Staying Fit from Your RV: Easy Exercise Routines to Do in or Around Your RV
No matter where or how you live, exercise is vital to living a long, healthy, and strong life. It’s important not only for physical health but mental health as well. Indeed, exercise is key to your overall well-being. So, even when you’re on the road, it’s important to prioritize it. It isn’t always easy, though. Because of the limited space, exercising while traveling can take a bit more planning and commitment. That said, it’s absolutely worth the effort!
Making Room for Exercising While Traveling
While you may be traveling on the open road with room to roam in every direction, when you get down to exercising, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating, it can be challenging to create the space needed for exercising while traveling.
No matter how roomy your RV is, space is limited. Thus, it often requires some creativity in how you approach exercise. Sure, in many locations, you can park your RV and go for a hike, jog, run, or walk, which offer countless benefits. But if it’s rainy, windy, or temperatures drop too low, you may not always want to go out into the elements. Or you may be eager to get on the road, making it easy to skip your usual activity. In that case, you might need to use a bit more ingenuity to get your heart rate up and work your muscles.
For a good cardio workout in or around your RV, you could try jumping jacks, high knees, or jogging in place. For greater variety, many apps also offer workouts that take minimal space. You could even find some walking workouts online that incorporate cardio and strength moves using no more space than a yoga mat.
Cardio isn’t the only type of movement, though. In fact, strength workouts have been found to be just as important. You can do pushups from the floor, a bench, or even a wall. You can also do triceps dips and arm circles for the upper body. You can do planks, crunches, or standing ab exercises to work the core. You can do squats, lunges, step-ups, glute bridges, and calf raises to strengthen your lower body.
You can use a variety of bodyweight exercises or bring a set of resistance bands and/or compact dumbbells to push your muscles harder. And, as you get more comfortable exercising on the road and get stronger, you can add additional exercises or advance to more difficult variations.
Don’t forget about stretching. Especially after a long day in the driver’s (or passenger’s) seat, stretches can feel heavenly. You can find a simple yoga workout, such as Yoga for Travel, to replenish your mind and body. It can help you relax your tight muscles, improve your sleep, and help you prepare for the next leg of the trip.
Finally, balance movements can help your body stay aligned, prevent falls, and keep you healthy. Instead of (or in addition to) yoga, you may consider a tai chi practice. You can also alternate standing on one leg at a time for a count of five to 10 as you brush your teeth, prepare your morning coffee or tea, or fuel up.
If you find some online workouts or exercise apps you enjoy but don’t know if you’ll have a quality WiFi connection, many apps and online options can be downloaded and saved to watch later.
Making Time for Exercising While Traveling
Knowing what to do, of course, isn’t enough. You also have to do it. One of the most important things you can do is determine not just what you’re doing but where and when.
Even if you prefer a bit more of a free-flowing schedule, it can help to decide, for instance, that you will be doing a strength session as soon as you arrive at your destination. Or doing a short yoga session before you go to bed. Or taking a walk (or doing an indoor walking workout) right after your first cup of coffee.
You could use a calendar or a fitness tracker to help you create a schedule and stick to it. Monitoring your progress (e.g., strength improvements, greater energy levels, or gains in flexibility or stamina) can help you stay motivated and stick to your plan.
You can also increase motivation by partnering with a fellow traveler, joining an online fitness community, or signing up for a fitness coach who can provide personalized guidance and accountability to help you reach your goals.
Choosing Your Equipment
You can get a great workout with something as simple as a compact yoga mat that’s easy to store. You can also take advantage of the great outdoors for your fitness program. That could include hiking and biking, an outdoor yoga session, or making use of benches, playground equipment, curbs, and more to create a fun workout.
Many campgrounds also provide an exercise center, swimming pool, courts (for pickleball, basketball, tennis, etc.), or other fun options to move your body. And if you don’t have the right equipment, many can loan it to you.
Some people who travel throughout the country in an RV sign up for a gym membership at a national chain. You can find the nearest location and enjoy a workout, take a class, and perhaps indulge in a sauna, hot tub, or other amenities to relax your muscles and nourish your mind.
Golf is also a popular pastime that can get your body moving. A brisk walk while playing golf can improve stamina, even if it doesn’t always make you break a sweat.
If you’re traveling with a fur friend, they need exercise, too! You can take them for a walk or hike or play a rousing game of fetch or frisbee to keep you both active and having a great time!
Of course, you don’t have to get in a traditional workout to move your body. In addition to hiking and biking, numerous other outdoor activities can improve your fitness. You could try paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, or ATVing to improve strength, balance, and endurance.
Exercising While Traveling Takeaway
Staying fit when you’re on the road in an RV may seem challenging, but it’s definitely achievable. It starts with the right mindset, good planning, and choosing an exercise plan you’ll enjoy.
Even regular 20-minute exercise sessions can help keep your muscles strong and flexible and promote greater well-being. Exercising while traveling also helps keep you in shape, so you can better explore your destinations and really enjoy all your RV lifestyle has to offer.
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