Hey there, fellow gym rats!

Well, I can’t actually call myself much a gym rat… I haven’t been to a traditional gym in about 2 years. The only place you’ll see me working out is my favorite Toronto yoga studio – ZenFit Studios. Well, that is if you’re not traveling the world with me! 😉

The #1 key to staying in shape and maintaining your regular zen-filled & balanced lifestyle is to maintain some type of gym or fitness regimine while on the road.

1. Find Classes Near You!

This is my yoga studio at home. Even though I feel like I’m on the road as much as I’m at home, I still attend as many classes as possible when I do find myself back home. The really great thing about getting to know my instructors is getting their feedback. ZenFit Studio has phenomenal instructors who are regulars, meaning you will see them multiple times a week if you attend a lot of classes. This helps me so much because they know exactly how far I can push my body, and they can tell when I’m getting too tired. Also, they know when I’ve been slacking or when my core has become weak, and they give me tips on how to regain lost strength!!

 

2. Making Every Step Count

Earlier this Summer, my job took me to Israel for a two-week work-trip where I ate tons and tons of delicious, carb-filled meals. Let’s not forget about the 13-hour flight that usually leaves people with ankles the size of melons and feeling more bloaty than the larget swan pool float you can find. That trip, while be it one of my favorites, was a recipe for fitness disaster.

Instead of just completely letting myself go and binging on all the fresh baked pitas and fresh hummus, I made a couple of savvy choices when filling up my plates… once of those choices being to not always fill the plate. Another savvy choice was walking every chance I got. Staying as hydrated as I possibly could, even if I wasn’t thirsty. And exercising with yoga in the mornings and evenings. Now, by the end of the day, I was usually pretty tired, so I didn’t do anything crazy… but what I did do was stretch and lengthen, and some basic vinyasa flows to maintain somewhat of a strong core. And when I wasn’t doing yoga or touring the incredible sites, I was swimming in an ocean or a sea somewhere 😉 Hey… every opportunity to burn a few lol

3. Group Workouts

One of my best friends got married this Summer, and I had the incredible privilege and pleasure of being her Bridesmaid. While planning her Bachelorette Day, the wedding party decided to invite in a personal yoga instructor, and we enjoyed a nice afternoon activity doing yoga outside in the beautiful scenery. We also spent time at the pool and had a gourmet dinner, but one of the ways we helped to spoil the bride while keeping her fit for the wedding was with our outdoor yoga experience!

4. Water Sports

So my In-Laws spend weekends up at their place by Lake Rosso in Muskoka/Port Carling, and my husband and I love to join them! Lake and water activities are often the best way to stay in shape while staying cool in the hot Summer heat. Some of my favorite activities include Paddle Boarding, Yoga on the Dock, Jet Skiing (I know… doesn’t sound very exercisey, but it counts in my book). My husband and sister-in-law LOVE water skiing, and that’s another really intense workout on the water!

5. Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity

This one might seem a little crazy… but just bear with me 🙂 The Hubs and I had a full day of house hunting planned (we’re moving, again.), and during this house search, we had some time on our hands. Since we were looking in a neighborhood by a lake, we took a little stroll down by the community park. The opportunity for a little yoga presented itself, and because I had to miss my morning classes to make the appointments with a couple of realtors, I knew this was my chance! So, I just took it upon myself to do a little stretching and balancing (yes, in jeans and a kimono…) because sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do 😉

6. Doing What You Love, Anywhere

Another trip this Summer took me to Myrtle Beach with the whole North Carolina fam bam! Give me a beach and a nice Summer day, and I’m set when it comes to the whole exercise game and staying fit. Just simply walking along the beach can be a workout because the unevenness in the sand helps you to use muscles differently than when walking on a regular, flat surface.

Can I just say… Beach sunsets create the perfect opportunities for some amazing shots!!!

7. Utilizing Down Time

We had a lot of downtime on this trip because duh… who doesn’t like to chill out and relax at the beach? During some of this downtime, I found myself by the pool working on my form with some of my yoga poses. Obviously, there were pictures taken to help me visualize progress and form. I’m used to practicing in a studio with mirrors, so I can correct my stance and poses very easily, but out in the real world…. haha jk, out in nature without mirrors, you just have to trust your body to help navigate your posture.

8. Zip Lining Courses

This Summer, I’ve already had the fun of touring 2 different treetop adventure courses through GoApeUSA in two different states! My dad and I tried it out in Raleigh, this June, and the rest of my family joined us just this week on vacation in North Myrtle Beach. It’s a mega workout that’s more fun than work, and it’s a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Making time to schedule outdoor adventures like this is another way to stay active!

These are some of the ways I have maintained my healthy lifestyle this Summer, and I’d love to hear how you are maintaining yours! Also, I totally get that some of these yoga poses and the whole zip lining thing may totally just not be for you. That’s fine. You don’t have to hang from the treetops to make your exercise count. Just go back up to #2 and see how simply walking more than riding and swimming when I got the chance helped me to combat the carbs on my 2 week trip to Israel 🙂 You gotta do you, and if regular fitness is a part of your routine at home, then doing you is keeping that routine while on the road.

For questions or comments, please leave them below!

– the Wife