After months of being cooped up at home, what is more tempting than basking under the summer sun, and frolicking on the beach with your friends and family? The answer is definitely nothing! However, given the peculiarity of 2020 so far, why don’t you take it up a notch and dedicate this summer to trying out new and exhilarating watersports? Even if you usually prefer the sedentary beach time, this summer, your body is probably aching for movement, so why not give kayaking a try?
Or, maybe you consider yourself an avid paddler, either way, you could surely use some of the below kayaking tips and advice to help you ease back into the game after what has seemed like an eternal hiatus.
Choose the Right Kayak
Whether you are a beginner or are familiar with kayaking but still do not have your own equipment, this is the time to make it happen. Kayaking is a great sport that you can enjoy with your family throughout the long summer months, so it will be absolutely worth it to buy a great kayak that will last for years. There are many factors to consider before investing in a kayak; if you are new to this realm, you can visit this site to learn about the right ones to suit your needs. As you will learn, you have to start with establishing the purpose of your kayak; are you buying one for leisure, or are you more interested in mastering the sport of kayaking?
Next, you have to think about the water bodies where you will go kayaking – small and calm rivers usually do not need special kayaks with unique features. However, if you are planning on taking your kayak out in the ocean, then you will need to consider the touring kayak, which is narrow and long, to allow for easy maneuvers through rough waters.
Focus on Reaping the Benefits of Kayaking
Kayaking has a myriad of benefits that go beyond being a fun recreational activity. It has been proven that kayaking can be an amazing way to burn off some serious calories to help you shed any extra weight. Paddling tones your arms, back, and core muscles and will increase your fitness if you commit to kayaking a few times a week for at least one hour. For better results, make sure you are following a healthy and nutritious diet that will support your weight loss journey and give you quick results.
Another equally important benefit of kayaking is that you can depend on it to maintain your mental health. Spending some peaceful moments surrounded by nature can be all that you need to arrange your thoughts and to recharge mentally for your demanding lifestyle. Your stress hormones will be in check, making way for the feel-good hormones in your body, like serotonin and dopamine, to take over and give you the rush that you need to alleviate your mood. When you go kayaking, make it a point to leave your worries behind, and try to get into a meditative state to prepare your mind and body to reap the rewards of this fantastic activity.
Make Sure you Follow the Safety Measures
Like any sport, kayaking can be dangerous if you choose to disregard the recommended safety measures. Create a safety checklist that you can use before going kayaking to make sure that you are on the right track. For starters, always check the weather conditions before you decide to go kayaking. Do not depend on your personal judgment if the sun seems to be shining bright in the sky that day because in a matter of seconds, the weather can change and a storm could arrive. Check the weather channel, and listen to the reports intended specifically for water sports so that you can have an enjoyable time, instead of facing a tragic accident.
If you have been drinking the night before a planned group kayaking with your friends, use common sense and skip it because the stakes are too high to take the risk. Although kayaking might seem like a simple activity, you need to be sober enough to act fast should anything go wrong. If you are not going to be sensible for yourself, at least do it for your kayaking partner who you might be endangering with your reckless behavior.
If you are going to try just one new activity this summer, make it kayaking. However, as you have read, there are a few considerations to take, so keep these tips in mind to make the most of your time out on the water. It will give you the chance to have fun responsibly and to focus on spending a great time with your loved ones, and create new, precious memories.
