Key Takeaways
Are there any benefits to skydiving? Skydiving has multiple benefits, both physically and mentally! From increasing confidence and aiding in conquering your fears, to providing the perfect opportunity to bond with your friends, the benefits of skydiving are unmatched.
Are you thinking: Should I go skydiving? Or are you maybe on the hunt for the benefits of skydiving to help you decide if going skydiving is worth it? Look no further! We’re here to tell you all about them – let’s dive into the mental, physical, and social benefits of skydiving.
Emotional & Mental Benefits Of Skydiving
Dopamine! Serotonin! Less stress! The mental benefits of skydiving are numerous:
- Situational awareness: Skydiving is an innately intense experience and forces your senses to heighten and be hyper-aware.
- Confidence: Skydiving is all about conquering fears. It’s the ultimate test of courage. Whether you skydive once or one thousand times, there is something to be learned on every jump. Proving to yourself that you really can do it translates to life on the ground – giving you the ultimate confidence boost.
- Stress hormone regulation: When we skydive, our bodies are flooded with dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline. Skydiving is like a controlled exposure to stress and can aid in resetting all your cortisol levels! Many avid skydivers joke that skydiving is cheaper than therapy, and this benefit is definitely one reason why. A euphoric feeling and newfound perspective are the most common mental health benefits of skydiving.
Does skydiving change you? It definitely can. Everyone is different, but the majority of people who have jumped agree that skydiving is a life-changing experience. Even if you skydive just once, the empowerment that comes from that experience is something that will stick with you long after you land.
Physical Benefits Of Skydiving
Believe it or not, skydiving is considered a sport (not just a fun thing to try) and there are plenty of physical benefits.
- Stamina: Remember the first time you ran a mile after a long time off? It’s tough – lungs screaming, legs burning, and your mind shouting, “Why am I doing this!?” That initial mile is a challenge, but run it again the next day, and it gets a bit easier. Day after day, it becomes part of your routine! Skydiving isn’t brutal like running, but it can leave you with some post-jump soreness and fatigue from the adrenaline crash. When we skydive day after day, these effects lessen significantly.
- Muscle mass: Just like a single lift in the gym won’t have any crazy effects, one skydive won’t improve your muscle mass. But similar to gaining stamina, it will happen over time. Skydiving rigs weigh around 25 lbs, with tandem skydiving rigs coming in around 50 lbs! Carrying this on your back, pulling the toggles down to steer, and flaring them to land are definitely a workout that adds tone over time.
- Coordination: Maintaining your body position as you navigate the skydive is key. Skydivers (yes, even tandem students!) have to maintain an arched position while they deploy the parachute, stay in a neutral position under the canopy, and be ready to land when the time comes. Skydiving improves hand/eye coordination because our bodies must maintain certain positions while our brain thinks about other things.
- Cardiovascular health: The adrenaline rush and physical exertion of a jump gets the heart pumping. This cardiovascular workout strengthens the heart and can improve circulation over time.
Social Benefits Of Skydiving
The social benefits of skydiving increase when you pursue learning to skydive solo, but they’re still present if you skydive just once.
- Bonding: Have you ever caught yourself in the midst of a magical golden hour? You marvel at the sun and after you’re done soaking it in, you think, “Wow … I wish *someone* was here to experience this with me.” Experiencing special moments with those we love makes them 10x more special, and it’s the same with skydiving.
- Support: The people you drive to the dropzone with are your biggest supporters on the most intimidating and exciting day of your life! This bonding experience is unlike anything else.
- Friendship: If you join the sport and become a licensed skydiver, you’ll find the international skydiving community to be one of the most welcoming and encouraging out there.
What Happens To Your Body After You Skydive?
On the physical side of things, our bodies tend to feel slightly sore after a skydive. How come? During a skydive (especially during the first one), you use a number of muscles that your body isn’t used to using. We crouch down to climb inside the airplane, arch our backs into 120 mph wind, and hold our legs in a pike position to land.
Are you ready to take the leap and see how skydiving benefits your body and brain? Book your jump today! Blue skies!
