Moving and Mindfulness During the Holidays

The holidays are always hectic, especially if you are the person traveling. Visiting family and friends takes you out of your element and potentially forces you into another person's schedule. The holidays make things even more difficult with the obligations of family get-togethers. While away, your favorite walking or running loop is no longer out your front door. Your local gym featuring your favorite classes is far away. Your favorite home spin bike or rower is no longer in the next room. What to do when you're in a strange place and need the pick me up of a workout?

To make sure you can squeeze in a workout, make sure you pack workout clothes. Seeing the clothes in your suitcase will remind you to take the critical "me time." Whether you want to stretch, do strength work, or sneak in some cardio, there are many exercise options that you can incorporate into daily errands or do in your hotel or your childhood room any time of the day.

Cardio exercise is an ideal stress reliever. Bringing your heart rate up while hiking, running, or on an indoor rower offers many physical and mental changes that are substantial stress busters during holiday visits.  

You can get walking steps in easily during the holidays. Volunteer to do that last-minute run to the grocery store or shopping mall. When you arrive at the store, park at the far end of the parking lot for a longer walk. While at home or a friend's place, make a point of exploring the neighborhood. Being out in nature is a natural stress reliever; getting away from any chaos in the home will do your mind and spirit some good. You can even offer to walk your family's or friends' pets.

If a good run is what you need to blow off some steam, visit a local gym and hit the treadmill or elliptical or do laps in the pool. Again, get outside and run around the neighborhood where you are staying, or take the dog for a jog. Even a short run will do your body and mind a lot of good.

If strength work is your go-to exercise, you can easily do that wherever you're visiting. By incorporating body weight exercises such as lunges, squats, planks, tricep dips, and pushups, you can get a great workout without leaving the home you're visiting. You can also help carry in the grocery bags or firewood or take the garbage out. Every little movement counts!

If you need more calm to balance the chaos of the holidays, stretching and meditation exercises can help. Incorporating breathwork into a stretching routine can be a mini mindfulness escape that will energize your mind. Simple stretches include lying on your back, hugging your knees, and then twisting them to the right or left while keeping your upper back squarely on the floor and your head turned in the opposite direction of your legs. Or the yoga stretches known as Cat-Cow or Child's Pose. You can add functional breathing (inhaling through your nose for four seconds and exhaling for six seconds) to these exercises for a mindfulness and meditation boost.

If you have time to do any of these exercises, even 10-15 minutes a day, your holiday time will be more enjoyable because you'll be in a better place, body, mind, and soul.