Travel and exercise go together as well as travel and dieting. When we hit the road, healthy habits often don’t make it into our bags or itineraries. And that, of course, is why traveling can expand our waistlines as well as our minds.
Ten to 20 minutes of daily, heart pumping physical activity are all you need to boost your mood and metabolism, and burn fat. Here are easy ways to accomplish exercising on the road:
Yoga. No workout is more mobile than yoga. You can pack your mat in a cool-looking yoga bag, but you don’t even need the mat. Fifteen minutes of sun salutations—I prefer a mix of Sivananda style with Ashtanga A and B—will raise your heart rate, warm your muscles, and help keep you limber and strong. Extremely efficient, yoga also offers meditative benefits. Load your favorite guided yoga class on to your iPhone or play your favorite tunes (my current mix: Santana, Led Zeppelin, Mary J. Blige and Beth Martens) and create your own sequence.
Jump Rope. Fun and aerobically challenging, jumping rope is great cross-training, especially for trekkers looking to build cardio capacity. Work up to jumping for 10 minutes straight.
Handstands. Here’s a fast and efficient way to build strength in your shoulders, arms and back: hold a handstand against a wall for two minutes or longer.
Jogging. You probably pack running shoes as part of your sightseeing wardrobe. You may as well take them for a morning spin before beginning your day as a tourist. Knees not into running? Find a spot with hilly terrain and walk your way into shape.
Sightsee on foot. Drop into a local exercise, dance, yoga, or other fitness class. Swim, Rent a bike.
