It’s almost impossible to stick to your normal workout routine when you travel; however, with a few intentional choices you can still prioritize your overall health and fitness regardless of where your travels take you.
Switching your perspective and looking at your vacation or work travel as an opportunity to try a new form of movement is a great place to start. While you may not be able to hit your 6:00am spin class that you love at home, you can find new and creative ways to incorporate movement into your day.
Varying your movement practice not only benefits you physically but also mentally, so use your next holiday to introduce some new elements into your workout. Here are eight great tips to make movement an integral part of your next vacation.
Stay active on travel days
Let’s face it, travel days can involve a lot of sitting so make sure you are sneaking in extra movement before your flight or car trip. Take the stairs, walk around the airport before your flight, and make sure you incorporate stretch breaks. If you have a long layover, check and see if the airport has a gym and stash your carry-on bag accordingly.
Walk everywhere
Skip the train, bus, or Uber and walk to see the sights, get coffee, or wherever your day takes you. If you want to cover more ground that walking will allow, consider renting a bike instead.
Go for a run
One of the best ways to see a new city or town is on a run. Wake up early and take a sight-seeing walk or run to explore the area.
Do some online yoga + barre
Yoga is a great way to stretch after a long travel day or busy day sight-seeing. Ohana Yoga + Barre has hundreds of on-demand classes to choose from, some as short as 20 minutes which makes it easy to squeeze into your day. If you’re worried about not having props, you can explore all the classes that don’t require them.
Take a hike
One of the best ways to explore nature is to take to the trails. You can soak up the natural beauty wherever you are and get a great workout in the process.
Scope out local parks
If hiking isn’t for you, find a local park or trail and go explore. You can enjoy a relaxing walk or rent a bike to cruise around the area.
Do a hotel workout
Make time to visit your hotel gym for a quick workout before you start your day. If your hotel or lodging doesn’t have one, consider traveling with resistance bands for an efficient and effective home workout.
Soak up the sun
If your travel includes a beach or lake, try your hand at a water sport like kayaking, paddling boarding, or swimming.
There’s no wrong way to stay active on your next vacation. Anything you can do that encourages exploring, movement, and exercise is a great way to encourage more movement throughout the day while you explore your new surroundings. (While we love yoga + barre, being in a studio isn’t the only way to move your body!) Most of all, choose movement that feels fun. Life is short and being active should never feel like a “have to do,” especially when you’re on vacation.
Erin Entlich is a certified yoga instructor, personal trainer, holistic health coach, and writer. She believes doing good starts with feeling good, which is why she loves helping people weave movement, mindfulness, and healthy eating into their daily lives. Find out more at www.erinentlich.com.