Reenergise your body on holidays - have an active break
by Rosemary Marchese
Picturing yourself on a sandy beach or relaxing by the pool this summer? Aren’t we all? The end of year often brings hope of that well-deserved break. But has history would have it have you worked so hard that you feel too pooped to even think about exercising on holidays?
Don’t make it a chore…think of it as an opportunity!
Your holiday break is an opportunity to reinvigorate your body with some well-deserved opportunities to exercise. It doesn’t have to mean that you hit the resort gym sweating it out for two hours while your better half is poolside with a daiquiri! But time away from work is an ideal time to get more physically active, especially if you have found limited time to do so during the year. Here are just a few ideas to inspire you…
1. Going somewhere with a pool? Try some pre-brekkie laps (you could swim or walk them), water volleyball, and water polo or get in there with the aqua aerobics class! So many holiday facilities have a range of pool activities available you often just have to find out when they are on! Otherwise just get in there with family and friends to start your own game of volleyball.
2. Get in touch with nature and try a bushwalk or two. Walking is cheap and can be done at a time that suits you on your holiday.
3. Go on a half day shopping tour – you are bound to burn more kilojoules here than sitting by the pool the entire day. You could always follow it up with an aqua class and the rest of the day by the pool.
4. Lead by example and take the stairs not the lift. So often we think of it as a chore to climb stairs and opt for the lift. I like to appreciate the fact that I have the capability to walk and so many people would love to be able to do that. It’s gives me a better appreciation of my life and of course is good for stimulating that heart rate a little more than pressing that lift button!
5. Explore the city you are in on foot. Of course this will depend on where you are but so many of the best features of a town can be seen on foot.
6. Try a new sport. Pick up a tennis racket and start playing. Kick a soccer ball or play hide and seek with the kids.
7. Try a nightclub or two and start dancing!
The list could be endless but as you can see it doesn’t have to be a structured exercise program all the time. Just a little more exercise can help with recharging your body, soul and mind to help top off a break. Happy holidays!
Rosemary is a registered physiotherapist who has combined her expertise in health with fitness. She has over 15 years of experience teaching and consulting in the fitness industry, including personal training, PUMP and Pilates instructing. She is the co-author of the best-selling book ‘The Essential Guide to Fitness: For the Fitness Instructor’, which was specifically written for those people wanting to start a career in the fitness industry. She is also a former Editor for a fitness magazine and is now writing her second fitness book. Rosemary is a fit and healthy mother of two young children dedicated to helping busy mums achieve their health and fitness goals.