9 Best Ways to Get Your Workout in While You Travel for Christmas

Working out while you're on the road can be a bit of a challenge...

You’ve got to find a gym, remember to pack your workout clothes, and figure out how to exercise when you have limited space and time - it can be hard to stay motivated too!

Follow these tips from the experts and your fitness routine won't suffer whilst tapping out for the holidays:

1. Carry Your Workout With You

Whether you're staying in a hotel or in your Nana's spare room, don't let being away from home separate you from your exercise routine. 9 Best Ways to Get Your Workout in While You Travel for Christmas

With a bit of planning ahead and some careful packing (because hand-luggage limits), you could still get a condensed workout from the comfort of wherever you're staying.

If you don't already own one or more of these, have a look at the list below for pieces of equipment that travel well:

Alternatively, have a look around your room - water bottles could serve as hand weights, you could do a circuit training routine with your furniture, or you could use your suitcase as a bench... You get the idea...

The point is; you can still get a great workout with little/zero equipment and zero fancy gear. All you need is your body and the floor.

2. Get Outside

It's not always practical to workout in your hotel room, but if you're staying somewhere sunny for Christmas, it might actually be the perfect time to get outdoors and sweat.

If you're staying in a picturesque location, pack your running shoes and explore the surroundings at a jogging pace.

If it's snowing outside, bundle up to stay warm and lace up some skis or snowboards for an invigorating outdoor workout.

Whilst this might seem like an obvious one, many people still spend Christmas indoors and on the couch.

If you're stuck in a chilly climate, get outside for a brisk walk or jog to work up a sweat - it'll help keep you warm whilst also boosting your endorphins!

3. Do A HIIT Workout

HIIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, is a great way to get your heart rate up and break a sweat in a short amount of time.

If you're short on time or need a quick workout to do in your room, HIIT is perfect. All you need is about 20 minutes and a small space.

There are tonnes of HIIT workouts online that you can follow, or alternatively you could create your own using the exercises in this article.

4. Take A Yoga or Pilates Class

If you're looking for a workout that's calming and centering, look no further than yoga or pilates.

Christmas is a time where many people feel overwhelmed and stressed - loads of personalities (big and small) crammed into a small space for a prolonged period is likely to elicit a few stressed-out reactions so what could be better than taking a yoga class to help you decompress and re-focus?

Both yoga and pilates are great workouts - yoga is more physically demanding whereas pilates focuses on posture and alignment.

For maximum relaxation factor, go for a yoga class with meditation or savasana at the end.

5. Find Gyms Nearby

If possible, book hotels near gyms or research which hotel chains offer gyms nearby.

When booking flights make sure they are flying in and out of airports that have workout facilities - you don't want to waste any precious travelling time by having to go out of your way to find a gym.

6. Co-Workout with Others

Trade in the weights for something more fun like taking a dance or hip hop class.

Some hotels offer themed workouts, so ask at the front desk if they know of any classes offered nearby.

If you can't find any classes, co-working is a great option. All you need to do is search for like-minded travellers on Facebook or Twitter who want to work out together and make it happen - maybe you could even plan a night out after the workout?

If that fails, head to an activity centre and ask if they offer workout classes.

Usually there are lots of people staying at hotels who want to take advantage of the activity centres onsite, so ask around and see if anyone is up for a class!

7. Embrace Local Activities

Instead of looking for a traditional gym workout, get active by exploring the city or countryside you're visiting. Take a bike ride, go for a hike, or walk around the town to see the sights.

8. Try Something New

If all else fails and you can't seem to find a way to work in a workout, you can always try something new. Try doing hot yoga or indoor rock climbing to help stay fit and de-stress at the same time.

9. Don't sweat the small stuff...

So, we all start out with the best of intentions of having the best festive season we can - exercising regularly, eating well (even though you're constantly surrounded by treats) and if you can stick to that... phew... Well done, you!

However, if you can't - that's OK too! Don't be hard on yourself, enjoy the Christmas season and don't let a little bit of weight gain or missed workouts get you down.

The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and spend time with your loved ones. Fitness can always be resumed in January - so take it easy!

Wrap up:

It’s no secret that travelling for the holidays can be hectic. Between long layovers, airport security lines, and packing in time to see family members you haven't seen all year, it's hard to get your workouts done too.

But with these nine tips on how to work out while traveling during Christmas break, you'll have a much easier time staying healthy!

Remember - there are plenty of great reasons why exercising is important- not just because it helps us stay healthier but also because research has shown that people who exercise regularly are more likely to feel less stressed and happier during the holidays.

So, even if you can't fit in a full workout routine while travelling, try to do at least one activity that gets your heart rate up each day - it will make all the difference!

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