VACATION

One of the things I love most about blogging is that other people reach out to you and when they think there is a topic that you may find interesting.  This is the 2nd time I have been lucky enough to have someone do this.  Today's post is about exercise and travel and is brought to you by Mike, stop by and check out HIS blog too when you get a chance.  As we have been busy planning our family vacation...this came at JUST the right time for me...a friendly reminder if you will! :)  Enjoy!

Going on Vacation Doesn't Mean You Get to Stop Taking Care of Your Body

Standing in long lines at the airport, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, and/or spending hours sitting at a conference table in various meetings all day long takes its toll on travelers. Both business and pleasure travelers feel the stress of travel, yet many still make the decision to take a vacation from exercise while away from home.

Combining Exploration and Exercise

One of the best ways to exercise in a new and exciting city is to combine it with sightseeing. Many travelers take advantage of new bike trails, jogging trails, and walking paths in their destination cities. You can skip the treadmill in your hotel in favor of a jog around the city park or along the beach or waterline. Taking in the sights, smells, and local area can make exercise feel a little less like work and a little more like enjoyment. Forgoing your rental car in favor of a walk through the local neighborhoods can benefit your body and your mind. You might find an interesting new restaurant to try, a coffee shop with a great breakfast selection, or even a few little-known places to come back to later in the day.

Stress Relief in the Hotel
One of the most important reasons travelers should continue to exercise while out of town is to relieve stress. Your knees suffer from tension when you sit for long periods of time, which is easy to do on long flights or car rides. Exercise can ease that tension and help you feel that much better. You don’t have to sweat it out for hours at the gym while you’re enjoying a family vacation or a few days at a work conference, but you should spend a few minutes every day working out. Try taking a walk around your hotel; the neighborhood in which your hotel is located, using the hotel’s fitness facility, or swimming laps in the pool.

Doing Your Research
Before you commit to a particular hotel in your destination city, do your homework. Most hotels offer a fitness center to registered guests. Others even offer exercise classes, such as yoga or Pilate's. You might find it easier to workout in your hotel if you have a class to look forward to. If you’re traveling with your family, knowing you can sneak down to the 24-hour fitness center while the rest of the family is asleep can make you feel less guilty about missing family time. On a recent trip to Maui I was able to book a hotel with a 24-hour gym by researching on a site called Gogobot beforehand. Here I could get a list of all the Maui hotels and discern which hotels had the best fitness centers. This way I could enjoy the rest of my day after my early morning workout.

Vacation is a time for relaxation and enjoyment. If you are stressed, tense, or your body is suffering from the wear and tear of travel, you shouldn’t skip a workout. Doing so will only detract from the enjoyment your trip is supposed to bring you.