How to Sweat Between Margaritas: The Ultimate Vacation Workout Guide
Vacation is a time for relaxation, exploration, and taking a break from the usual. But for fitness enthusiasts and those who find solace in their workout routines, keeping active while on vacation can add to the enjoyment of being away from home. Here’s how you can integrate exercise into your vacation, no matter your destination, with an emphasis on bodyweight exercises, HIIT, mobility, stretching, cardio, and band workouts.
Why Consider Vacation Workouts?
While the primary goal of a vacation is to rest and rejuvenate, incorporating workouts can actually enhance your holiday experience. Exercise boosts your mood, energy levels, and helps mitigate those indulgent vacation meals. Plus, it keeps you in tune with your body and maintains the progress you've worked hard for back home.
Remember, vacation workouts are all about adaptability, enjoyment, and keeping it simple. If you’re already consistent with your fitness regime, missing a week won’t set you back significantly. The key is listening to your body and making workouts a fun addition to your day, not a strenuous obligation.
Minimal Equipment, Maximum Efficiency
For vacation workouts, the less equipment required, the better. Resistance bands and a yoga mat are versatile and travel-friendly tools that enable a wide range of exercises. They’re light, fit easily into your luggage, and can transform any space into your personal gym.
Designing Your Vacation Workout
Considering your goals, available equipment, and how much time you want to dedicate to exercise, designing your vacation workout can be straightforward. The philosophy here is simple: keep workouts short but effective, focusing on mobility drills to maintain flexibility and incorporating super sets or circuits for efficiency and intensity.
Sample Vacation Workouts
Here are two sample workouts that require minimal equipment, can be alternated daily, and are designed to keep you active without taking away from your vacation relaxation. Perform 3 sets of each super set, take 30 seconds rest between sets, and aim for reps until you're at about 90% of your capacity, keeping a slow tempo to increase difficulty.
Day 1
Side Lunges with Banded Rows
Single Leg RDL with Push-ups
Hollow Holds with Prone Cobra
Day 2
Banded Bulgarian Split Squat with Banded Overhead Press
Heel Elevated Glute Bridge (Single Leg for Difficulty) with Single Arm Banded Row
Palloff Press with Dead Bugs
Conclusion
Vacation workouts should enhance your holiday by making you feel good, maintaining your fitness levels, and offering a fun challenge. Choose activities you enjoy, be flexible, and remember, the ultimate goal is to relax and recharge. This adaptive approach ensures your workouts complement your vacation time, allowing you to relish your travels and your fitness with equal enthusiasm.