The stress of the next meeting is getting into you, or maybe the next deadline, there is a constant weight on your shoulders and your head feels heavy and nothing you do eases this; you need a break!
Now, this is what happens every year to a majority of the adult population, however, this year it’s been different. You have been stuck home, unable to meet your friends and get important things done. Corona Virus has ensured that stress has sky rocketed and reached new levels. But, chill, we’ve got this!
If SUP is part of your regular daily routine, then you’re one step ahead of most people. If it’s not, or if you’re looking to focus on your mental fitness a little more than usual, then read on. For here are ingenious ways in which paddle boarding can get that devil called stress off your shoulders:
- Paddle boarding is good for your brain: Paddle boarding requires mental focus. You need to pay attention to your body, your board, your paddle, the water, the landscape and fellow paddlers.
If you’re practicing new maneuvers, trying out a new board or getting your blood pumping with a high-octane workout, paddle boarding is the best way to get your mind in line.
Sure, you can paddle along and get lost in thought but chances are you won’t be stressing over traffic while riding a wave or challenging yourself to an all-time best time against the clock. So, hop on your stand up paddle board to shift your focus and get things right in your head.
- Paddle Boarding is good for the body: It’s great for the body, go hard, and you could burn over 1,000 calories in a single stand up paddle session. SUP requires full body attention, from your eyes, head, neck and shoulders, to your arms, core, legs and booty. Even sitting on a paddle board and paddling along with a gentle following current is a great workout. If stress is getting to you, put a little extra thought into working your entire body during your next SUP workout. Think about your posture, balance, technique and even a few challenges to go a little harder than usual.
Tip: if you’ve been thinking about learning a new SUP skill, there’s no better time to tackle the challenge than when you’re suffering from maximum stress. So go ahead and ride those rapids. You need a new focus!
- Paddle Boarding is good for your Zen: The concentration SUP requires is healthy for mind and body even under calm conditions. Commune with nature all by your lonesome or bond with your SUP buddies during an epic group outing. It’s all good for your soul. But if you want to get serious about getting more Zen in your life (and less stress) than SUP yoga needs to make your list of what to try next.
If you haven’t tried even a basic yoga pose on your Lucid Paddle Board, challenge yourself to try one on your next outing. For starters, we recommend the good ol’ warrior pose. You can practice on stable ground first. It will also help you master the pose when you’re actually balancing on the water. Once you’ve nailed the warrior pose, kick things up a notch with the full wheel pose.
