The Perfect Travel Workout
We know it’s hard to keep fitness at the top of your To Do list when you travel a lot – whether for work or pleasure. So, every year, we devote some of our travel tips to keeping fit on the road! We’ve collected some of our more popular tips on Travel Fitness, with links later on in this post. In this post, though, we’re exploring Yoga for travel!
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Yoga for Travel
I don’t know if it’s age, or the cumulative effects of time spent at altitude but, after a recent flight, I understood what a pretzel feels like. A pretzel that has been manhandled by a sadistic contortionist. I had felt that way before, though: after my first yoga class. Coincidence?
After a couple of sessions though, I started getting the hang of it and tense muscles relaxed. I discovered that, despite poses that seem impossible to middle-aged men (and pretty much every other mere mortal), yoga does wonders to loosen muscles and calm the body, and mind. From a traveler’s perspective, the best part of yoga is that you can squeeze in a session with no equipment, very little space, and whatever time you have.
You can literally enjoy a DIY Yoga session almost anywhere!
Skip the Yoga Class
When you’re traveling, you don’t usually have time to go find a studio and sign up for a class. In this electronic world, though, you do have time for a yoga class delivered on your smartphone or tablet. There are several free and inexpensive yoga apps available for Android and iPhone that let you watch pre-recorded yoga classes whenever and wherever you have time.
While the apps are helpful, we like the flexibility of being able to watch on our laptops. Instead of an app, we’ve opted for Yoga Download*. As the name implies, you can download class videos for your workout. We appreciate the filters, which let us choose our favorite style, preferred instructors, or video length to suit the situation. It is not free; individual sessions are usually less than $5, or you can sign up for a membership, which gives you access to stream or download classes, with different membership levels. So it’s just like a yoga studio, except it’s on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. And you get to choose the time and class.
Here’s the Deal
Take advantage of our exclusive half-price offer to make Yoga Download even more affordable. That’s 50% off a membership of your choice:
| Standard | Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Stream | Every class | |
| Download | Four Classes | Unlimited |
| Extras | 50% off programs & packages | Programs & packages included! |
| Regular Price | $12/month | $18/month |
| For a limited time, you can keep your half-price rate for the life of your subscription! | ||
The Perfect Travel Workout
After spending a few hours in any kind of seat, nothing feels better than a good stretch. Yoga gives you that and, when practiced regularly, strengthens and tones your muscles, joints, and spirits.
We’ve written before about body weight and resistance band workouts, which we also do when traveling. We’ve added yoga to our arsenal, and think it’s just about the best way to work out travel kinks and keep fit, at home or on the road.
Not sure Yoga is your thing? Try it out risk free with. Start with Yoga 101 today and receive a FREE 3-month membership at YogaDownload
Other Travel Tips for Physical Fitness:
- An Ounce of Prevention
- Pack a Workout in 3oz or Less!
- The 20 Minute Travel Workout
- Take the Stairs!
- Try a Two Wheeled Tour
- Don’t Miss DVT
- Pack a Pedometer
*TravelLatte participates in affiliate programs of several well-respected brands, including Yoga Download. When you use our link to purchase from Yoga Download, we receive a commission. However, this post was neither solicited nor compensated. The views and experiences expressed are exclusively our own.
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I agree, yoga is a perfect exercise when we travel. I haven’t tried it but am planning to on my next trip. I learnt yoga many years on & off but finally in March this year, I signed up for a yoga class – it’s amazing. There are only 4 of us in the class, so the teacher is able to teach and correct us on the poses. I’ve never been happier! I’m planning to buy a travel yoga mat so that I can bring it with me on my trips. Am looking forward to do sun salutations! 🙂
We love small classes like that! For one thing, it’s not so embarrassing when I fall over in a pose. Repeatedly. (One of us is not very limber. 😉 Keep enjoying that yoga, Kat!
