We just got back from our little family vacation “up north”.
It’s times like those that really make me realize that exercise is not something I feel I “have to” do, or something I “should do”… it’s something I really want to do and something I feel privileged to do! I feel completely “off” (and cranky, just ask my lovely family) if I miss intentional movement.
Remember, the reason these posts are called “Motion is Life” is because movement, especially of the spine and surrounding tissues, stimulates massive amounts of proprioception. This proprioception is essentially what ‘drives’ the brain.
The more proprioceptive input we generate, the more “feel good” hormones we produce, like dopamine and seratonin. The less proprioceptive input we generate – or the more nociceptive input – the more stress hormones we produce, like cortisol and insulin.
I’m all about the “feel good” hormones, personally!
Anyhow, vacations for us will typically involve daily movement, even if it’s not in a traditional gym setting. It’s time to mix things up.
I didn’t take the time to log the exact details of my work outs while we were on vacation, but I can give you an overall idea of what was on my agenda each day.
Day 1: Did a quick work out in the hotel room – squats, lunges, push-ups, abs.
Later in the day, did a nice, challenging sand dunes hike with the family. (1 hour 40 minutes) This was my favorite “work out” of the entire trip! I’d love to go back and run those dunes every week!
Day 2: Went to the resort gym. Did 10 minutes running on treadmill. Then a 25 minute work out with a combination of squats (front, side-to-side, split squats), dead lifts, swings, cross body cleans, bench press, rowing, dips, and several different abs variation.
Lots of swimming later.
Day 3: Kayaked and swam with the kids for several hours. Lots of walking, too.
Day 4: Ran up the ski mountain with my hubby, then an easy jog for 10 minutes after. Lots of swimming with the kids again at the water park – lots of stair climbing there, too. Ugh – legs were wiped out!
Day 5: Back to the gym. 22 minutes of high-intensity intervals on ellyptical machine. Similar combination of resistance moves as the last work out, just fewer exercises overall. Did side-to-side squats, alternating lunges, bench press and flyes, lats pulldowns, triceps press, biceps curls, shoulder presses, and I’m not sure what else!
Kayaked a few times later in the day – probably an hour and a half’s worth. Lots of swimming again.
All in all, it was a good, active vacation. I love it when the kids can be active on the trip as well!
How about YOU? How do you manage to keep moving on your vacations? Please share!
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