The question “can old people paddle board” has been asked a lot lately. I know you are probably asking yourself the same thing. You might be wondering if it is too tough for an older person to get on a stand-up paddle board and start paddling around in the water.
Well, as long as you are healthy enough to make it into the water, then there’s no reason why you can’t give it a try! In this blog post, we will discuss some reasons why getting into stand-up paddle boarding is great at any age!
5 Benefits to Paddle Boarding as You Age
There is a great load of benefits to continued paddle boarding as you age. Here are a few of the benefits you can look forward to:
Good Exercise For Overall Fitness
It’s low-impact, affordable, strength-building, and travel-friendly. For many people, the paddle boarding motion is a good way to get in shape and maintain long-term.
Due to being low-impact it allows more movement and is not as difficult for those with reduced mobility or arthritis to execute over time.
Paddle boards are also good at helping build strength which can help in rehabilitating injuries quickly!
Paddle boards are also a perfect way to get exercise while on the go as they can be used anywhere you have access to water from home to while on vacation, making them travel-friendly too!
One last benefit is that there is no need to buy gym memberships if you want to stay fit with paddle board exercise as it’s a low impact on joints while still being able to burn calories like running or swimming.
Maintaining Social Interaction
Paddle boards get you out onto beaches, rivers, lakes, and other waterways to meet new people which can be difficult for those without a social support group.
Taking out your board to explore the waterways allows you to interact with younger people who are more likely to be outside and in the water.
You might find you have a passion for paddle boarding that will help keep your mind sharp and active! Interacting with youthful people helps you to keep sharp and active and to maintain social contact.
Help Increase Longevity
It’s been found that regular physical activity increases life expectancy by up to three years!
Paddle boarding is one of the best exercises you can do as it’s low-impact but still burns lots of calories and builds strength in all major muscle groups.
It also helps regulate blood pressure levels and in turn, reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease too!
Simple Excuse to Travel the World
For many who have worked their entire adult life getting the opportunity to travel and see the world can be a hard ask, but it doesn’t have to be.
Instead, you can travel the world to hit those paddleboarding views and view some of the best water spots in the world.
Choosing to explore based on water-based paddle boarding activities and exploration instead of only inland explorations can provide you with an excuse to travel the world without feeling like a tourist.
The best part of this adventure is that it will be exhilarating, new, and exciting for everyone in your family!
Improves Mood and Helps Fight Depression
Paddle boarding is amazingly good for your overall mental health as it is a physical workout but uses your whole body and multiple balance systems.
You only need a few hours of exercise each week to boost your mood all day long by reducing stress hormones that affect your mental health and make us feel down and lethargic.
The time spent outside will help reduce exposure to pollutants in the air such as exhaust and smoke as well as toxins such as nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs.
Paddleboarding will also help you sleep better at night because it has a calming effect on your body, helping to release endorphins that promote relaxation in the brain.
Depression is a serious issue and if you experience it make sure you speak with your doctor and whether physical workouts would help you feel better overall and maybe even help lower any prescriptions.
Duration and Frequency Of Paddle Boarding for Seniors
The big question for most people will be how often and how long they can paddle board.
The good news is that the answer to both of these questions will be different for everyone and there are no strict guidelines on how often or long you should do it.
There is plenty of recommendations to get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity such as brisk walking or cycling (30 minutes five days)(source).
This would roughly equate to 30 minutes each day or around 20 hours over four weeks.
So you want to look at your base level of physical fitness as a barometer to starting, but look to be able to go longer each time and build up from there.
If you are over 65 years old then your doctor will most likely tell you that it’s okay to paddle board if you want but they may ask how often you plan on doing this.
If your physician doesn’t mention anything about fitness levels when answering questions about whether it’s safe to start paddle boarding then go ahead!
Is There an Age Limit to Paddle Boarding?
When should I look at stopping paddle boarding? There is no age limit to paddle boarding, as long as you’re in good shape.
However, if you feel like your muscles are not up to the task or that you have any other type of condition impacting your physical ability then it may be time for a break from this sport.
Aging impacts our bodies and abilities differently – some people will experience an increase in muscle strength with age while others can start experiencing decreased flexibility.
As we get older, injuries become more likely so taking care of yourself becomes even more important. Paddle boarding is great exercise but make sure to stretch before and after each session!
Final Thoughts on Can Old People Paddle Board
This blog post has hopefully given you a few reasons why paddle boarding is great for all ages and abilities.
Whether you’re looking to get in shape, enjoy the outdoors or have some fun with your grandkids, it looks like everyone can benefit from giving this sport a try.
So don’t be too hard on yourself if you think that old people can’t paddleboard! Give it a go and see how much fun it is for yourself!
What do you think about paddleboarding? Let me know in the comments below (and feel free to share any other tips).