Could boating be the unhinged fountain of youth you’ve been looking for?

I’ll tell you, I’ve been working several hours every weekday on a yacht here in the Long Beach Marina for 10ish months, and I’ve noticed something.

I feel physically better than I did before.

One thing I can definitively point to is this: I’ve had chronic vertigo for the better part of the last 15 years. It can and has been at times a debilitating illness. We don’t know for sure what caused it, and there isn't a real cure. Or so we thought.

Listen, placebo or not, I’m pretty sure that sitting in the salon of this 1984 Bertram 42, docked in the Pacific Ocean, on my laptop for a few hours each day has cured my vertigo. I’ve also noticed my core is a bit stronger. 

And, whenever people ask Nancy how she has so much energy and stays so youthful she says, “I’ve been boating all my life, it keeps me young.” And I fully believe her.

There are many theories about this effect. Most folks attribute it to the sheer physicality boating can sometimes require. This mostly applies to sailboats, as the sailing part does require some strength. But if you maintain your own boat, washing it every couple of weeks, keeping the deck looking fresh, replacing things here and there, that can keep you busy and on your feet.

Then there’s the being close to the water part.

Bodies of water, no matter how small, can lower cortisol, and increase serotonin levels. 

Oceans, lakes and rivers are definitely considered green spaces. But, I actually think there’s more to it than that.

One unexpected thing happening is that core strength I mentioned earlier. For a while I couldn't figure out why I’d be getting a stronger core from just sitting around on my laptop. Then I was at the gym, standing in an infrared light therapy room on a vibration plate and it hit me:

Being on a boat in the water is giving me similar benefits as a vibration plate!

Its just slower movement. So what are these benefits? Well, as a part of a regular exercise routine, vibration plates can

+improve muscle recovery

+burn fat

+build muscle

+enhance stability

+improve bone density

+promote lymphatic drainage. 

Yup, all of this from just 10 minutes on a vibration plate. Seems crazy, but when you consider the science it starts to make alot more sense.

When you stand on a vibration plate, your body is forced to make micro-adjustments to stay standing. Your muscles contract and release over and over again very quickly, so quickly that you barely notice it. So, even though it seems like you are doing nothing, you are actually using your muscles to not fall over. Your core strength is responsible for keeping you upright, so being forced to combat heavy vibrations will cause your core to activate. Obviously this alone won’t give you a six pack. However, if you are active already and you add vibration sessions to your workout, you can easily reap the benefits.

Being on a boat in the water for several hours can (IMHO) have a similar effect as a vibration plate. My body is slowly adjusting to the swaying motion of the waves as I sit here. My muscles are slowly contracting and releasing to keep my body upright, even though I'm seated. My theory is that this has given me more stability and strength, therefore nearly eliminating my vertigo.

The cortisol reducing effects, plus the slow movement of the boat have compounding health benefits that I don’t think anyone has seriously studied just yet.

 Here’s hoping that some scientist will take up this research and prove my theory! Until then, I’ll be on the boat, getting stronger every day.