Do you spend your free-time conquering cliff faces, marauding down mountain trails, or owning the ocean?. It is clear that this type of exercise will have many benefits for your physical health, but you might be surprised by the positive impact that adventure sports can have on your mental health too.
As part of their Adventure Index campaign, the broadband team at Uswitch analysed the health benefits of some of the UK’s most popular action and adventure sports. Here are five adrenaline-fuelled sports that are good for both your body and your mind.
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Mountain Biking
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The average person can burn approximately 680 calories per hour during a moderate mountain bike ride, making it one of the best outdoor activities for losing weight. However, with so many variables involved in mountain biking such as the surface terrain, bike mass and the condition of the rider themselves amongst, the calories burned per rider can massively vary.
From increased strength to an improved immune system the physical health benefits of mountain biking are endless. One of the things that makes mountain biking so beneficial is that it is a ‘green exercise’ meaning it is an activity that takes place in nature. \
Many health professionals regard green exercises as ‘nature’s medicine’ due to the double-dose of endorphins released by the physical activity combined with the feeling of being outdoors.
Get a boost of Vitamin D
Additionally, being out in the open all day is a great source of vitamin D as bikers naturally soak up the sun. Although over-exposure to sunlight is considered a risk, research shows that 86% of Europeans are actually Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is important for your bones, skin and weight management, so mountain biking is a great way to increase your exposure to natural sunlight.
All that Vitamin D naturally increases your body’s melatonin levels. Melatonin is a vital hormone which is responsible for regulating your sleep cycle. Therefore mountain biking during the day can help to improve your sleep at night, resulting in lower stress levels and a positive impact on your mental health.
The Adventure Index campaign has discovered five great mountain biking circuits in the UK ranging from Edinburgh to Gwynedd.
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Rock Climbing
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One of the UK’s most accessible adventure sports, rock climbing is an excellent way to burn calories. Even climbing at a low to moderate difficulty can burn 400 calories per hour, and climbing at a more difficult level can burn 575 calories per hour.Anyone can get into rock climbing as a low-impact exercise that still provides a full body workout. It uses every major muscle group, but it is easier on the joints than most other adventure sports, making it a great alternative to an intense circuit in the gym.
The proven benefits of this adventure sport
The acts of reaching, stretching and climbing involved in scaling rock climbing walls can make those who practise the sport regularly more flexible. Your insides can also benefit; with the hard work involved in scaling a wall improving the climber’s heart rate, lungs, and stamina.
Rock climbing is proven to be an effective way to battle the effects of chronic stress. The sense of accomplishment after the scaling of a climbing wall creates a natural feel-good factor that helps boost the climbers mental state.
While there are plenty of indoor rock climbing facilities across the UK, the Adventure Index campaign has located six great outdoor spots for scrambling up mountainsides.
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Kayaking
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The repetitive action of moving the paddle against the natural resistance of the water gives the upper body an intense workout, increasing muscle strength in the back, shoulders, arms and chest. With each paddle stroke forward the torso is rotated, which engages all the core muscles.
Kayakers receive the additional benefit of increased leg strength, caused by applying pressure with your legs each time you turn and balance the kayak.
The environment where kayaking typically takes place is reported to have a calming effect on participants. Exercising in the ‘blue gym’, surrounded by water and greenery has been shown to reduce anger and depression, as well as boosting your confidence.
There is also a huge social aspect to kayaking with many of the available classes in the UK involving large groups of people. Kayaking is a great way to make new friends and interact with like-minded people.
Kayaking is one of the most popular adventure sports in the UK, with sites located all over Britain from Fort William to the Brecon Beacons.
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Surfing
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Surprisingly in season during mid-October, the average person can burn up to 290 calories per hour from recreational surfing, while competitive surfing can burn up to 350 calories per hour.
Surfing is an exciting way to get a full-body workout. Even before you have begun to ride the waves, the act of paddling a surfboard into the water improves your cardiovascular fitness by working the muscles in your back and shoulders. Once you are standing upright on the board, your leg and core strength will be improved.
This aquatic adventure sport is not as easy as it looks and newcomers are advised to invest in lessons to help them get onto their feet. With practice from surf coaches who make use of the ombe method the key muscles benefited by surfing will grow stronger, which should improve the surfer’s ability to stay upright on the water. One way to learn surfing is by asking for some help from professionals head over to this article.
Boost your mental health
Surfing is a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy the natural environment. It is among the best forms of exercise to deal with stress and combat mental afflictions like PTSD or depression.
The near-primal experience of letting your body become one with the water is both highly sensory and physical, encouraging the body and mind to disconnect from life’s problems.
Research shows that surfing is officially the UK’s most popular outdoor adventure sport, with a whopping 10 sites to be found in Cornwall alone.
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Skydiving
The act of falling through the air can actually burn a surprising 230 calories per hour. This is because the physical demand of free falling at 120mph, coupled with an intense adrenaline rush causes the body to burn calories more rapidly.
Your body’s outstretched position whilst diving helps to build up your physical strength in your arms and your core. In fact, skydiving requires your whole body to be done properly. Carrying a 30+ lb parachute on your back before jumping out of a plane at 10,000ft is just half the battle. Once the jump is completed, it can take most novice skydivers 40 minutes to pack away their heavy parachutes.
Unsurprisingly, first-time jumpers are prone to feeling nervous and anxious when faced with the daunting task of skydiving, but skydiving can actually have positive long term effects on your mental health. By putting yourself through such a daunting experience, your mind grows more accustomed to stress and finds more natural ways to cope with it.
Life changing for longevity
The majority of people who have skydived describe the experience as life-changing, claiming that taking the ‘big leap’ helps to provide the person with a new perspective that nothing in life is impossible to conquer. Accomplishing a huge physical feat like skydiving encourages people to conquer the challenges that they face in the real world.
The Adventure Index campaign has located two amazing UK skydiving spots in Norwich and Hull respectively.
The bottom line
You can improve your mental health and physical wellness by stepping out of your comfort zone and being more adventurous when it comes to your sporting choices. Get into nature, go green and contribute towards your longevity.
Main Photo credit: Kalen Emsley on Unsplash
