The New Paddle Boarding Craze

Paddle boarding has become one of the newest and most popular fitness trends of today, featured in popular fitness magazines like Shape .

Photo by Public Domain Image

What many people don’t know about paddle boarding is that it actually originated in the 1930’s with Hawaiian heritage. Paddle boarding is considered a surface water sport, and the most popular version we see now is an individual standing on a paddle board known as “stand up paddling” or SUP. Here you stand on top of the paddle board and push yourself through the water with a long paddle that can reach the ocean from your standing position.

Stand up paddling offers the following benefits:

•       Lowers blood pressure
•       Improves cholesterol
•       “Aqua therapy” from the water
•       Low impact on joints
•       Improves balance
•       Improves core strength
•       Increases confidence and sense of achievement

The main thing that has attracted me to SUP is that it just looks graceful and relaxing. Seeing these pictures of people standing on boards in the middle of a large body of water, I couldn’t imagine anything more serene. I am definitely hoping to give SUP a try this summer on my trip to Thailand and I’ll let you know how it goes. Where is the best place to SUP? Have any fellow Calgarians had the opportunity to try SUP? How did it go?

For some reasons as to why you should try paddle boarding check out this website. 

For tips on how to paddle board check out this video.