Red Paddle Co FAQ - Is Paddle Boarding A Good Workout?

From the shore, paddle boarding looks like a picture of tranquility and relaxation. That’s why you’re certainly not alone if you’ve been left wondering “is paddle boarding a good workout?’. In spite of how relaxing it looks (and is once you’ve found your feet) the answer to the question “is paddle boarding a good workout?” is a simple and straightforward “yes”. Paddle boarding is a great workout for your entire body, and unlike many other sports, it works your entire body.

Why is paddle boarding a good workout? Let’s find out!

Paddle boarding is great for working your core… 

Paddle boarding is great for working your whole body, but particularly your core. When you stand up paddle board, your core is constantly engaged to keep you balanced and centred. This means you’ll be building your core strength the entire time you’re paddling. If you want to challenge yourself even more, there are plenty of additional paddle board workouts that are great for your core, such as plank walkouts and rotations. Additionally, we couldn’t answer the question “is paddle boarding a good workout” without mentioning SUP yoga, which, as you can imagine, does wonders for your core. 

...As well as the rest of your body 

One of the many (and unique) benefits of stand up paddle boarding is that it works your entire body. That’s why the answer to the question “is paddle boarding a good workout” is such an easy “yes!”. Standing up on a paddle board (and staying on it!) uses many different muscle groups. The muscles in your legs are working hard to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground, your core is engaged to keep you centred and balanced, whilst your upper body (shoulders, arms and back) are worked when you paddle to propel yourself forward. Even your fingers, toes and neck are doing their part to keep you balanced! 

It burns calories & lots of them!

The reason we’re often asked “is paddle boarding a good workout” is because of how relaxing it looks. With this in mind, you may be surprised to hear that SUPing burns a lot more calories than many land activities. This is because it combines cardiovascular fitness with muscle strength. In fact, by doing an hour of leisurely paddling you could burn between 300-400 calories. As you advance your paddling skills, if you start paddling in the surf or competing in races, you could be burning as many as 1000 calories per hour. You’ll burn just as many (if not more) calories than going to the gym, and you’ll be a lot happier doing it.