drew me out on to the water the most and a significant part of what keeps me there. There are so a lot of possibilities to get pleasure from nature from your stand up paddle board. Regardless of whether you are on a lake, river, ocean or bay, nature abounds. From the lovely natural scenery around you to the variety of aquatic birds and animals you see.

On the water there is often a huge range of aquatic birds. From the osprey (sea hawk) or the eagle to the frequent seagull. I adore to watch flocks of pelicans glide and dive and watch the migratory birds that pass by means of our location in the winter. Of these, my favorite are the puffins who overwinter in my location from Canada and Alaska.

Many creatures are also swimming below my board. There are constantly schools of fish, but I also frequently encounter rays, sea lions, seals and dolphins. Just last week I paddled with a pod of dolphins for at least 15 minutes who were perfectly accepting of my presence. They traveled subsequent to me and upside down under my board, seeking up at me. It was wonderful!

The height you have searching down from a stand up paddle board (as opposed to a kayak, canoe or prone paddle board for instance) permits considerably greater viewing of the creatures in and on the water.

There are numerous much more reasons to stand up paddle but let this small list entice you to start to come across your own causes. Enjoy!