Health Benefits of Motorcycle Riding
Motorcycle driving has always been associated with scary accidents, like losing control and other road hazards. While it is true that the activity has risks, it also comes with several mental and physical health benefits.
For years, motorbiking enthusiasts have been endorsing the positive health effects of the activity. Here are the following benefits to help determine if motorcycle driving can help you, too.
Reduces Stress
Everyone has different things to be stressed out about. There are people concerned about their careers. They’re thinking about why they didn’t get promoted or how they can succeed in their fields.
Some people are worried about health. There are those dealing with mental health issues. Meanwhile, others are struggling with the side effects of quitting smoking or addiction.
If you love driving and you have a bad day, you must agree that a long motorcycle ride on your favorite road can bring peace. Driving motorcycles has a positive mental and emotional effect on the rider. It can reduce stress and promote a happier and healthier mind.
Strengthens Connection With Nature
Being exposed to the environment while driving can help strengthen your connection with nature. When driving a car, you only have windows to see the beautiful outdoors. But, when you are driving a motorcycle, you can experience the environment with more intensity. This advantage is especially important to those driving outside rural areas.
When riding a motorcycle, you connect and interact directly with the environment. You can smell, see, hear, and feel the thrill and the touch of Mother Nature, which can help lower your stress levels.
Increases Brain Power
Driving a motorcycle also serves to keep your brain active and healthy. Although driving a car also requires brainpower, navigating a bike requires much more physical and mental work.
Riding a bike activates the brain’s prefrontal areas. The concentration required while you are driving keeps your brain at high levels. It also promotes the use of higher levels of cognitive function.
Boosts Spiritual Strength
The Oxford dictionary defines “spiritual” as something relating to the human spirit instead of material objects. Spiritual strength is something motorcycle riders get from driving under the conditions of their liking.
Spirituality is all about removing yourself from the routine life distractions that stop you from fully communicating with yourself. For some drivers, motorcycle riding provides a way to connect with and understand their inner selves. Driving their beloved bikes can bring them inner peace that no other activities can give.
Helps Burn Calories
According to a UK motorcycling resource, driving a motorcycle can burn between 170 and 600 calories every hour. The amount of calories you will get rid of depends on your body size and the terrain. If you are driving on steep terrain, you will burn more calories, as the activity will require more effort.
Riding a motorcycle requires a lot of mental and physical effort, especially compared to driving a car. Driving motorcycles requires you to maneuver, maintain balance, and fight against the winds blowing against you.
The activity is not only a physical and mental workout; it also boosts your insulin sensitivity. This health benefit helps you store less fat. With motorcycle driving, you are burning calories and doing a full-body workout.
Motorcycles are heavy, and they weigh at least a few hundred pounds. You must use your body to balance and steer while driving on the road.
Because of this, you use a lot of your muscles for long periods. This exercise can help improve your muscle tone.
Improves Mental Health
Aside from keeping your brain working at its optimal level, motorcycle driving can also positively impact mental health. It does not only affect drivers on a spiritual level, but it can also improve their mood.
Each time you speed up on your bike, your body releases endorphins and gives you a rush of adrenaline. This health advantage makes you feel great and improves your mood overall.
Driving in the mornings also gives you more sun exposure, and all of the Vitamin D you’ll absorb can contribute to a happy and healthy body. This nutrient reduces inflammation, lowers cancer cell growth, and helps control infections.
Additionally, if you have other biker friends, you can enjoy a sense of camaraderie that comes with driving alongside each other.
Enhances Core Strength and Stability
Driving a motorcycle allows you to enjoy a scenic ride through the country while improving core strength. The simple act of keeping yourself steady on a bike is already a simple yet effective core exercise.
By maintaining proper posture for an extended period of time, you strengthen your neck muscles, exercise your core, and work your back muscles. If you factor in the wind blowing against you while driving, you are definitely working out with a simple, low-impact exercise.
Improves Reflexes
Balancing a motorcycle requires you to work your whole body. This is unlike driving a car where you can relax most of the time since the vehicle can balance itself. When driving a motorcycle, you need to keep your brain alert all the time. This is why an experienced motorcycle rider has good reflexes.
These are only some of the crucial health benefits of riding motorcycles. If you’re thinking of learning how to drive one soon, you can look forward to enjoying these benefits, too.
