Headed somewhere nice this summer? A yoga retreat, perhaps? Or just a nice relaxing beach holiday?
Wherever you go, it's important to remember that staying active is as good as a rest. We all like to lay back, get some sunshine and drink a few sangrias, but although staying sedentary might feel good at the time, it's important to balance rest, with activities and exercise.
Don't forget our everyday movement philosophy, and, if you do manage to stay active daily, you'll return from your trip feeling supple, fit and flexible. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy on holiday.
It's good to leave home feeling like you have nothing to worry about. Clear the air with any friends who you might be experiencing difficulties with, or resolve arguments in relationships you might have. Even things like making sure your home is properly secured and that your own medical coverage will take care of you on holiday in case of an emergency is a smart move; do anything you possibly can to leave with a clear mind and a clear conscience and your rest time will be so much more effective.
The more you move, the less stiffness you'll have. Don't just lay on the sunlounger, make sure you book yourself in for group activities such as yoga classes or excursions. Try alternating daily between rest, and activities.
Try some daily, low impact exercises and stretches in the gym. You might meet some friends there, too.
Low impact training machines such as elliptical machines, stationary bikes, rowing machines, walking, and swimming are also great examples of low-impact exercise that will provide continued muscle strengthening, aerobic and fatburning benefits while minimizing stress.
We're sorry to say but one of the biggest causes of joint stiffness is daily drinking. Try to replace alcohol with "mocktails" (which are refreshing and delicious, by he way! You'll find yourself detoxing in just a few days, sleeping better and feeling more mobilised, especially in the mornings.
It's lovely to get yourself into a routine as early as possible. Breakfast at 8am, light stretching and yoga at 10am, a snooze at 11am and so on. You're not in the rat race today and you deserve some important down time. Don't give yourself lots of planning work to do, switch off and follow a comfortable routine.
Facebook, the news, messages from friends - these are things tha tcan wait. Don't burden your mind with issues that are beyond your control. You deserve to switch off from the world for just a little while, sit back and relax without worrying about politics.
We know you want to get a tan, get in shape, eat healthily and so on, but don't try to achieve all of this on the first day. Rome wasn't built in a day!
Holidays are a great excuse to try new foods in your diet. If you have joint pain or you want to improve your flexibility eat more fish. Fatty cold-water types like salmon and mackerel are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
You could also try taking Biotin which helps your skin, hair and nails and take a good natural multivitamin to ease the strain of travel.
Supplementing with a good joint complex can be a great addition to your exercise and diet plan. JointWorks is packed with USDA Organic super foods and herbs, which promote joint mobility and target inflammation to reduce/prevent any joint discomfort.
Calcium and vitamin D can help you do that. Organic grass fed dairy products are a great source of calcium, but don’t always suit everyone, other options are green, leafy vegetables like broccoli and kale.
Try to get at least 30 minutes of sun exposure a day to keep your vitamin D levels topped up!
Don't forget - drink lots of water and rest well. One of the most powerful things we can do for our health is to stay hydrated. Try adding a little lemon juice to your water to make it more nutritionally valuable and refreshing.
Finally, make sure you enjoy your trip, have a great time!