However, new exercisers may not have established the habit securely enough to prevent post-vacation dropout from their exercise routine.
Pre-vacation planning can help your students and clients to stick to healthy lifestyle activities and enjoy their time off. Encourage them to research the following while making their plans.
Hotels/Motels
- Is there an exercise area and swimming pool?
- What additional recreational activities are available? – biking trails, inline skating, parks, walking/jogging paths.
- Is there a fitness facility (YMCA, etc) nearby that services the hotel guests?
- What kind of exercise clothes and accessories for planned exercise activities will be needed?
Time for Exercise
- Encourage your clients to plan at least 30 minutes 3-4 times a week for exercise.
- If driving long distances is part of the vacation – walk briskly for a few minutes at each rest stop.
- Walk briskly through the terminal during long layovers.
Workout in a Suitcase
- Rubber resistance bands or tubing for strength training.
- Jump rope for cardiovascular exercise.
- Pushups, squats/lunges, abdominal exercises can be done withoug equipment.
- Stretch daily.
Help your students and clients brainstorm for ways to include fitness in their vacations. Do a “practice” vacation workout with them before they leave on their trip. Write their workout on a log and encourage them to use it.
