Fitness on the Go ... A Working Traveller and Seeing the World

 Travelling the World as a Fitness Instructor

My Love of Travel and Fitness Combined into One

I consider myself to be a very, very lucky lady. I love travel and I love fitness and I have worked in both for most of my working life. However for the last 20 years plus, I have managed to do both at the same time. 

I have worked as a hostess in overseas hotels teaching morning and evening stretch classes (plus walking activities, movement and balance classes etc:) and as a fitness/yoga instructor onboard cruise ships to which I have recently returned home after 3 months away.

Is this for everyone? Well maybe not as there are pros and cons for this type of lifestyle. So how do I feel after my last 'spout' away from home? Lets delve into the adventures of the sea and all that accompanies being a fitness professional living and working upon the ocean waves. 

What's my Job Role as a Fitness Instructor on a Cruise Ship

I am a freelance Class Instructor and I teach classes geared towards the demographics of the passengers onboard. I have an array of classes ranging from HIIT and Circuits to Mindful Movement and Yoga. For the last three months of cruising I have been onboard ships that cater for the over 50's. Generally the age of the passengers was anywhere between 65 -90 years old. It is really important to attune the classes to the age group you are teaching and the type of passenger that attend the classes. 

I love this age range, as the fitness and mobility levels are quite diverse. It tests your teaching skills to the limit especially at the start of the cruise when you have to 'think on your feet'. It's very easy to be set in your ways and have a class script at the ready, only to find your 'students' capabilities are not a match to your expectations. You have to be ready to change the routine and offer props or modifications to help the class achieve the best outcome of the activity. A good sense of humour is necessary to keep the spirits up and start a good connection to your students.

Another challenge when teaching onboard cruise ships and something you do not normally have to worry about, is the floor of the gym/studio moves. This is quite testing when trying to teach yoga poses. Balance training is a must for this age group but teaching balance on ships is not ideal. Again, it is a case of 'thinking on your feet'. Teach balance poses only when you are sure that the seas' are calm enough. The last thing you need is students falling over and harming themselves in one of your classes.

So for the last 3 months I have been teaching Gentle Yoga, Chair Fit and walking the passengers for a mile or two around the decks and it's been an absolute dream.

Duties included outside of Fitness Classes

Apart from my 4 activities during the sea days I was also an 'Explore Ashore' escort, which is basically accompanying passengers whilst they are ashore on ships tours. For this duty you do have to be a qualified first aider as a prerequisite to this role. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore and see the ports and countries you visit. It is still a duty though and your first priority is always the passenger. It's essential to keep an eye on the passengers, make sure they don't wander off, keep a head count and help them if required. You want to make sure they are happy with the tour and make a point of being ready to assist, listen if they are concerned about anything and confirm if they are unsure of times they need to return to meeting points. 

Live like a New Yorker

Whilst cruising in the USA, I escorted a tour in New York. Again I was so lucky with the 'Explore Ashore' team allowing me to escort 'Live like a New Yorker' tour. I went on the metro to Greenwich Village for a walking tour. We ate pizza in a green area, I had canoli in a park for the very first time and a huge New York cupcake in a small New York cafe. We walked for 4 hours and saw so many things including the block of apartments where the TV series 'Friends' was filmed. These are the moments that take your breath away and the memories that live with you forever.

A Taste of Madeira

Another great opportunity not to miss as a tour escort is to sample all different kinds of foods from around the globe. I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Taste of Madeira'. There was an abundant supply of cheese and Madeiran wines to taste and to which I have a penchant for. Madeira is a beautiful island with scenery and views I never tire of. 

Time off to Explore

There are also days where you have no duties and you have time to explore on your own. I have been to the Canary Islands many times and I am always so happy when I can go ashore in Lanzarote. This is my favourite Island. It is here that I go for a long walk and find a local taverna for a spot of lunch and a glass of wine. I can catch up with friends online and check in to social media. I am always busy onboard, so I am grateful for these days to unwind. It feels like I am on holiday, soaking up the sun's rays and relaxing for a few hours.

The Lifestyle on Cruise Ships

It's not all about work. Making the most of your life whilst onboard is important. You can have a wonderful life by making friends and enjoying the social side of cruising. It would be very easy to live your life as though you were at home. To work during the day and then go home to watch TV, order room service and relax. You can do this if you wish of course. There is room service available and there are lots of TV channels to choose from and a DVD selection if there is nothing to watch. 

There is so much more to do than closing your cabin door after your working hours are complete. There are several restaurants onboard where you can meet up with passengers and enjoy a sociable evening with fabulous food and sumptuous wine. There are cinemas, shows, bars, live music, card rooms, libraries and lounge areas to chat whilst you are served wine, coffee and snacks. It's a great way to mingle with passengers, make friends and make the cruising life even more enjoyable.

Depending on the cruise line, there are also Formal Nights when you can really dress up and enjoy a delightful evening of cocktail parties and fine dining. I was fortunate enough to host tables with some of the Senior Officers in the main dining room. This is a big event for some passengers to be invited to dine with Officers and it's so nice to be part of these special evenings. 

The Pros and Cons of Travelling on Cruise Ships as a Fitness Instructor.

The pros are quite obvious. You are able to see the world, eat luxurious food and drink opulent wines whilst living a lavish lifestyle. You can meet some wonderful and interesting passengers and make life long friends. You wake up each day to new scenery, wonderful sunsets and new ports. I love what I do. I love travel, I love fitness and I love to teach and see great results.

There are cons to this lifestyle too. The sea is not predictable unfortunately. I have been in some pretty rough storms and this is not comfortable at all. I do suffer from sea sickness and motion sickness and you can be at sea for days in these conditions. It is all part of the cruising lifestyle. There are also times when you can feel quite lonely and homesick, away from your family and friends. This is something that you have to learn to overcome if you want a traveller's way of life.

I am grateful for every day of my life. I have always wanted to travel from a very young age and I was in the right place at the right time when I started my career in hospitality. Opportunities came my way and even though some of them were very much outside of my comfort zone, I've grasped them with both hands and have never looked back. I have met some of the most wonderful people during my 20 plus years of travel and some of them have stayed in my life to become my closest friends. 

I have never regretted a single moment of my travelling life!

©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

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