You get a full-body balance and stability challenge, plus a core, glute, and arm workout.
Not to mention that blissful feeling of gliding across the water.
Anyone can do it, says Curt Devoir, director of theProfessional Stand Up Paddle Association.
You dont even need to standa lot of people just sit or kneel.
Ready to get started?
Here are some tips to know before you hop on board.
physical therapist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City
Practice your hand placement.
When you switch to paddle to the left of your board, your hands also switch.
you’ve got the option to even do a full dry run.
Stand up slowly
Actually getting to a standing position may be the toughest part of paddleboarding.
(Still keeping a soft bend in your knees, which will help you balance.)
Instead, go ahead and stick the blade of the paddle in the water.
It adds some stability, he says.
Its like a third leg out there.
For your most efficient paddling stroke, you dont want to pet the water, he says.
physical therapist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City
Putting in just a couple inches of the paddle, youre not going to get anywhere.
Once the paddle gets back to your legs, pull it out of the water and start again.
Time to turn around?
As you get more comfortable, leaning into one foot or the other can help you steer, too.
Avoid this urge, says Devoir.
Instead, venture to relax your feet and spread out your toes.
Your weight should be evenly distributed throughout your feet, says Young.
In other words, if only your arms are sore, you didnt do it right, he says.
Looking to up your paddling game with cross-training?
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