Tips for Combining Work out and Travel

• Pack your strength ball, tubing, or bands—or buy some inflatable weights. None of these items are heavy and they take very little space to pack. The inflatable weights are filled with water and can weigh up to 16 pounds.
• If you’re taking a road trip, bring your rebounder. A fold-up rebounder will fit in the trunk of your car.
• Try to get up and stretch every hour on a plane, and to take regular hourly breaks during a car trip. Movement keeps your lymphatic system flowing and flushes out toxins. Of course, you can’t always move around on a plane the way you’d like, but at least kick off your shoes and wiggle your toes periodically to keep the circulation flowing. If you’re concerned about varicose veins, you can buy special support socks that keep the blood flowing toward your heart.
• Drink lots of water when you fly. It’s very dehydrating to be in a plane, and the long hours of sitting allow lots of waste products and toxins to build up within your system. Flush them out with a good deal of water. We like to carry several bottles of water on the plane to keep from pestering the flight attendants.
• Ask the desk clerk or concierge what facilities the hotel has to offer. Most hotels these days have fitness rooms, with maybe a treadmill and some weights. You might also schedule a massage during your visit! If the hotel massage therapist can perform a lymphatic drainage massage, terrific. But even a regular massage is good for your circulation and your lymphatic system—and it’s a great stress releaser on a difficult trip.
• Rent a fitness video or DVD from the hotel. Many hotels have DVD players or VCRs in every room, and you’d be surprised at how many in-room fitness routines you can do.
• Ask the desk clerk or concierge where you can take a walk. A brisk walk in the morning, or at the end of the afternoon when you feel drained, can help rev you up for the challenging work ahead.
• Get in short walks wherever you can. Instead of trying to block out forty minutes for a full cardio workout, wear or carry comfortable shoes and take advantage of little bits of time. Most hub airports require ten minutes just to change planes. Many office buildings have accessible stairways. A little movement will help you blow off the tension that often accompanies business meetings and enable you to stay clear, calm, and focused.
• Start your day with the Sun Salutation. And throw in a Sun Salutation when you’re changing from day to evening clothes. This total body stretching exercise will help relax you like nothing else, bringing healthful oxygen to your brain and getting your blood moving. It only takes five minutes, and it leaves you feeling great. Imagine a business trip on which you did a Sun Salutation in the morning, one while you were changing into your evening wear, and one more about ninety minutes before bedtime. Just those three five-minute intervals can make a huge difference in how you feel.
• If you’re visiting friends or family, ask for their help. As you plan your time together, let your loved ones know that you’d like to fit in thirty minutes or an hour to take a brisk walk or to do some strength training. If you let them know ahead of time what you need, they can work your fitness time into plans for the visit.