Yoga Benefits the Boater

You don't have to do this right away, start small;)

I'm not sure if you know this about me or not but I'm a *yogi*. Not like Yogi, the bear or Yogi, the baseball legend but like Yogi on a yoga mat!;) On a more serious, not so corny note... I've recently made some changes to the blog and the Boat Yoga tab is gone. I've committed more to my practice in recent months and feel the need to bring more yoga to you, our readers!! Aren't YOU excited?!?

If you live on a boat, want to some day or just plain think it's awesome I bet you do yoga every day and didn't even realize it! Once you become aware of your body (a benefit of a regular practice) you can spare yourself the pain and injury associated with, well, boat life!

 Projects - Once you begin projects on your boat you' ll notice that there isn't as much space in the areas that seem to need the most work. Like, let's say for instance, that lazzerette in the cockpit is the only way to get to the back of your electric panel. In order to get in there you've got to climb down in the small, hot, dirty space and twist your hips and shoulders into two completely different directions. I know you don't want to but you DO want to finish this project, don't you?! Right you do. If you had a couple of stretches to prep you for this kind of thing you might save yourself from the insane charlie horse that may follow. 

Sailing -Believe it or not, sailing is hard work! Pulling in those sheets uses full body power engaging your core, shoulders, biceps and hands. Unless, you have electric winches or a set of hot, young deckhands your going to need to pull on those halyards with force. So before you through out your back, would you like to loosen things up a bit?

Balance - Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack fell down the companionway and crunched his tailbone!! OUCH! Well, I don't know about Jack but I know I did! Climbing in and out of the boat through the companionway or boarding the boat from your dinghy requires balance, concentration, strength and a little foresight. The boat is constantly in motion and being aware of your surroundings allows for quick adjustments to be made. If you make one wrong move you can find yourself on the floor (worse) or in the water (better, as long as your anchored) To save yourself the embarrassment and pain of a fractured (insert body part here) use twenty of the precious cruising life minutes you have to jump start your day with a little stretching.

Begin slow, start small but most of all get going! Just like the journey of traveling on a boat yoga is everyday small steps towards enlightenment, strength and peace.

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