22.03.2021

Imagine being out at sea with nothing but clear blue sky, a gentle breeze, and crystal-clear sea around you. Soothing, right? It's moments like these that make sailing so similar to meditation as it allows you to spend some quality time with yourself, enjoying some much-needed peace and quiet.
But there are other similarities, too. Both activities will ask you to find the right balance and then focus on maintaining it. They also both require strength and endurance, mentally just as physically, if you are to be successful.
This is why sailing is so good for instilling peace and serenity into your life, so go ahead and hire a vessel if you need some quality relaxation. Here's how to make the most of it!

Physical benefits of sailing

As already mentioned, sailing can affect you beneficially from a physical standpoint. Due to the fact that you constantly have to keep hoisting sails, your overall strength and endurance will increase, especially when to comes to the muscles of your back and shoulder.
But this is just the beginning. Being at sea and sailing also means your body is taking in a lot of oxygen. Consequently, your cardiovascular health will be much better, not to mention that you will see those extra pounds melt in a flash.
Activities on a sailboat will also improve your coordination and your motor skills because you will have to maintain stability in relatively challenging conditions. Furthermore, moving around the boat can help you improve spatial awareness, but all of these improved skills do not leave you once you find yourself on dry land. As a matter of fact, they can come in convenient when performing everyday activities such as driving a car or anything else that requires hand-eye coordination.
This, however, is just one group of benefits you can expect because a better physical condition also benefits your mental condition.
Obviously, to be able to perform all the tasks you have while sailing, focus and concentration are the most important prerequisites. But, if you're a part of a multi-person crew, you will also learn how to communicate better, which can be of great importance at your everyday job, especially if you're in some sort of a managing position. This also has a consequence of improving your decision-making because you often have to make a call in a split-second when on board.
Finally, in order to keep things running neatly, you will have to learn how to be organized, which is another thing that can help you in your everyday life.

Making the most of your sailing experience

These days, it's pretty difficult to avoid stress, especially if you're living in a big city and really don't have a lot of time for yourself. Therefore, it's absolutely vital that you use your sailing vacation in the best possible way so that you can return to your routine feeling renewed and relaxed.
You can do loads of things to ensure this, from all kinds of sailing exercises and workouts to doing yoga on the boat. Here are a few things you really should make a part of the experience.

Get up early

There's nothing quite like waking up early in the morning while most people are still asleep, making yourself a cup of coffee, and then sitting down on the deck of your boat and just soaking everything in. It's incredibly soothing and can make you feel like you're the only person in the world. Enjoy!

Try a meditation app

Yes, sailing and meditating go hand in hand, and there are several great apps you can download before you take off that will help you relax and calm down. No distractions, just salty fresh air and pristine nature all around you. Just don't forget your headphones!

Try yoga

Now, this may seem a bit unexpected to you, but as long as your boat has enough space where you can put your mat, you can practice yoga. And you can do so purely because you need some exercise, or you can focus on breathing techniques and explore the connection between your body and your mind. Besides, if you find yourself in a marina of a bigger city, you can search for a yoga studio there and get a class or two before taking off again.
Yoga and sailing have quite a lot in common as they both ask of you to adapt to different conditions around you (sailing) and in your mind (yoga). There's also the fact that you need to learn how to deal with things you cannot change and then make the most of them in both cases. So, no matter if you're a yoga beginner or a true expert, a sailing trip is great if you want to try out some poses.

Books

Naturally, a sailing trip is an excellent opportunity to catch up on your reading. With nobody to bother you and just the sound of the sea, you can fully immerse yourself in a novel or find your new favourite book.

Stargazing

Take a moment or two one evening to just lie down on the deck of your boat and look up. If the sky is clear, what you see will be pretty magical. And combined with the sound of the waves gently splashing against your hull, it can be pretty romantic, too.

Find some good company

Sometimes, though, the best choice can be to just bring your friends along for loads of laughs and a great time. Maybe bring your significant other on a sailing trip, too. A few drinks, loads of sun, and good company often make for an unforgettable vacation!

Conclusion

Sailing can be a fantastic way to escape everyday life's stress and just take a moment to enjoy life and marvel at nature. This is how you set up some quality me-time and recharge your batteries. The feeling of peace and serenity you get this way is quite hard to describe, so best you check it out for yourself.
However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have any company with you. Maybe hanging out with your friends is just what the doctor ordered. And if you're taking that one special person, the trip can be incredibly romantic. Just get in touch with Euronautic and make it happen!