Travel doesn’t have to be hazardous to your health, however. With a little advance planning and basic self-awareness, you can navigate through trip after trip and get the exercise and nutrition your body needs.
A good trip begins before you leave home. Make plans to get proper nutrition and exercise so you won’t be caught off guard once you have left home. Learn a little about the area where you plan to travel. Find out about local walking trails or gyms that you might be able to use while visiting. If you are booking your own hotel, make sure it has an in-room refrigerator where you can keep healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and veggies to ward off midnight munchies. Also, select a hotel that has quality fitness amenities such as running trails for guests, a well-maintained fitness center and in-room fitness features like yoga television or aerobics videos. Prior to my last trip to San Francisco I did some research before booking a flight or hotel to make sure all my lodging and fitness needs could be met while I was away. I searched through review sites that offered me some great insight on possible hotels in San Francisco that I could stay at. The reviews were very helpful and I was easily able to pick the right hotel for my needs. All in all it was a great trip and I think that had to do with all the simple planning that was done beforehand.
Pack well. Remember to bring your athletic shoes and comfortable workout clothes. An exercise band packs easily and provides a great way to get an intense workout in a small space.
During long flights, take a moment to stretch and do chair exercises every hour or two. Do a few shoulder rolls, side bends, leg lifts, ankle rolls and so on to minimize the discomfort that comes from sitting in a cramped space for extended periods of time.
Throughout your trip, manage your personal fitness expectations. You won’t be working out for an hour or two at the gym each day, but you can get healthy exercise and movement in smaller doses. Getting up early and running for 15 or 20 minutes each morning is a great way to improve your travel experience and personal fitness. In the evenings, you can take a few minutes before falling into bed to move through some yoga poses, improving your balance and inner peace as well as your flexibility. By the end of your trip, these small measures will add up to success.
