One of the classes I teach at Cruisers University at the Annapolis Boat Show is called “Staying Shipshape”. The class was borne (as many of mine are) out of a desire to help dispel a persistent myth about cruising: Namely, that it’s the healthiest lifestyle around.

There’s a lot healthy about cruising, don’t get me wrong. You’re outside a LOT, eating home cooked meals a LOT. Chances are good you’re not working a 9-5 job with those attendant stresses. Still, I’d argue that life afloat requires more intentionality about exercise than life on land - and there are definitely some challenges. There’s no dedicated gym room. The floor is prone to shifting unexpectedly. And your favorite yoga classmates aren’t around to cheer you on. What can you do?

No workout room? Use a yoga mat to delineate your space. Roll out that mat and poof - your very own exercise space. Using a yoga mat serves a lot of different purposes. It signals an intention, especially when you roll it out and then put it away when you’re done. It’s adaptable to the conditions. When it’s gorgeous out, you can roll the mat out outside (even on the side deck - I recommend the high side if you’re underway); when it’s raining or otherwise yucky, move that space inside. You can take your mat to the beach or the dock. Flexible.

It also provides a grippy, non-slip surface that is also a cushion.

Boat moving at anchor or underway? Keep your center of gravity low - and use level changes! You can get in a killer workout by moving from plank to elbow plank to pike (down dog), by going from sitting on the settee (or cockpit bench) to sitting on the cabin sole to standing up to sitting back down on the sole to standing up to sitting down . . . you get the idea. Want to up the cardio? Speed up.

Missing your workout buddies? Figure out what motivates you, and replicate it on the boat. Invite anchorage neighbors (or your partner!) to go running (or dancing, or yoga-ing, or swimming) with you. Set up a zoom session with your buddies back home. Create a calendar where you can cross off days you exercise - and beat your streak. Download workout videos by your favorite trainer and use them onboard.

There’s lots more to think about when it comes to working out on board. But realizing that you DO have the space, that you CAN get a sweat on even if the boat is bouncing all over the place, and that there ARE ways to help keep yourself accountable - that will go a long way to giving you a way to get started.