What vacations workouts are NOT
I love the Summer time. For my family and me, it’s usually the time we hit the road, live out of hotel rooms and enjoy the room service. Besides my wallet and ID, the other 2 priorities I have when I travel are my electronic devices/chargers, and to see where the gym is in my hotel. If there is one, awesome! If they have free weights...BONUS! But I’m on vacation, so what do I do differently on these travel days that I don’t do at home? Let me explain why vacation workouts SHOULD be different than your typical workout at home base.
First off, being removed from your healthcare team (Massage Therapist, Physicians, Chiropractors, etc.) puts you at the mercy of pinch hitters who are unfamiliar with your history or your body. Though you may get care from the local providers or masseuse in your hotel, you may not have the same responsiveness as when you are at home.
A minimal list of items like ice packs, hot packs, topical analgesics, essential oils, and back support could be part of your travel pack...but do you really want all these items to manage on the road? Probably not, unless you have pains and issues to manage which began before the trip. Again, you may find yourself inadequately stocked, and being sidelined in an unfamiliar bed or couch when the rest of your family is vacationing doesn’t sound appealing.
So, going back to the vacation workouts...it’s NOT a time to set a personal record, nor is it a time to do the extraordinary (unless you are willing to assume the risk). For the reasons above, the vacation workouts could be strategically intended to accomplish the following:
Maintain range of motion and flexibility
Prevent muscles from deconditioning
Improve metabolism
And finally, to avoid laziness that is hard to break out of when you return home!
In short, I suggest to my active patients to have various levels or tiers of intensity when exercising that is determined by one’s health status, injury phase, or even the energy level of the day. Be in present time while on vacation and don’t make your workout routine become a liability while on the road!
