You drift slowly down the river balancing on your paddleboard, sun gently warming your shoulders, bullrushes waving in the breeze. Birds sing merrily, dragonflies dart across the water’s surface and every so often a gentle splash reminds you that there are fish weaving below. It sounds idyllic, right? But what you might not realise is that your body is working hard to keep your core strong, and what feels like a gentle river tour is actually a full-body workout. Experts are calling it the perfect way to exercise for anyone in middle-age – something we suspect Carrie Johnson, 38, would agree with.

The PR executive wife of former prime minister Boris loves to paddleboard – and it’s one of the ways she maintains her fitness after four children (Wilfred, Romy, Frank and Poppy). So what is it about paddleboarding that makes it so effective?

The sport offers a whole-body workout, as Jim Pate, senior physiologist, said. ‘Just the effort of standing up on the board means that you’re using and developing your core muscle strength. Then when you start paddling, you need even more core strength.’

It’s the wobbly nature of SUP that sets it apart – standing on a paddleboard requires balance, a key indicator of health as we age, which will improve as your core muscles strengthen and stamina grows each time you take to the water. And it’s not just your core that’s working hard – your arms are, too... paddleboarding fully engages arm muscles, and each time you paddle they get stronger.

The impressive physical results of paddleboarding combined with the mental health benefits of spending time in nature might explain why paddleboarding is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. Then there’s the fact that once you’ve purchased your paddleboard (which start at around £159) – and any waterproof clothing or buoyancy aids if needed – there are no further costs. You can even try the sport out first – paddleboard hire is available across the UK. Next, simply find a beach or river... and enjoy!