12/17/2024

Summer is the perfect time to travel, explore new places, and enjoy a change of scenery. It can be challenging to maintain your fitness routine while traveling. As a physical therapist, I often hear concerns from clients about falling out of their exercise habits during trips. The good news is that staying active while traveling is not only possible but can also be a fun part of your adventure. Here is how you can keep moving and stay healthy during your summer travels:

1. Plan Ahead

Before you even pack your bags, take some time to research your destination. Look for areas you want to explore and see if you can walk, hike, or bike to get around.

2. Pack Appropriate Clothing

Make sure to pack a workout outfit, this does not take a lot of space up in your suitcase. If you will be walking a lot, pack running sneakers. If you don’t have room to pack running sneakers, you can always get a quick mobility or workout session in barefoot in your room.

3. Use Your Body Weight

You don’t need a gym to stay fit. Bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, and burpees can be done almost anywhere and are highly effective for maintaining strength and endurance. Consider watching an online workout videos to guide you through a quick routine.

4. Incorporate Movement into Your Itinerary

Exploring a new place often means a lot of walking, which is excellent for your health. Choose activities that keep you active, such as hiking, biking, or even taking walking tours. Getting your steps in is a great way to stay active on vacation without having to hit the gym.

5. Make It a Group Activity

If you are traveling with family or friends, get everyone involved in staying active. Plan group activities that get you moving, like walking, kayacking or hiking.

6. Stay Consistent

Even short, daily workouts can help you maintain your fitness level. Aim for consistency rather than intensity. A 20-minute movement session daily can be more effective than sporadic, intense sessions. Find a routine that works for you and stick with it.

How To Stay Active While Traveling

You don’t need to hit the gym on your vacation to stay active. If you want to stick with formal workouts, I would recommend performing them first thing in the morning. If you are focused on getting regular movement in, incorporate walking, biking, hiking or kayacking into your vacation plan. Look at it as a way to explore, instead of a workout. Enjoy and happy travels!

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