Finding wellness during a whirlwind trip

That 5 a.m. airport call only hurts until you see that prairie-perfect sunrise... and you finish your first coffee.

Let’s face it: out-of-town travel is a fact of life for Northerners. It doesn’t help that our local airline sells cheap flight passes a few times a year. (Fly Air North! 🚀)

Travelling disrupts our routines and pulls us out of our comfort zone. It’s even harder to find motivation to move after a day on a plane or in a car. These disruptive moments are the most important times to choose fitness.

At home, we rely on routines to stay accountable like memberships, scheduled workout time, and fitness professionals (hi! 👋). On the road, we chase our agendas... so we need to choose to move.

Traveling can be tough, so take the time to make a few small choices before and during your trip that will help you hit the ground running — hopefully both literally and figuratively. Here are four top tips for keeping active the next time you hit the road:

Make the choice to get kinetic

Magical views on day one of Whitehorse trail running.

When I first visited Whitehorse, I was stopping over to see some friends on the way to an overseas rugby tournament. During my stay, I chose to run to keep up my fitness — on my own and with a social trail running group. I was gobsmacked to find postcard-perfect views and wild beauty around every corner, and thinking back on my experience exploring Whitehorse’s trails it actually helped me make the choice to move here. Maybe by going for a run you’ll discover a special corner of your destination on foot, too.

If pounding pavement isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to include low-cost exercise into your itinerary. If you enjoy yoga or bodyweight interval training, there are as many free classes on YouTube as there are ways for Air Canada to lose your luggage. (Fly Air North! 🚀) Take advantage of your hotel or gracious host’s wifi to stream a session (try this excellent free grind) and work up a sweat.

You don’t need to bring gear to work out

I can’t say enough about how yoga helps weary travellers. Stretching out after a long flight, especially that important lower-back-and-back-of-the-legs chain, does wonders for your energy level, posture, and general disposition towards life.

But how can you do yoga without a mat?

Early on in my life, I was an unfortunately sweaty yogi. It was so obvious that the end of an especially tough class, lying on my back with my eyes closed, I felt my yoga teacher push a high-absorbency mat-shaped towel, against my feet.

Her generosity (or pity) saved me on the mat in class, but it also introduced me to the art of towel yoga.

Think of your mat as less of a thing and more of an idea: it’s the marker for your space and your intention to get to work. A hotel room towel, a yoga towel, or even a high-absorbency camping towel, can give you that space as you follow your own practice or head online in search of a lesson. (Important disclaimer: if you have knee or wrist issues, passing on the cushion of a mat might not be for you.)

That said, if you really want to have the full experience, ask around at your destination about local studios. Many of them will include mat rentals in their drop-in rate. Don’t forget to bring your toiletries to enjoy a mini-pampering in the changing room! The seasoned traveller who reviewed this article cleverly added that she likes to save a few dollars by looking for studios with first-time visitor discounts.

It’s also worthwhile to remember that the ubiquitous hotel gym is an under-appreciated hidden gem. Some blue-chip establishments even have a pool and a sauna. Instead of scoping out local cable TV when you check-in, take a moment to seek them out and enjoy them!

Pack multiple-use clothes — and learn how to wash them

Let’s face it: most travel outside of the Air North network (fly Air North! 🚀) forces us to play King Solomon (or Marie Kondo; pick your reference) with our limited carry-on space. Do a set of workout clothing and training shoes spark joy? Or would I rather save bag space for the big-city shopping I’m about to do?

I recently had this challenge ahead of a weekend of search-and-rescue administration meetings. I needed activewear since my old rugby team invited me to a touch session while I was in town. To make it work, I packed a rugby-relevant shirt that was subtle enough to wear outside of practice, while my trainers became my conference-room shoes. Try looking for overlap when you pack your bag and see how much space appears!

We can be picky with how we fill our carry-ons... but we can't always create space on our flights.

Inevitably, these compromises run into the realities of working out: the things you wear might need a wash. At this point, a small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap works wonders — and our hifalutin quick-drying sports gear is more than up to the challenge of a hand wash and a quick hang-dry.

Here’s how it works: fill a sink or container with warm water and a generous dollop of the soap, then add your dirty clothes and gently massage them for a minute. Pour out the soapy water and rinse your clothes in clean water to remove the rest of the soap. Wring then our thoroughly and hang to dry.

Make good (food) choices!

Airports and truck stops are notoriously devoid of nutritional food, and we want to eat the things we can’t get in Whitehorse. But at home, we do our best to eat well. Why do we act differently on the road?

On the one hand, there are the treats we choose to enjoy because we’re away from home. I get it: wellness is a journey, and shawarmas are tasty. But think of the big picture: how many breaks in your eating habits are you willing to accept for the sake of a fancy hamburger?

On the other hand, there are meals we buy for lack of better choices. You can work around some of these problems:

• On the road: pack snacks and light meals — it’s a great time to enjoy some easy-to-pack vegetables! — instead of “splurging” on a sweaty airport salad.

• At your destination: head to the grocery store! Outside of Canada this can be a great cultural experience in its own right. If you do go out, choose food with lots of vegetables — and skip the sauce if you can.

• Out with others: this part can be tricky because of the social pressure to avoid saying “no” to the steakhouse. Just do your best, and don’t feel pressured to order a big meal or a boozy drink if you don’t want one.

Are you headed out of town and want to build a workout plan? Let’s talk. Click here to book a free consultation.