Yury's Corner

Exercising When You Are Away

People travel. They go on vacations, business trips, and family outings. Those trips can last a few days to couple of month. How do you manage to stay in shape and continue to exercise while you're away from your home gym? Here are some tips for staying in shape even when you're away. 

 

Start with your mode of travel; when you are on a long flight, stand up every 30 min. just to walk around and shake out your limbs. It will help with blood circulation and prevent you from getting stiff. Be careful with your suitcases though; you might think, "it is just 30-40 lb. and I've lifted weights that heavy at the gym," but you are not warmed-up, and if you lift that luggage in sudden manner you might pull a muscle. Make sure to use you legs, not the lower back, to left things from the ground, and occasionally switch arms while pulling or caring your belongings. 

Finally, you're at your destination! Check out the fitness center/exercise room at the hotel/resort where you are staying. Don't panic if the machines look different from what you have seen before. In general, most machines work in a similar manner and if there is a real difference it should only take you just few minutes to figure it out. Ask for an assistance if you're still not sure. Remember your regular routine and try to modify it accordingly. Most places now have basic things like free weights, physio balls, floor mats, ect.

 

If it's a long trip, like to a winter or summer home, you may want to see if there is a gym near you. People get concerned: what if the new place does not have the same exercise equipment or what if the trainer I hire has different training philosophy? Don't worry, it is OK to change things for a little while.  

If you don't have access to a gym or didn't like the one you checked out, there are lots of exercises you can do almost anywhere. Try to spend as much time as possibly outdoors: walking, biking, swimming, hiking - that should take care of the cardiovascular part of your training. If you are close to the beach, walking barefoot on the soft sand will strengthening the small muscles around the joints (ankle, knee, hip), help prevent injuries, and improve your balance. Simple core exercises can be done in your hotel room, on the beach, or in the back yard of the house where you are staying. A few different kinds of sit-ups, supermans, and planks would do the trick. Don't forget to warm-up before doing them.

Bottom line: a change of routine is not a bad thing. Consider it as cross training, it will help you keep the fitness you already have. But if you do loose some, don't worry; we'll take care of it as soon as you come back!

 

~Yury