We know all too well how easy it is to let routine fall by the wayside when you hit the road.

Our regular ‘at home’ routine involves an early morning gym session before work, and my job involves teaching between 2-4 fitness classes a day. Chris has a fairly active job as well, so sitting in the car and relaxing under the awning is quite the opposite of our usual day to day activities.

Chris is a sign-writer

As travel is such a huge part of our lives, and not just something we do a few times a year, it’s imperative that we maintain some sort of fitness routine each time we head off for more than 2 nights.

We generally make a pact with each other before travelling that we WILL work out and keep on top of things. This includes all the usual ‘adventure activities’ such as hiking, mountain biking, swimming and so on, but we also throw in stretching and some resistance training as well.

We have found as we get older (we are both in our 40’s) that stretching is one of the most important things to prevent and alleviate aches and pains.

I teach 2 Gentle Pilates classes and one stretch class per week and I notice a huge difference if I skip just one of these sessions. I also stretch every day as does Chris who ends up having a hard time just straightening up if he stops for a few days!

Chris was your typical male who didn’t believe in stretching/yoga/Pilates even though I tried to explain (from a personal trainer’s point of view) that starting young would help as he got older. He also has a history of Moto X and other extreme sports leaving him with all sorts of residual injuries including a shoulder that has been dislocated no less than 15 times. He is now a proud advocate for stretching and all the associated benefits.

I used to push my clients almost as hard as I would push myself!

I have over 20 year’s experience in the fitness industry which means I was teaching classes when the ‘go harder’ motto was extremely popular in gyms as was doing sit-ups and burpees. This has left me with a sore back and aching knees and would have ended up being quite debilitating had I not pulled back and started doing more gentle exercise.

Thankfully after years of trial and error and research I now know that more isn’t always better and going harder isn’t always the way. Training smart is the key, along with consistency and knowing your limits.

Each week I teach Gentle Pilates and other fitness classes like stretch and Zumba Gold to many seniors who have also discovered incredible benefits to having a regular exercise regime.

By doing something small each day you can make a huge difference not only to your physical health, but your moods almost always improve as does the quality of your sleep.

Here are 15 gentle exercises you can do while you are travelling (or even while you are at home). I have included photos taken in our caravan, but of course you can do them outside the van/tent, in your home, in a park or wherever you like! Those who come along to my classes every week swear by these
exercises and I hope you find them beneficial as well. Please drop me a line and let me know how you go, and where you are on your travels!

Click here to see my 12 Gentle Hip Opening Exercises

Click here to see Zumba Gold in the Logan Area.

Click here for my Gentle Pilates Classes held in Ealgeby, QLD