Staying Active While Vacationing
Travel season has officially started for a great number of us. Spring break, summer vacation, business travel, self-discovery, whatever the reason, we’re heading out and leaving the comforts, and stresses, of our day-to-day lives to visit new places. Getaways are a form of self-care, but why not maximize your time away?
No matter where you decide to go or how you decide to travel, there’s a travel-friendly workout that you can do to remain consistent.
I get it. It’s not that easy to get active when you’ve been dreaming of sunbathing with a piña colada in hand all winter. The lack of equipment, food prep, and good night’s sleep can also be pretty discouraging; but you haven’t been putting in all that work in the gym just to throw it away on an all-inclusive food and liquor package…unless that was the plan all along. It may seem like the universe is working against your “snatched” aspirations, but you actually have plenty of options.
Airport Workouts
We do our best to avoid layovers and if we’re lucky, our connecting flights are back-to-back. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. If you’re one of those travelers blessed with a 12-hour layover, it’s not a bad idea to spend some of that time lifting your luggage or wall sitting. I’ve listed some moves that can easily be done in an airport setting. Massy Arias also has some great ideas so be sure to check out her page!
Luggage Squats: Whether you’re standing in a long TSA line or waiting patiently at your gate, you can perform weighted squats with your luggage. Hug that duffle bag into your chest. Keeping the chest lifted, send your weight down and back (onto the heels).
Stretching/Yoga: Traveling can be stressful, so it’s not a bad idea to stretch out some of your body’s kinks while tuning out all of those airport sounds. Apple Music has plenty of meditation playlists if you have a hard time finding your Zen.
Body Weight Movement: Plenty of options here, all it requires is you! Body weight movement includes push-ups, planks, lunges, jumping jacks, pretty much anything you can think of. As long as you have enough space, these movements can be performed anywhere in the airport.
Walking/Jogging: This one’s a given! You’re already walking the halls of the airport, but with a little more intention you can make it a workout. Traveling with a companion? Leave your luggage behind and take yourself on a power walk or light jog!
Hotel Room Workouts
If you’ve got furniture, you’ve got action! Tricep dips, step-ups, sit-to-stand, and literally any bodyweight cardio exercise can be done in your hotel room. Rolling desk chair? Even better. Use it to execute some hamstring curls, split lunges, or rollouts.
Beach Workouts
I’ve said it before. Sand workouts are everything! The sand helps with shock absorption with any jumping and will help you burn more calories than the same work on a flat road. Beach volleyball is a great way to get everyone involved if you’re traveling with a group (or a nice way to meet new people).
Stair Climbs and Hikes
Traveling grants you an opportunity to see all the sights your destination has to offer. You can make your own walking tour or participate in activities that require you to move your body. Some examples include bike rides, mountain and stair climbs, touring museums, sightseeing, and bar crawling (earn your cocktails).
Go for a Swim!
It’s a well-known fact that swimming is one of the best ways to stay active. You’re able to raise your heart rate without putting stress on the body. Swimming helps build endurance and muscle strength, and promotes healthy heart and lungs! Take advantage of your downtime and try not to let the busy airport and change of scenery discourage you from making the most of your travel time!