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So me and Phil have said we are going to get fit after our upcoming last big trip of the year to the USA, well we always have to try the local food, and we’re looking forward to tasting some awesome cheeseburgers!! So looks like some Yoga downloads would be a good start for when we get back, especially as we love our gadgets too.
Ha! Well guys…we always say we’re going to get in shape before our next big trip…and then say the same thing afterwards. 😉 Actually, I think we’re more active when we travel. Maybe that’s the trick – just keep traveling! I’ll tell you, though, this one has helped. As we get older, we really do feel the need for the stretching and flexibility. As always, thanks for reading!
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I was just getting into yoga when I left the UK and I desperately need to download some classes!! I have definitely noticed my lack of flexibility now I have stopped and you’re right, it’s a great way of loosening muscles and it’s so good for the mind. #feetdotravel
Hi Angie – and you have beach right there, too! Win-win!! 🙂 Hopefully, we encouraged you enough to take advantage of it. Who knows – you may end up making beach yoga videos for us to watch! (That would be so cool!)
Great tips on how yoga is the perfect travel workout. Love the podcast in the beginning. I like yoga and like to practice on my travels. Thanks for sharing! #feetdotravel
Hi Stephanie, and thanks for the feedback! Someone suggested we add the audio portion as another way to consume the post, so we’re trying it out. The goal is to make the posts more portable, so you can listen in the car, for example. The experiment continues, but we’re really glad you like it! And thanks for reading/listening!
While part of me does miss my workout during travel, the part of me that wants a true vacation loves that I’m free! Still, I do try to take the stairs, walk a ton and practice moderation! #theweeklypostcard
We feel ya, Hilary! Going to the gym on vacation kind of feels like vacuuming and doing the dishes on vacation! Bleh. But exercise is important, we’re discovering, so we try to do a little even when traveling. (Except on those days where you walk halfway across Paris, right? I mean…that’s a workout!!)
Agreed! No equipment needed and you can do it on the beach. What more do you need?
Beach yoga for the win! Have you seen those obnoxiously fit people who do yoga on surf boards? I hate them…but secretly want to be one. 😉 (Apologies to any obnoxiously fit people who do yoga on surfboards. No harm intended. Please teach us how to be like you!) Thanks for reading, Clair!
I have recently become a yoga participant, albeit not a very good one, But I’ll be using my app for the first time on my next trip. Wish me luck! 😉
Shona, I want to do yoga with you. We can be the bad kids at the back of the class. 😉 I’m not very good either; I keep falling over and STILL can’t touch my toes. Ann does much better. I guess what counts is progress, not perfection, right? Have fun with the apps – they make it really easy…and they don’t laugh at you when you tip over. Thanks for your comment!
I am really going to try to make an effort this year in my fitness. Bought some resistance bands and I will definitely look into yoga!
Ha – We say that every year. I think we do get a little better about it every year, but admit we have a long way to go. Be sure to check out the link to the resistance bands workout in the post. In there is another link to a really good source of exercises and information from Rigor Fitness. We learned a lot from them. Enjoy, Kelly, and thanks for reading!
Unfortunately, Rob, the only way I will work out is in a class environment. I love Yoga, but doing it by myself would never work for me. I’d give it up after just 10 minutes. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Hi Anda – We get that! Thankfully, we motivate each other pretty well because, on our own, we often get stuck at getting started. 😉 As always, thanks for reading!
I love doing Yoga and I’m always on the look out for resorts that include a yoga workout, but the app looks like a really inexpensive way to keep my yoga practice up whilst on holiday.
Resort yoga is the best! You can even pretend you’re one of those seriously fit instructors giving lessons on the beach. That’s the daydream version, at least. I guess the apps and downloads will do, since we can’t be doing resort yoga every day. Yet. 😉 Thanks for reading, Sally!
Thanks for sharing this guys. What a great idea even if you are not traveling. Yoga really is a great way to exercise and that is such a steal! #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Hi Anisa – It is great exercise. Even when we’re home, schedules don’t always make it easy to go find a class. So having an app or download is the way to go for us. Thanks for reading!