by Clarissa Hartley
The summer breeze at the coastline is not just for peaceful relaxation. It’s indeed a fitness paradise that proffers an array of enjoyable exercises beneficial to your overall wellness. Let’s deep dive into the distinct health advantages seaside physical activities offer and the several engaging options to explore this summer.
Engaging in beachside fitness plays a significant role in boosting your overall health. Breathing the sea air, rich in negative ions, enhances oxygen absorption and aids in serotonin balance, thus inducing calmness. Studies by The National Trust reveal that a coastal stroll can give you an extra 47-minute sleep at night than a similar inland walk.
Witness the wonders of the beach terrain as it morphs into an incredible landscape for a multitude of body benefits. For example, the Journal of Experimental Biology established that jogging on sandy terrains uses up 1.6 times more energy than running on a stiff surface, offering an intensified workout experience.
Your Complete Beach Fitness Guide for a Healthy, Adventurous Summer
1. Ocean Kayaking
Step into a sleek, long kayak and sail across the coastline for close contact with nature, giving you a distinct viewpoint.
Benefits: This low-impact exercise aids in the enhancement of your upper body and core strength while allowing you to disconnect from everyday concerns.
How to Get Started: For beginners, enrolling in a lesson or joining an expedition is advisable. Sea Kayak Devon, for instance, offers a half-day trip for adults at £49.
2. Coasteering
An exciting adventure that involves rock/cliff jumping, sea-level traversing on rocks, exploring sea caves, swimming, and more.
Benefits: Achieve a full-body workout while pushing your boundaries in nature’s playground and reveling in the sense of achievement.
How to Get Started: A half day’s coasteering experience with Celtic Quest Coasteering in Wales starts at £50 per person.
3. Beach Running
Utilize nature to enhance your training in a quaint setting by the shoreline.
Benefits: Breathing in fresh sea air while your physique works harder on uneven and soft surfaces can lower impacts. Running barefoot will offer extra sensory feedback through the ground, aiding in improving your technique and posture.
How to Get Started: ‘Initially, reduce your usual run length and wear running shoes until you get accustomed to the terrain, before going barefoot,’ suggests Jackie Newton, a renowned coach and athlete development expert.
4. Sailing
Learn the art of setting the sails to harness wind and maneuver a dinghy, a small open boat with sails.
Benefits: Apart from gaining a new skill and the thrill of speeding across water, sailing offers improved balance, core and arm strength. It also serves as a superior mental workout.
How to Get Started: For beginners, Royal Yachting Association offers a Level 1 course at around £200.
Pro Beach Fitness Tips with Kimberley Morrison
Kimberley Morrison, a celebrated triathlete for INCUS Performance, has shared her valuable coastal training tips:
- Jog for 30 minutes to the sand dunes, then perform 12 x sand dune hill reps; great for your heart, lungs, muscles and stability.
- Run along the beach into the sea, perform quick swim strokes, jump out and repeat; ideal for triathletes and open-water swimmers as it boosts cardio and technique while helping adjust to cold water.
- Perform 30-60 seconds of burpees, squats, planks, 50m sprints and mountain climbers in sets on the beach with brief recoveries between moves. Cool down by diving in the sea, which also aids muscle recovery!
So, ladies, why not seize the summer by immersing yourself in beach fitness? Here’s a beginner’s guide to open water swimming and more!
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