Should I Exercise when I am on Holiday - 5 Benefits of Holiday Exercise

 

Exercising on Holiday

Should you exercise whilst you are away on your holiday? Your annual vacation is for rest and reset, so is exercising a good or bad activity to undertake whilst taking in the rays? 

Family and friends who are not exercisers would probably say: "Why can't you have a proper break and just relax?" or "You are on holiday to rest not workout?" Well, you probably can do both!

Yes it is true that holiday time is for pure relaxation and self indulgence. After all, it's just for 2 weeks a year and you save a good part of your income to get away from reality and the normality of life's daily routines. So exercise and workouts should be left at home, right?

For those who workout regularly spend weeks maybe years perfecting their bodies, making adjustments and consistently journaling and reflecting on the work they do. The decision to relax totally for the entirety of their vacation and not exercise at all is not an easy choice to make........so compromise is the key!

What are the Benefits of Exercising on Holiday

There are some huge benefits to exercising on your holiday. But remember, exercise covers a multitude of activities. We tend to stick to a familiar routine or set programme and focus only on this. Looking at the wider picture our bodies will appreciate a change for both recovery and an alternative type of training.

Doing a light or less intense exercise activity not only helps your muscles recover but may help to prevent lactic acid build up, help muscles to feel less fatigued, remove toxins and boost circulation.   

Exercising on holiday, when implemented correctly has immense well-being advantages for both body and mind. 

Exercising on Holiday - The 5 Benefits

So, you have now decided to partake in some sort of exercise whilst you are on vacation, but feel at a loss as to what to do. You want to feel good about yourself and be pleased with the exercise you do. This is stepping out of your comfort zone and away from your normal gym or exercise class. Sure, this may feel uncomfortable, but this is going to give a boost to your body and mind

• Burning the calories - sitting on a sunbed and enjoying a few cocktails unfortunately will not burn the calories. You want to enjoy extra little treats while you're away but you do not want to gain excess pounds. Adding some exercise to your day will help eliminate the extra weight.

• Better nights sleep - Sleeping in a different bed can sometimes cause restless nights. Adding some exercise to your day aids a good nights sleep, helps you feel more energised and generally feel more alert.

• Self-care and wellness - Continuing to look after yourself whilst you are on holiday is good for both your physical and mental health. There is nothing worse than your waistband getting tighter as each day passes. It's not a feel-good vibe and often brings feelings of stress along with it. Mentally you will feel in control without negative thoughts and in a better state of mind for your return. Your body and mind will be well prepped for your normal workout routines.

• Maintaining good habits - It takes approximately 66 days to form a good habit. It is so easy, if you neglect exercise, to return home 'putting off' going to the gym or your weekly classes. It then becomes mentally tougher to pick it up again. By continuing to exercise, although with less intensity, it is still maintaining your good habits. Maintaining is much better than re-establishing a routine and losing some of the benefits you have worked consistently for. 

• Exercising outside - There are some super health benefits to exercising outside. Fresh air, vitamin D absorption, an increase in the hormone serotonin (the happy hormone), boosts your mood and relieves stress. Adding this to an already happy holiday vibe means you really can't go wrong. It's a win win situation. 

How to Exercise on your Holiday

You have made the decision to exercise on holiday, but planning is the key. You can promise yourself to stay active, however you need to do a little bit of research to make sure you stick with your plan.

Check your hotel or apartment online and see if there is a gym or classes available? There are many activities you can join during your stay, for example there will be local hiking or bicycle tours or maybe some activities such as aqua aerobics or circuit classes provided by your hotel. 

Take some time on your research and choose an activity that you will really enjoy and schedule this into the fun events you have planned already for your stay. Maybe you would like to learn a new sport such as surfing or paddle boarding, yet another opportunity to get active. 

These new ways to exercise can be so beneficial for your body. See this as a mini holiday for your whole being before going back to your usual training. Make this a time for your body and mind to relax and refocus.

Holiday Exercise - Try something different

Click here - Morning Yoga at the Beach

Deepen your relaxation with yoga on the beach. Yoga has many benefits for your well-being. Yoga on the beach will help you connect with nature as well as releasing the stress and tension from your body. If you have never tried yoga before, then your holiday is a great time to give this discipline a go. You may find that this form of exercise will compliment your usual routine once you are home.

Click here - 15 min Fat Burning Beach Workout

If you can't give up the high intensity workouts then go for one on the beach. You can achieve this type of exercise in a very short space of time allowing you to spend the rest of the day enjoying your vacation and rest time. The added bonus here is the sand is much kinder to your joints than your normal studio or hard surface area. This type of exercise continues to burn the calories long after you have completed your workout which is ideal if you are eating and drinking those extra calories.

Exercising on Holiday - Find a Hiking Tour

I have just returned from my annual holiday. Eight nights on the beautiful island of Santorini. 

Santorini is one of the Cyclades Islands in the stunning Aegean Sea. The landscape is volcanic and very rugged, ideal for hiking. Santorini is also known for its amazing sunsets a big plus after a hike, to sit and relax in a taverna and just admire with a glass of wine in hand.

Having done the research on possible 'holiday' exercise to do whilst I was away, I decided to try the 10km hike from Thira to Oia. It was actually a fantastic hike, much better than I thought it would be. The ground is very uneven in places and the climbs are incredibly steep. The views of the Aegean are quite spectacular against the white washed buildings and volcanic black landscape. It was amazingly breath-taking, in more ways than one!!

Exercising on Holiday - Summary

Should you exercise on holiday? Yes, I think you should. But, you should change your routine and do some research before you go away. Holidays are a great time to try a new sport or take some exercise outside. If you like a routine, you can still do similar workouts but try them on the beach. Your exercise can be part of your holiday activities such as hiking or cycling or you can use the facilities of your hotel such as a gym, classes or planned activities. 

Your body does deserve a rest, so make sure you have days of total relaxation, perhaps by the pool or treat yourself to a massage. After all, we look forward to our annual holiday. We travel to refocus and realign for a healthy mind and body 

The whole idea of a break is to relax and reset. This means a rest from your normal activities of work, daily chores and workouts. Look after your mind and body with self-care and mindful relaxation.

©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

I hope you enjoyed this article.

 

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