24 Jun HEALTHY PRACTICES FOR THE ROAD

EXERCISES FOR YOUR JFK CAR SERVICE AND MORE

Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, there’s no denying that flying can take a toll on your health. Stress and unhealthy eating options go hand-in-hand when you travel. You can battle these problems by including exercise in your travel routine. Maybe you’re not the biggest fan of physical activity, but the nice thing about being in a car, airport, or hotel is there are limited distractions that you can use to avoid exercising.

IN THE CAR

Stretching is important for blood flow and there are a range of stretches you can do during your Cut Stress during Executive Travel ride. If your joints are feeling stiff when you’ve settled into the back seat, try some of these to warm up your muscles.

Ankles and wrist rolls: Rolling ankles and wrists in a clockwise, then counter-clockwise direction can prevent Carpal Tunnel’s Syndrome and promote blood circulation.

Seat Twist: Twist your torso to the right, placing your right hand beside your left leg, and your left hand against the left side of the head rest. Repeat on the other side to get a good stretch for your back, shoulders and hips.

Neck and Shoulder Rolls: Slowly bend your head to the right, then drop your chin toward your chest. Bend your head to the left, then drop your chin toward your chest. Repeat five times. Roll your shoulders forward and back, repeating this action five times. These stretches will relieve tension in your neck and shoulders.

AT THE AIRPORT

The nice thing about the airport is that because they’re so big, they’re a good place to get some exercise and people won’t look at you strangely if they see you sprinting. Here are some exercises you can use to occupy your time.

Take a Walk: Pretend to be a harried traveler. Or not. Walk or jog at whatever pace feels comfortable—the important part is that you get yourself moving.

Walk on the Travelator: Stand near the end of the moving belt and walk against the flow of this flat escalator (provided that you won’t be an obstacle to oncoming travelers). This provides some of the same benefits as running.

Step-Ups: Spend a few minutes walking up and down stairs, or if people aren’t swarming the staircase, walk up one step on your right. Return to your starting step, then step up with your left foot. Do this for 15 reps on each leg.

Suitcase Lift: This is a good exercise when you’re standing in the security line or waiting to print your boarding pass. Bend your knees and lift your suitcase, holding it an arm’s length away. Place it back on the ground and repeat 10 times.

IN YOUR HOTEL

If you don’t have the time or energy to head to the hotel gym, you can also do several easy exercises from the privacy of your hotel room.

Chair Dips: Sit at the edge of your desk chair, with your palms flat against the seat on either side of your legs and fingers curled around the seat edge. Gently push yourself off of the seat and dip your body down until your arms form a 90-degree angle, then push yourself back up. This exercise will strengthen your triceps.

Lunges: Take a big step forward on your right foot. Keeping your back straight, bend your legs so that your left thigh is parallel with the floor and your other leg forms a right angle. Slowly raise up to your starting position, switch legs and repeat. Do about 20 of these for each leg and you’ll feel the effects in your leg muscles the next day.

Toe Raises: Start with both feet flat on the ground. Slowly raise your heels up so that you’re standing on your toes. Hold for 10 seconds, then lower your heels. Repeat this 10 times.

EATING FOR YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE

If you want to really exercise self-control on the road, choose low-fat options for your meals, such as a fish or a salad entrée over meat. Limit your alcohol intake and drink plenty of water. If you’re notorious for falling prey to the temptations of the mini-bar at midnight, you may see if the hotel can empty it before your arrival. If the hotel offers continental breakfast, skip over the pastries and choose a healthy cereal with low-fat or skim milk and a piece of fruit.

Besides countering the effects of stress and unhealthy eating, exercising can also boost your mood and energy levels. So while it may seem like a chore to make yourself do these things, you may find that that little bit of effort goes a long way.

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