Small space, both vertically and horizontally. Moving platform. No fancy equipment. How can you get cardio exercise in on board a cruising boat?

Try something as you’re reading this. Stand up. Now sit down. Now get onto the floor. Now stand up. Now sit down. Stand up. Go to the ground. Stand up. Sit down.

Do you get the general idea?

This is what I call “level changes”, and it’s a concept that can be applied with almost exercise, even if you don’t consider it “exercise”. Do it fast enough, whatever that means to you, and I guarantee you will find your heart rate climbing and the sweat coming.

Take a pushup. That’s level changes as you go up and down. Squats? Those are level changes - and you can up the ante by raising your arms up over your head as you go up and down. Steps are level changes (do you have companionway stairs?). Leg lifts. Down dog to plank and back up. Just about any exercise you can think of can incorporate level changes - and the more that level changes and the faster, the more cardio it is.

No, level changes are not the ONLY way to get cardio while cruising. You can swim, or row. Go for a run on shore. Walk briskly. But level changes are a simple way to raise your heart rate and can be done even while on passage.

Go get sweaty!