SUP or Stand Up Paddle Boarding is one of the fastest growing water sports in the UK. Standing above the water on a board, 'SUPers' pull themselves through the water using a long, single bladed paddle. Although initially invented as a leisure activity, more and more people are seeing the health and fitness benefits of the sport.
Even at the most basic level, stabiliser muscles are constantly tested to keep you balanced above the board. From your core right through to your feet, your muscles will be in constant use to balance. The more unstable the board, the tougher the work out. Exercising your stabiliser muscles keeps you and your joints strong, making you less likely to get injured in other activities.
Paddling on a SUP is a full body movement. Initially you must extend your body to reach forwards with the blade and give yourself the maximum reach for the upcoming stroke. Then when the blade is dug into the water, the paddler has to drop their weight down, crunching and contracting their abs to drive the paddle backwards. To finish the stroke all of the power is pushed through the legs and into the board, providing a boost of speed for the next extension. This action of extending and contracting is like doing a crunch whilst holding a squat every time you paddle. Over time this repetition will increase your muscular endurance, strength and with the right nutrition, definition.
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