vacation • exercise • fitness • travel • Newsletter • 2 min read • Jul 11, 2013 12:00:00 AM • Written by: Kat Smith
If your summer vacation has you taking a long trip by car, plane, or train, you might be dreading the stiffness and exhaustion that can come with lengthy trips. Using the simple, travel-friendly workouts below, you can combat fatigue and feel great about fitting more exercise into your vacation.
In the car
When you plan out a long car ride, you should schedule time to take stops along the way. Many rest stops have short trails or lookout points so that weary travelers can stretch their legs, so don’t miss the chance to get your blood flowing with a brisk walk or jog. You can also take advantage of roadside areas by doing a quick set of squats or pushups that will let you work out the stress of sitting in the car.
On a plane
Because there is not much space on planes to get up and walk around, you might practice some stretches that are doable from your seat. With your legs flat on the floor in front of you, you can do mini calf raises by shifting to the balls of your feet and slowly bringing your heels back to the floor. After 15 repetitions, stretch your legs out one at a time under the seat in front of you for another 15 repetitions. Upper body stretches are also great for the limited space of a plane, and you can do these as you move your legs for a more complete workout right at your seat.
On a train
The motion of a train makes it the perfect place to test your balance and build core strength. To start, raise your arms slightly to the side and lift one foot off the ground. Hold this position for 30 seconds and then switch sides. For a more advanced balance workout, try resting the bottom of your foot on the side of your calf and holding your arms overhead for a position called tree pose. When you arrive at your destination, you might treat your body to a long walk to fully let out the tension of a long journey.
