Top Health Benefits of Stand Up Paddleboarding

Benefits of Stand Up Paddleboarding

While Stand Up Paddleboarding is one of our favorite ways to explore and enjoy the waterways of the Lowcountry, did you know that it also comes with a huge list of health benefits too?
Welcome back to the blog friends, nature lovers, and great adventurers of all ages! What great adventures have you been on since our last blog post? Have you been enjoying walks on the beaches, dives into the deep, discovering new creatures in the marshes, or shrimping as the sun comes up along the creek? Or are you still new to the world of adventuring here in Charleston? No matter what your adventure map has looked like so far, we are here to expand it and make it that much more magical.
Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to walk on water? Then we have one of the best new adventures to add to your life; paddleboarding! We have two tours that we offer to our patrons. In both, you will experience the water and some of the most beautiful, historic, and lush parts of Charleston in a whole new way. Once you get your sea legs under you and you’re gliding along the water like a pro, your guild will share stories about the local history and lore, all while explaining the intricacies of the habitats and wildlife around you. You are very likely to see all kinds of wild and plant life around you including dolphins, manatees (in the summer) egrets, herons, fish, and more! You might even see sea turtles, rays, marsh wrens, and oysters thanks to the vantage point you will have on your paddleboard. Another wonderful thing about our tours? No experience is needed! We will teach you everything you need to know to have a blast on your paddleboard tour!
One thing that stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is wonderful for is an incredible workout. While you’ll get to explore and experience Charleston in brand new and unique ways while you take a SUP tour and adventure, you will also be giving yourself your workout of the day. Worried about reaching your steps? You won’t need to after your next SUP tour! We wanted to dedicate this blog to some of the top health benefits that SUP can give you! While many use this incredible activity to explore their surroundings, others are ready to become the next SUP pro. No matter where you might be, your body will appreciate every moment you spend on the paddleboard!
POSTURE
If you’ve not been on a paddleboard before, but have seen someone gliding across the water on their SUP, you might be surprised that it takes a little more effort than it looks like it would. It takes concentration, coordination of multiple muscles in both the upper and lower part of your body, and you have to do all of this while standing up and moving on the water! Thanks to each of these skills that you’ll need to use to be successful while you’re riding on your SUP, it will be an incredible way to build up your strength, help strengthen your coordination, and it can also help correct your posture! This year we have all been spending more time on our phones, hunched over at our desks at home, and staying stationary for long periods of time. Even during a normal year, most of us spend our workday very stationary at our desks thanks to our jobs. The simple action can lead to bad posture, back pain, and even more serious problems. To simply stand on your SUP, you have to have excellent posture just to maintain your balance and not fall off. You will also have to engage your posterior muscles to maintain this good posture and to successfully paddle. This will strengthen these muscles and help alleviate the everyday strain we put on our backs. This will promote excellent posture and help you strengthen and maintain it!
LOW IMPACT & WEIGHT LOSS
It is so easy to hurt your body and put it through some serious strain when you’re not careful during your workout. One of the best ways to avoid damage while working out and to maintain a workout plan is to find your favorite low-impact form of exercise. Guess what? SUP is an example of a low-impact workout! Not only will it not do any serious damage to your body, but it can also help with those individuals suffering from shin splints, knee pain, hip pain, and more. It can even help you recover and strengthen your body if have you’ve experienced any injuries and it won’t hurt your body while doing so. Of course, when you find the perfect workout for you, one of its most exciting benefits is that it can help you lose weight. SUP is a very fun exercise to do frequently and it can help you lose more weight faster than fad diets and trends will.
STRESS
If there is something we have all experienced this year, it’s stress. Finding a way to relieve that stress is so necessary to help you keep healthy and sane. According to our research, the feeling after a SUP session is similar to the joy and happiness that runners experiences in their “runners high”, but SUP takes much less exertion than a run. You get to be outside on the water surrounded by beautiful scenery, it’s a fun group activity to enjoy, you use every part of your body and mind to make sure you don’t fall over,   and it’s so easy to let the world fall away with the salt air in your nose and hair. There is just something so naturally calming about moving water that you will find yourself at peace minutes after you start paddling.
MENTAL HEALTH
While many people will automatically think that a SUP session is mainly just beneficial for your physical health, with how easy it can erase your stress, it can be a big key player in helping with mental health too. Giving yourself that moment of peace while paddling along and physically and mentally focusing on just one task can improve your mental health substantially. The level of concentration you have to make room for to be successful during your SUP time can distract you from the burden and weight you carry every day. You are also connecting to nature and the outdoors face to face while you are enjoying a good SUP session, that the therapeutic effects and the natural vitamin D you will be getting can work wonders from the inside out.
TOTAL WORKOUT
So many of us are searching for that one workout that will tone and work out our entire core that’s not too invasive or difficult, right? Does that even exist? With a SUP it certainly does. Not only is it just a good low impact workout, but spending time on a SUP is also a total workout for your whole core. To stay up on your SUP you will need to engage your whole core for the entirety of your trip. Most of our tours are a few hours long, so think about that! Also, don’t forget that your arms will be getting quite the workout too. They’re the extremities pushing you and your SUP for your whole trip!
Who knew that such a fun activity could also be such a health-conscious workout will all kinds of benefits for your mind and body? If you are looking for a beautiful view of the Lowcountry or for a fun and exciting new workout, you will find both with our SUP tours! Come enjoy one, we know you’ll love every moment. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out! Remember, if you’re looking for the best stand up paddleboard excursions in the Charleston area, you’ve found it! Until next time friends, stay safe and paddle on!
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@coastalexpeditions

St. Phillips Island & Beaufort Rentals

Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards

Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.

Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.

Outpost Location

Need A Guide?

If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.

Check out our St. Phillips Island & Beaufort tours.

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard Click to Book via Text

Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant Rentals

Offering Kayaks and Paddleboards

Take in the stunning beauty of local creeks and waters from one of our kayaks or SUPs. Walk-ups are welcome or call / text to book and we’ll be ready when you are. All gear and instruction provided.

Call or text 843.884.7684 to book.

Outpost Location

Need A Guide?

If you really want to get a feel for the local history, identify the native wildlife, and get to special places, you'll need someone experienced to show you the way. We'll get you there.

Check out our Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant tours.

Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard Click to Book via Text