Go to the Gym Every Day on Vacation
Sometimes you need a vacation from vacation. Travel can be stressful, especially in some cases. For example, family vacation has drama built into it, no matter how good your family is. So here’s a tip: Go to the gym every morning.
Of course, you can think of your vacation as time to take a break from your workout schedule . It is allowed. But a year or two ago, I started making time for training on any work trip, and I found that instead of feeling like I had more work to do, my morning workout was a comfortable routine and kind of confidence-building. : Whatever awaits me for the rest of the day, I’ve already done something before breakfast.
Last week I decided to apply the same logic to family vacations. And instead of settling for a lousy hotel gym , I bought a week pass to the gym where I could do the barbell exercises I usually do at home. I spent an hour there every morning and somehow the whole vacation went much smoother than ever.
At first I thought I should apologize for my training on vacation, but then several people told me that I was doing the same. “I booked a couple of Pilates classes when I was in London last month and I was very glad I did,” our editor-in-chief Virginia Smith told me. “They brought me to an area that I otherwise would not have seen much and made me feel much better physically and mentally.”
How to escape
First, decide what kind of exercise you want to do and where you can do it. Every city will have a selection of yoga studios, bike studios, standard gyms, and more. If you’ve signed up for a service like Classpass, check out their capabilities at your destination. Many gyms and studios don’t list daily or weekly rates on their websites, but they’ll make you a great deal if you write or call.
If you are a powerlifter or Olympic weightlifter, often the easiest way to start your workout is to look for a CrossFit box nearby. Check their schedule for the “open gym” time when classes are off and you can load the barbell and do whatever you want with it.
If you really want to see new areas, consider running or cycling – or even just walking! – in your area if it is safe to do so . (Some hotels recommend running trails if you ask at the front desk.) In truth, if you are not ready for exercise and just need to be alone for a bit, tell your family you are going to do yoga and then just find quiet place to sit on the mat.