by K.L. Amadio

Spring is the time of year when you yearn to finally get outdoors and pursue your health and exercise goals in the fresh air. Many of us dust off the old bicycle, oil the chain and exchange running shoes and treadmills for cycling in the great outdoors. That bicycle really works the lower body and cardio system, but how do you accomplish the same for the upper body.

Ever heard of Kayaking?

Kayaking affords you a great upper body workout, developing chest, shoulders and back muscles while increasing strength and endurance. Fighting rapid water or taking a slow and steady trip can really give your cardiovascular system a workout as well.

All bodies of water are good potentials for kayaking. You can kayak on the ocean, a lake or river. Some people confuse a canoe and kayak but they are different vessels. The kayak has what is referred to as a closed cockpit where you sit on the bottom of the boat with legs straight forward enclosed by a canopy to keep water out of the boat. A canoe is open.

Fishermen use kayaks as do adventure sportsmen and divers. Kayaks are very adaptable and have great range. So much so, that kayaking as a sport has seen a rapid rise over the last several years. Of course, this means the price of kayaking equipment has increased as well.

An entry level kayak of the inflatable variety can be purchased for about $250. This style and quality of kayak is often available from sporting goods stores or at a merchandiser like Costco. You will find less expensive versions, but just as you probably wouldn’t buy the $59 bicycle to get started, neither should you purchase the cheapest boat if you really plan to try and make kayaking part of your fitness regimen. When you get serious, $750 to $999 can get you into a single-man boat suitable for recreational use at all skill levels whether lake or ocean paddling. Prices increase for superior equipment and depending on the classification.

Superior stability and lighter weight materials, gain you a more expensive a kayak. If you get serious about kayaking, it would be wise to consider investing in a used model where you can get better quality for a lower price.

There are five basic categories for kayaks based upon the end use. General recreation, day trip or light touring models, expedition touring, whitewater and surf models round out the five classifications. Usability in each class affects price.

Kayaking needn’t be expensive, nor does it have to be on whitewater to be beneficial to your workout routine. It is excellent as an upper body workout, and develops greater strength and endurance like cycling. As a fitness routine, kayaking on still water is excellent and rivers have their own trials. You become familiar with the right techniques to safely navigate your chosen water and develop your kayaking style.

So if you enjoy exercise outdoors and more importantly, you enjoy the water, add kayaking to your health and fitness routine this year.

About the Author:
Before going out on the water, you’ve got to put on original kayaking art while paddling. See Puple Arts for great kayaking t-shirts and “Get your Art On!” K.L. Amadio is a freelance writer and webmaster of Taekwondo-Network, your source for everything tae kwon do.