The Best Travel Friendly Workouts!
- Zoe Wernick
- Apr 16, 2016
- 6 min read
With this post I'm going to deviate from what I normally do here but I thought that this might be a helpful idea! Be sure to let me know what you think about articles like this one in the comments!
I don't talk much about myself on this blog because that's not what it's for. My focus here is to make it easier to find Gluten Free stuff in our city! But I LOVE to travel and health and fitness is very important to me personally. I also know (from experience!) that traveling can be very hard your digestive system and waistline - even more so when you have food allergies and sensitivities! I've found that a little exercise can go a long way to keep my stomach moving and happy.
I love adventure travel, and try to do as much of it as possible! If I can add an outdoor activity to my trip (or make the whole trip about it!) I do so! But there are plenty of places that I want to see that don't really afford those opportunities (Although, all the staircases I climbed in Paris should constitute as "climbing/adventure travel" even if it is an urban city!)
But when you're traveling, do you need to workout? Normally I would say no, but honestly I think it depends on the type and length of your trip. When I traveled through Europe and the US for two months I would have felt a lot better physically if I had done more. I went on a run a couple times and did some light stretching, but with the combination of sightseeing, eating amazing food for every meal, and drinking more than my usual, I really wasn't feeling my best. So now when I travel, depending on the length or the activities we are doing, I try to incorporate some of these workouts to help me feel my best and get the most out of my trips! Thanks to my best friend I found Fitness Blender and I haven't stopped working out with them since!
Fitness Blender is a website with over 500 FREE Workout videos. You can mix and match their workouts to create your own plan for free, or if you want some guidance you can purchase one of their plans for around $15. Daniel and Kelli are a married couple who love to be fit and really promote healthy habits, safe workouts, and positive body image. They are really the kind of people you get a great impression from and they (obviously) aren't there to scam you for your money! They really want to help people get fit, and they are sweet and cute and fun to work out with. And just FYI, this isn't a sponsored post at all, they are just who I use and they are awesome and I want to share them with everyone! Left: Me after a "Workout Complete!"
Let's be honest, when you're travelling, especially for extended periods of time, even if you're eating things you aren't allergic to you're bound to indulge more than usual! Your normal activities change and while you're likely walking a ton sightseeing, you're not getting that extra boost to your digestive system that good exercise can help with. And I can't be the only person that is completely sore from head to toe after a day at the museum! (Why, oh why is standing still so hard on our bodies!? Ouch!)
However, when you're travelling, your space for working out is limited! So I've chosen a few of my favorite travel friendly videos of theirs that require no equipment and can be done in the small space of a hotel room. Daniel and Kelli are fond of burpies but I've tried to pick videos that don't include those or other loud exercises that require a lot of room! However, don't forget that if something comes your way you can't do in the space you have you can always modify! I like to substitute regular squats or perhaps even jumping jacks if you've got the space.
Or if you've walked a bajillion miles or stared up at some enormous architecture all day, perhaps you should treat yourself with a nice relaxing stretching routine! I've included a couple good ones here too!
Take a few extra minutes for yourself during your vacation and your body and mind will thank you for it! Happy Travels!
I hope you all enjoy Daniel and Kelli and Fitness Blender as much as I do!
Zoë
Firstly, Daniel and Kelli have more to say on the subject of working out and travel. I highly recommend you watch their short video about it first!
Workouts: Details of all the exercises in each workout are listed below the video on each link. All routines that I've chosen are under 30 minutes, because you're travelling after all, and there is a lot to see and do out there!! :) If you travel for business or are traveling long term, feel free to search their site for even more great videos! But here are my favorites for small spaces and short times:
22 minutes, a great one for the hotel room to help you get your body moving for a day of sightseeing!
24 minutes, requires enough space to do jumping jacks and a push up. Cool down not included.
9 minutes, requires very little space. Our lower bodies are doing most of the work when we're travelling, so sometimes I like to work on my upper body and then do some nice stretching for the lower!
10 minutes, requires very little space. Another great upper body workout!
5) Standing Abs and Obliques Workout without Crunches - Intermediate to Advanced Standing Abs Exercies
15 minutes, requires enough space to kick both legs out to the side and in front of you (but you can always turn your body!) A great way to work on your abs - I prefer these standing exercises to crunches any day! You just need a little balance for these.
30 minutes, requires enough space to do a plank. This is a GREAT option because it has two "rounds" of the same set of exercises! If you've only got 15 minutes, then just do the first set to get your body moving, or complete them both for an extra burn!
32 mins, space enough to sit on a chair! If you REALLY don't have room in your hotel room, there's always this chair routine!
6 minutes, space enough for a jumping jack. Feeling sluggish from indulging and touristing? Try this short video to help you start your new day feeling better!
10 minutes, space enough for a push up. Staying at a friends or relative's place? Pair this short workout with the above warm up for 15 minutes of relatively quiet exercise to start your day.
16 minutes, space enough for a burpie. Maybe you're staying on the ground floor, an Air BnB, or a hotel where you've got a touch more space. This routine isn't quiet, but it's a nice short way to get your blood pumping to start your day!
Stretching Routines:
32 minutes, This is a GREAT total body stretching routine that can help you feel re-energized for another day of sightseeing.
35 minutes, another full body stretching routine with a slightly different feel.
17 minutes. Woke up feeling tight from staring at paintings in a museum yesterday? Do this short routine to loosen up and prepare for another full day of fun!
18 minutes. My lower back is always tight when I'm travelling! Whether it's from planes, trains, or whatever form of transport I'm taking, my lower back takes a beating.
15 minutes. Start or finish your day with a lovely light total body stretch.
15 minutes. Traveling with your partner? Take 15 minutes to decompress together after your amazing day.
Below are some photos from my travels because I can't resist the chance to share! A lot of "Selfie's," I know, but hey, I did a lot of solo travel! If you'd like to see more (and more Gluten Free Travel stuff) you can follow my personal account on Instagram, @travelswithzoe. Hope you enjoy these workouts! Let me know if you use them and what you thought!!
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