Kayaking eases depression on a stressful week

Bobbi Leininger kayaks through UF Lake Wauberg on a sunny afternoon. Leininger said she has kayaked for a very long time through the waters of Biscayne Bay in Miami, Fla. Photo taken by Maria Espinoza

If anybody has a day off their busy week, use your spare time to do outdoor activities. I decided to take my roommate to get her personal perspective on kayaking at Lake Wauberg on a normal weekday afternoon.

Bobbi Leininger, 19-year-old Santa Fe College, marine biology major, loves kayaking. Being raised in Miami, Leininger and her family have owned kayaks and would go off the beach of Key Biscayne, Fla., to enjoy a family day off together.

Now as a college student with the amount of stress mounting her shoulders, she feels the need to do something different and proactive. Kayaking for a couple hours took her mind off of studying for the overwhelming upcoming midterm exams.

As she kayaked alone, Leininger felt free in the open lake. “I always think about the ocean or what’s underneath.”

For a while, she forgot she had to study.

Most business people and students skip the gym because of their busy schedules. Dedicating a day of your week to kayaking is a great way for cardiovascular exercise.

While kayaking, you gain other health benefits such as the sun’s UV rays creating a synthesis to build vitamins for your body and easing your depression.

Being inside an office filing papers or studying inside your dorm for several hours a day can become very unhealthy.

Researchers have found studies on a consistent connection between depression and the lack of Vitamin D. The lower the level of Vitamin D in your body, the higher the chance you have of depression.

The Vitamin D Council have reported results on studies linking depression to patients lacking Vitamin D. Other studies provided by The National Institute of Health say sunlight may increasingly improve your mood.

No matter which outdoor activity you decide to do, I agree we should enjoy the free natural resources of fresh air, waters and sunshine nature has provided us for our survival.