Whether you travel weekly for work or occasionally for vacation, destination exercise can be a benefit of any trip. Exercise helps my body adjust to the time change (if there is one) and sleep more deeply. If you are a runner or walker, exercise can also be a fantastic way to scope out your new surroundings. The first day of any trip, I like to go for a morning run to get my bearings and learn about the city. However, you don’t have to be a runner or a walker to get in a good sweat session! Here are five tips for getting a good calorie burn from anywhere in the world.
- Always book accommodations that include a gym. Most hotels provide a free fitness area, but some hotels and resorts charge a guest fee. If exercise is a priority, make sure to ask about their fitness center before booking. I have suffered the frustration of a $20 a day gym fee. You might also want to inquire about gym reciprocity. On our recent trip to Canada, hotel guests had access to an upscale fitness center one block away.
- Invest in a gym guest pass. If you travel within the United States there are several chains that sell guest passes. A punch card or class pass provides a huge savings versus paying for a one-time guest fee. Soul-cycle.com is one example. Soul-Cycle is a chain with several locations in New York City. An equally insane spinning class called Spark Cycle (www.sparkcycle.com) is located in San Diego. Shredding is another popular and AH-mazing exercise class that incorporates high intensity interval training on a treadmill followed by weights. You do each series two times for a total of one hour (hence one shredding studio’s name, Shred415). There are multiple Shred415 locations. Check out shred415.com in Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. I like to refer to Yelp if I am looking for something specific.
- Download a workout that you can do from anywhere. I attend a Women on Weights (WOW) class in the city where I live and one of the things I most love about this workout is that I can do it from virtually anywhere if I have access to a gym with weights. I simply take a photo of the routine on my phone. Here is an routine example, compliments of instructor, Jen Vanmeter. Take a look!
- Pack an old pair of tennis shoes that you can leave behind. If you travel often, I realize this is not an option. However, when possible, I like to bring running shoes that are on the last leg of their tread. It is nice to free up room in my suitcase should I buy any souvenirs while on my travels.
- Keep a pair of headphones in your suitcase at all times. Most headphones are inexpensive, an average price of $10 on Amazon.com. I have two sets, one in my mudroom at home next to my workout gear and a pair that stays in my travel bag. I get such a better workout if I have motivating music!
Lastly, I try to push myself to try new things when I am in new places. A few years ago I did a snowshoe walk through the mountains of Vail. It was so beautiful! On a recent spring break trip with the kids we went on a cave dive and snorkeling adventure. Depending on your level of adventure, check out body surfing, sailing or hula dancing! There is nothing more exhilarating than experiencing a new style of workout on vacation. It also helps relieve some of the guilties over having eaten the second chocolate croissant!
Clothes: Lulu Lemon
Shoes: Nike
Cheers,
Sara
mothermojo 