10 vacation inspirations promoting health and fitness

(Summer is one of the busiest times of year when families travel on vacation.  Vacations are a perfect time to relax and let go of the stress and pressures of life, enjoying time off from work.  Getting away from it all however, does not always mean simply lounging by the pool or sleeping in until noon every day.  Taking time off can also mean recharging and reinvigorating your fitness goals by planning a vacation full of adventures.  Not only do vacations revolving around staying physically fit get you moving but it helps create self-confidence and overall well-being helping you return back home feeling rested for time well spent.

Combining your favorite fitness activities with your travel destination can be one of the most memorable and rewarding trips you may take.  Here are 10 suggestions to inspire and ignite your creative fitness juices on planning a healthy summer vacation:

1.  Kayaking

Why lay on a beach towel by the water when you can be actively in it kayaking?  Kayaking not only gets you off the beach but immerses you in the water without getting wet.  This endurance activity really is an adventure promoting strength training, cardio and balance.  Whether you paddle by yourself or with someone else, kayaking is a low impact sport meaning its less demanding on joints and tissues.  It’s also very versatile and adaptable as a kayak can be used in almost any body of water – river, lake, ocean, and even a large pool.  You can decide how much of a workout you want kayaking to be – from leisure paddling to marathon racing, everyone should give kayaking a try for that ultimate sense of adventure. 

2.  Yoga retreat

Yoga is a hot trend and there is no better time than now to search out and find a yoga retreat.  Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a curious newbie, a yoga getaway is a great way to refresh and rejuvenate.  From yoga festivals to working with world-class yoga instructors, finding the perfect yoga retreat is not hard to do.  And best of all, for anyone needing a good excuse to unwind, yoga is your answer.  Performing yoga poses which incorporate standing postures, seated twists, backbends, arm balances, inversions, and core holds, gives you a full body workout releasing pent-up stress.  For example, the downward facing dog pose is said to calm the brain, energize the body, improve digestion, strengthen arms and legs and be therapeutic for high blood pressure.  Book your retreat today!

3.  Multi-sport adventures

If you’re the type who likes to dabble in a variety of fitness adventures, multi-sport adventures are for you.  From rafting, canyoneering, sea kayaking, zip-lining, horseback riding, going on a cattle drive, or water skiing, these are adventures that not only challenge you physically but provide the best in escaping from the doldrums of life.  Wherever you plan to travel, check out different types of fitness excursions keeping you up, moving and enhancing physical fitness.

4.  Hiking

Let the expression “go take a hike,” be the theme of your next vacation.  Hiking is one of the most popular forms of staying fit while away from home.  Opportunities abound from hiking in a local park, up a mountain peak, or to a waterfall.  Hikes can be as easy or as challenging as you want.  It’s simply a great form of exercise that builds bone density, strengthens your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and core, improves your balance, and helps control weight.  And if that’s not enough, hiking is also a mood booster helping reduce stress and anxiety as you enjoy the wilderness around you. 

5.  Cycling

Take your stationary bike workout to a whole new level on your next vacation destination.  A biking tour could be one of your most fun, thrilling and healthy fitness packed adventures yet.  Companies like Trek Travel can help you plan a cycling vacation of a lifetime.  No matter where you plan to visit around the world, somewhere there is likely a place to go cycling to explore exciting areas and to enhance your fitness.  Besides, riding a bike gives you amazing health benefits:

·      A very effective cardiovascular workout

·      Strengthens the thighs, hips and buttocks

·      Benefits the arms and upper body as you  bike up hills

·      Easier on your joints and helps to preserve cartilage making it advantageous for anyone with muscle strain, foot or ankle problems, or knee issues.

·      Helps fight weight gain and belly fat

·      Reduces stress making you feel like a kid again providing fun and freedom