If you are reaching that point in your life where you are winding things down or aspiring to work less, you’ll have more time on your hands to fill – paddlesport could be a great opportunity for you to get a little more active.
In Scotland we have some of the most dramatic coastal scenery and beautiful lochs and rivers to explore. You wouldn’t be alone, either. In 2021, 583,634 people (11% of the Scottish Population) took to the water in Scotland (at least three times) and 42% of Paddlesport Club members are aged 50+.
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. We’ve asked participants how paddlesport can help in these areas.
Connecting
Jim, 68 is an active paddleboarder and the lead coach at the local Stand Up Paddleboard Club;
“One of the main attractions to paddlesport for me is the relationship with fellow paddlers and club members. Recently, being involved with creating the Stand Up Paddleboard Club has reinforced the feelings of connection with others being an important aspect of the activity. The involvement with coaching of club members and others means that I make contact with many like-minded people who all enjoy being part of a supportive and friendly paddling community.”
Learning
Andrew, 63, is a Sea Kayaker and active member of North East Sea Kayakers Club and spoke about learning new skills through sport;
“Getting involved in paddlesports is not only physically good for you, but as I have found, it is also a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills and keep yourself mentally active.
If you’re new to the sport, many clubs run introductory sessions which are open to learners of all ages. They provide a safe, fun environment for you to learn in and the club will have coaches on hand to give the guidance you need.
The main thing is to keep your learning fun, the more fun you’re having the more likely you are to keep developing as a paddler.”
Giving
“Small acts of kindness such as helping someone unload and carry their boat or offer a lift, or perhaps something larger like helping to coach or organise a trip, help us to feel good about ourselves. It also helps improve our connections with others, giving us a sense of purpose and feeling of self-worth” said Roger Holmes, SCA Development Manager.
“I am sure we have all shared that feeling of success when someone else has succeeded with our help or advice. I know I take pleasure and enjoyment in sharing in an individual's success when I help them learn a new skill such as tying their first reef knot or overcoming a fear of water.”
Mindfulness
“Paddling is a great opportunity to be truly present in the moment. There are plenty of distractions to help us forget about anxieties or worries that may be occupying our mind; getting out on the water can help us feel refreshed to come back to these thoughts later. It is easy to connect to the environment we are in as we paddle along” said Graham, 71 is an active White Water Kayaker and member of Donside Canoe Club.
"Paddling helps me forget about the worries of work, it gives me time for myself and I always finish feeling better for it, feeling refreshed, more positive and happier than before I got on!"
But mindfulness is far more than just a sense of presents, although this naturally develops as we become more practised at the sport. It is more about developing a natural awareness as to how our mind, body and emotions interact in all aspects of our daily lives. Paddlesport has great benefits in this respect.
“My experience of developing a mindful approach to the sport helps neutralise the fears and anxieties we naturally experience through the challenges, thus the whole experience becomes more fun and enjoyable. Focus naturally sharpens with refined intuition and knowing.”
Be Active
Gill, 67, is an active paddler and coach across many disciplines still very much working (and playing) in the sport.
“I am someone for whom doing activity is like breathing. It feels like a necessity for life! For me, being active is definitely a conscious choice. Activity makes me feel alive, and makes me feel good - about myself, about others and about the world - and so provides the motivation to make me want to do more!
As we age we lose muscle, and with it strength. Our bones weaken and become more prone to breaking unless we do activities which help them to stay strong. Being active is recognised as one of the ways in which we can retain strength, and also, by exercising heart and lungs we boost our circulation.
Paddling offers great opportunities for staying active. Within our sport, we have so many opportunities and choices, that we should be able to select a type of craft and a suitable location to match the kind of activity that we would like to take part in. We can also choose the kind of company that helps us enjoy our activity even more. People of all ages, and all walks of life, paddle canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and through shared activity we can add feelings of fun, enjoyment and friendship, whatever our age.
Find Out More
- Contact SCA Affiliated Clubs and some work for our Delivery Partners.
- The Go Paddling website for hints and tips on starting a paddling journey.
- About Paddling on Sport First.
