Exercise desire for fitness while travelling
Opportunities to stay active while on vacation are easier than you think, expert says
Think you won’t have time to exercise on your next vacation? Not according to Annette Lang, a certified personal trainer based in New York. “You can actually maintain and even improve your fitness level when you’re on the road,” she said.
Here are some travel tips she offers her clients.
Experience your environment through activity Think about how you can include some activity on each day of your getaway, Lang said. If you’re in an urban destination that has a bike share program, consider renting a bike for an hour or two, and take a ride along a waterfront or other scenic part of town.
Discovering your destination on foot is the ideal way to get an authentic sense of place and be active at the same time
When visiting sites with scenic views like a building’s observation deck or cathedral roof, climb the stairs to the top, if that’s an option. Even a few minutes of stair climbing will boost your heart rate.
And, if you’re hiking or exploring a local park, throw in a little exercise by doing 10 step-ups to a bench followed by 10 push-ups, and repeating the set at the next three benches you pass by.
“This quick workout burst goes a long way in keeping you fit,” Lang said.
Create a walking tour Discovering your destination on foot is the ideal way to get an authentic sense of place and be active at the same time. Lang loves to design her own walking tours whenever she’s on vacation.
On her recent trip to San Francisco, Lang started her day at a popular breakfast joint, hit two museums, visited Fisherman’s Wharf and ended the day at several bars. All told, Lang logged more than16 kilometres through the city and took in plenty of sights at the same time.
Start your day with a mini workout Take five minutes in the morning on each day of your vacation to do a high-intensity workout. “You’ll burn calories first thing and also feel energized for the rest of the day,” Lang said. Plenty of high-impact workouts that don’t require equipment are available for you to follow along online. Do a quick web search or visit YouTube for ideas, or drop by your hotel’s gym, if it has one.
Alternatively, try the following workout from Lang: 20 push-ups, 20 squat jumps (where you go into a deep squat and jump up toward the sky as high as you can) and 20 burpees (where you jump up toward the sky, come down into a squat, kick your legs behind you in a plank position with arms extended and then come back up).
Repeat three or four times or until you’ve been moving for at least five straight minutes.
Don’t just wait in line Whether it’s to buy tickets for a popular attraction or cue up to board a tour bus, waiting in line can be inevitable. Instead of passively standing and waiting, however, Lang suggested using your time to do three exercises that your fellow bystanders won’t notice: calf raises, which strengthen the lower legs; glute squeezes, where you tighten your glutes and hold as long as you can before releasing, to tone your backside; and belly breathing, where you exhale as you pull your stomach in and keep inhaling and exhaling while pulling it in more, to boost core strength.
You might garner some odd looks, but the result will be worth it.