No matter whether we are on a weekend trip or a long journey, we have realised the advantages of working out during travel. The result is a more alert traveller who can absorb the experience better. And it is easy to shrug away exercise blues when you travel since you are already in a happier space. Here are some of our tried and tested ways to stay fit while travelling.

Should you exercise on vacation?

Many would sneer at the idea of exercise during travel. From experience, we can say that travel comes with responsibilities towards the destination and towards the self. If you stay fit during travel you can absorb the experience so much more. You are alert, aware of the surroundings and you eat better. It ensures the trip is not spoiled due to minor ailments and you can enjoy the break to the fullest. Not to say that once back home, you can return to the regimen easily. In any case, you don’t want to come back from a trip and realise you don’t fit in your denim anymore. Given that we travel frequently, a question that we frequently hear is how can I stay fit during vacation?

How to stay fit while travelling?

We have been dealing with this question for long. After some rookie mistakes, we have devised some tips to stay fit while travelling while not compromising on having fun. We have made this list on ways to stay fit while travelling. If you have more options, we would love to try those out as well.

Working out during travel

Of late, we have seen, more often than not, most places where we have stayed have gymnasiums. It could be an elaborate affair with machines, changing rooms, fragrant towels and a trainer; or a small room with a treadmill, maybe a cross-trainer and some weights. No matter what, we try to include 15 minutes to half hour’s work out in the gym. In case there is no such space, there is always a garden or a lawn for jumping-jacks and stretches.

Yoga

We have realised yoga is a practice, or way of life that can be pursued anywhere, including in your hotel room. A mat is helpful and there are many foldable varieties you can shove one in your bag easily. Beginners can try the various yoga apps on phone. Some resorts have instructors, even daily yoga sessions in the morning. And if you can wake up, it could be most rejuvenating. We had an early morning session on the beautiful red-stone roof of Shikwa Haveli and Tendu Leaf Jungle Resort. The colours of the morning sun beautifully blended with the surroundings and made the experience very memorable.

Swimming

We try to take a dip in the pool wherever and whenever possible. It is the only exercise where you don’t sweat. We swim in the morning to stretch ourselves and work an appetite before breakfast. If we find some time when we are back in the evening, we take a dip again to rejuvenate ourselves. It’s our favourite activity whenever we are opting for a staycation. Flashback to Golden Tusk Resort, Jim Corbett National Park. We bonded with other travellers in the pool.

Cycling

Many resorts provide bicycles for the guests so that they can explore the surrounding areas at their own pace. Cycling is a great exercise and a lot of fun. Not to mention eco-friendliness. We remember cycling in the surrounding village at Amatra Resort, Haridwar and coming across all sorts of oversized bright fruits and vegetables, things we miss in the city. However, please be mindful of the dos and don’ts as instructed by the resort to know which areas are safe and which areas are sensitive or you would be trespassing.

Spa and massages

It is not always about burning calories. Sometimes you want to just pamper and rejuvenate with spa services or a herbal oil massage. It helps in better circulation of blood and cleaning dead cells from the body. There was a Naturopathy clinic at Ahaana Resort, Jim Corbett. We remember getting deep tissue massages here that relaxed us for a long while. They followed this up with some warm herbal tea and made our day.

Adventure activities

Though we are all for slow travel and lazy vacations, there are times we end up travelling to zones that are known for adventure activities. These activities are the ultimate test of one’s physical and mental stamina. The adrenaline rush is a bonus. We tried water rappelling at Chakrata, Uttarakhand, not knowing exactly what we were in for. Once the instructor guided us, and we looked down, our hearts sank. But that was a point of no return. To confess, we were very alarmed when we started but soon, we felt a sense of joy and freedom, like a bird. The memories still give us goosebumps.

River rafting

River rafting is a very popular water sport in India as well as all over the world. We still remember our experience of river rafting at Rishikesh years back. It was an ultimate exercise for the upper body and a whole lot of fun and adventure. Did we mention that the team spirit that developed with hitherto unknown people on the raft made the experience extra special? No wonder it is a popular sport for corporate team building vacations. We also river rafted in Kiulu, Malaysia. We were there to receive Travel Earth Awards and enjoyed this activity with our teammates.

Trekking

We can’t even remember how many trekking expeditions we have participated. Small, medium and big ones, popular and offbeat, we have joined in all sort of trekking trips. From Kedarnath to the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal, trekking is an amazing workout. The sense of achievement at the end of it makes the whole exercise totally worth it. We recall a recent trek at Jalori Pass, near Tirthan Valley. Our destination was Salasar Lake, but we lost our way and just when we started panicking, a saviour appeared from nowhere and guided us. Oh, we were so exhausted that night!

Walking

One of the most effective and injury-free exercises in the world is walking. We have been huge fans of long walks in the mountains or on the beach. There is no better way to let yourself loose during a vacation than to just walk. Many a time we would shun our car or bike and just walk in the local market or a village. We end up having a great exercise of the whole body. We recently visited Jhaltola, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. We went for a walk through the surrounding villages. The houses, the flowers and fruits, everything was so beautiful that we walked and walked and lost track of time or distance. Our host had to send transport to fetch us back.

Taking steps to visit a temple

According to Indian mythology the road to divinity is full of difficulties and one has to go through the ultimate hardships to reach the god. No wonder most of our famous temples are built on a height and you have to climb many stairs to reach the shrine. Be it Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir or Shikharji in Mount Abu, the road to god is never a cakewalk. But we don’t mind. Taking steps is a great workout and is always recommended by doctors and gym coaches. We have had a mix of fun and oohing and aahing while climbing the stairs to temples in Fagu, Himachal but all said and done, these were fantastic workouts. Last year we were at Shikari Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh and it was a climb of more than 500 steps, and then again some more trekking up. We were almost dead. But the view and the divinity of this roofless temple was worth every drop of sweat.

Eating local cuisine

When in Rome do what Romans do. You can never fall sick during travel if you eat freshly made food from local produce. It’s a great way to understand the local culture, food preferences of a particular area as well as to try new cuisine and keep your health in check at the same time. We strongly recommend Kumauni cuisine in Uttarakhand. It was an array of known, little-known and unknown items that were sometimes tangy, sometimes sweet but always full of surprise. Made from local organic produce, and light on spice, it was a reflection of what locals had daily. And if it was daily food, it had to be a sustainable and healthy way of life.

Also read: 10 Health tips for food bloggers

Keeping ourselves hydrated

We make it a point to carry sufficient drinking water whenever we are on a road trip. We also have a habit of stopping at sugarcane or orange juice stalls on the highway to quench our thirst and to get the necessary glucose and vitamins to get us through the day. Carrying one bottle of drinking water per person from home is a great travel hack. You know that the drinking water is clean and you never go thirsty.

Pro-tips for fitness during travel

• If you are not aware about your accommodation during travel, research 10 minutes beforehand and figure out what sort of place is it, does it have a pool, or a gymnasium. You will be able to plan ahead and dedicate some time for exercise.
• Do carry sneakers or some light sport shoes when you travel. Not only would these come handy if you want to exercise or go for a run, these would be very comfortable if you have moderate trekking or sightseeing on your itinerary.
• For good measure, we pack some swimming trunk and goggles because a pool or even a waterfall bathing experience can NEVER be missed.

Featured image: Courtesy Ambica Gulati

PIN IT