Dizzy has been a very adventurous Dizzy this summer, and has been out and about on the water! Just before the summer we found out about Sailability, and thought we would create a little post about it, just in case you would like to learn and try out some sailing too! 🙂
Dizzy really likes this picture – but this isn’t one of the actual boats we used. 🙂
We had never heard about Sailability, until someone mentioned to us that they went every week! Sailability is a fun and easy way for everyone with a disability or chronic illness to get out on the water. In the UK they have over 200 locations. 🙂 Dizzy and I were a little nervous at first, especially as I can’t swim. But we have found it to be really fun! We have been four times over the Summer, and by the 3rd time we were already out on our own in a little boat. 🙂 At the sessions you get full training, and you can do as little or as much as you want.
Sailing is really good for fitness too:
- Help improve cardiovascular health
- Develops muscle strength
- Helps keep your bones strong
- Can reduce stress
- Increases stamina
- Can decrease levels of anxiety
- Increases agility
- Improves concentration
It can also be a great way of meeting new people! Dizzy is sad about being the only donkey attendee at the moment, but after posting this, maybe that will change in the future. 🙂
You can find all the UK Sailability locations here And although Dizzy and I don’t know much about them, there are Sailability groups all around the world! 🙂
Have you ever tried sailing? And how did you find it? 🙂 xxx
Oh what a great idea! Obviously when the weather is cooler for any MSer who can’t tolerate heat in summertime. 😊
It’s true. I did avoid going on really hot days, and windy days. 🙂 Windy days were too scary. But I am looking forward to going again in the Spring. I hope you’re keeping well, Janet. 🙂 xxx
Currently no sailing here yet. The only boats I’ve been on are 12-14 footers used for trout fishing, a Depot Bay charter boat for silver salmon (where I mistakenly passed up the Dramamine, however caught a sea bass with the bait too low a depth) and toured a submarine or two during the Portland Oregon Rose Festival. There seems to be several benefits offered in sailing. One of my nieces and her husband do sail and enjoy it very much. I hope you can learn to swim or at least float. Nowadays fatigue is a major problem for me. Maybe Dizzy could pick up water skiing!
You have been on lots of boats! Which one was your favourite? The fatigue is a problem for me too, so I did have to limit the time. They run from 10am till 3pm, but I can only managed an hour or two. I will tell Dizzy! I think she would love water skiing! She’s a very adventurous donkey. 🙂 I hope you’re doing well Mary, and Happy Halloween. 🙂 xxx
All the boats are from decades ago when M.S. hadn’t started to cause things to go wrong & having energy wasn’t a concern. I forgot to include the ferry (from U.S. to Canada) which is my favorite. It is the least threatening regarding falling overboard, capsizing, sinking, etc. to me.
You know Dizzy can at least be happy off the shelf. My green, plastic dinosaur, Herb, would undoubtedly be alone too if I took him almost anywhere!
How about private swimming lessons? You could bring a friend to ensure you WOULD BE saved if something didn’t go right. That was one issue my friend had during class- they would let her drown.
How did your friend get on? Did she learn how to swim? I definitely want someone that would be there to save me! xx Aww, Herb sounds so cute! What kind of dinosaur he is? xxxx
I was told she passed, but, I don’t remember seeing her swimming.( You know, I was constantly tricked by the neighbors back then!) Herb resembles a Stegosaurus ( plates not prominent) with a face of an Apatosaurus although hybrids are considered improbable. He was 2nd hand for a couple of dollars. I hesitate to give voice to him after viewing a couple episodes of Twilight Zone where the ventriloquist’s dummy really gets out of hand. This M.S. could cause my mind to go haywire. What did you say Herb? (Just kidding).
Awwww, I can’t imagine Herb getting out of hand. I am sure he is very well behaved. I have always found ventriloquist’s dummies a little creepy. But I’m sure Herb would be fine. 🙂 I hope you have a lovely Christmas tomorrow! 🙂 Have you got any plans? 🙂 xxxx
This is a fun post Heather – you AND Dizzy are both very adventurous, more so than me. I can’t swim either. Why I never learned I don’t know. I was no fan of gym in elementary school nor middle school.
I did try to learn. I even tried to learn how to swim a few years ago at the MS centre, but still no luck. I think I’m just not made for swimming. 🙂 xxx
Since we never learned to swim, we are otherwise perfect in every way I guess. {{{ }}} Hugs to you and Dizzy.
Hi Heather,
I am too long in the tooth for sailing these days. But, in my younger, pre MS, years I was a keen dinghy sailor and at one point, a competitive windsurfer. And you are right, sailing is a great way to hone your cognitive abilities.
And to keep active and fit. Plus the sailing fraternity are a friendly bunch of people who, as a rule, undertand nothing about multiple sclerosis.
I hope you keep up your nautical activities and learn to keep the MonSter under control.
Hi Stephen, Windsurfing looks far to adventurous for me! 🙂 How long did you sail and surf for? 🙂 They do all seem a friendly bunch so far, and they are very keen to teach me how to sail. I just need to be a bit more confident out on the water. 🙂 I hope you are keeping well Stephen, and Happy Halloween! 🙂 xxx
My plans are usually to spend quiet time at home. The family used to have pot lucks & honestly, I can’t remember any of the conversations!
The neighbor considered talking to the cats was the same as talking a lot to myself so with Herb it might be seen as a worse problem. ? At least he does look harmless enough probably being from a set.
What do you do for New Year’s Eve?
.
Hehe, I am sure Herb is completely harmless. How has the start of the New Year been for him? 🙂 x We always keep New Years very quiet. How about you? xxx
The start of the New Year has been quiet for Herb. He is among the gifts of teddy bears, a dachshund with an extremely long back, plus a former cat toy – small yellow chick (the sound had been too realistic for me).
And yes we ALL know he hatched from an egg. I’m dealing with the cold temperatures having a few headaches and the trigeminal neuralgia is acting up a bit. The MSAA webinar “Still Me: Turning Simple & Realistic Resolutions into Habits” 1/19/2023 was good. Hopefully, they will last more than a few days!
I’m sorry the trigeminal neuralgia has been acting up. Has it settled down a little now? It has been super chilly in England too, but I keep telling Dizzy that the Spring isn’t too far away now. Has February been any warmer there for you and Herb? xxx
Yes, the tn is stabilized after a few higher doses of generic Oxcarbazepin (Trileptal). It’s extremely alarming to have the unpredictable “jabs” return. I wasn’t aware rx could enable full jaw movement & thought I’d be drinking from a straw the rest of my life.
For a few days the temperature WAS up a few degrees with fog followed by this morning’s scattered snow dusting. Now freezing temperatures are in the forecast again. It can be really erratic here! Herb is also part mushroom. I wouldn’t tell him everything.