Source: ezinearticles.com
Staying with your fitness program can sometimes be a challenge when you, face painting ideas , are traveling for business or even while on vacation. Faced with a number of obstacles ranging from being in an unfamiliar place, limited workout facilities, and limitations on space and equipment you might be tempted to, face painting ideas , wait until you get back home. Aside from safety concerns, waiting until you return home does not have to be an option.
Stay fit, unstressed and on target by packing your jump rope. Remember, it's compact, it's portable, and jump roping can be done just about anywhere and anytime. Traveling from coast to coast several times a year, I have learned to adapt to my "new" surroundings whether in a big city or in Small Town, USA, face painting ideas , . Make your trip more enjoyable by planning ahead. The following tips can be useful in maintaining your fitness while you are away.
- Begin planning your workout before leaving home; call the hotel where you will be staying and ask if it has a fitness center or has visiting privileges for its guests at a nearby health club.
- Pack your jump rope along with the appropriate workout clothing and shoes. Don't forget about your SAFETY!!! Pack reflective or highly visible clothing if you plan to workout in the early morning hours or after the sun sets. It's never a bad idea to even pack a small light that can clip onto your clothing or an arm band.
- Check the weather conditions for the time you're going to be away
- Use the internet to identify running or walking clubs in the area where you will be staying. Most running clubs have web sites that contain a wealth of information about the best and safest places to workout, as well as valuable tips on the area itself.
- Check with your local running or walking clubs for suggestions of other clubs that they may be associated with in the town or city that you are going to visit;
- Identify nearby parks, jogging trails or high school or college tracks as well as their hours of operation, face painting ideas , or use;
- If you have special dietary needs, research area restaurants and grocers that may cater to healthier food selections. Making unhealthy food choices should never be an excuse just because you're not home.
Once you've arrived at your new destination, what's next? Usually after I've checked in at the hotel, if I'm not too tired or it's not too late, I like to drive around just to get a lay of the land. I use this opportunity to get a feel for the community, identify a running or walking course and measure the round-trip distance to and from the hotel. Here are a few additional tips you can use when you arrive:
- Identify the staircases in the hotel. I've never been a big fan of elevators, so I often use the stairs anyway., face painting ideas , Using the stairs can sometimes become an integral part of your workout especially if the weather is bad or it's too late when you return to your room at the end of, face painting ideas , the day. Make sure the stairwells are well lit and safe, face painting ideas ,, face painting ideas , . Exercise caution and WALK up and down - don't run;
- Ask the concierge about workout suggestions, he or she may be able to suggest nearby clubs, fitness trails, or even special running or walking events that may take place during your stay at, face painting ideas , the hotel; You can also check the tourist information kiosk or pick up the local news papers for fitness events and activities, face painting ideas , . I once visited a city in the Northwest and found a 5K race at a nearby university. It happened to be the inaugural race for an annual event that was used to bring community awareness to a scholarship program. What I did not expect was that the event was FREE!
- Contact the local running or walking clubs that may be near your hotel. Sometimes, club members get together for early morning or evening walks or runs. Running or walking with club members allows you to workout with a group that is familiar with the area and can be a useful resource for other, face painting ideas , fitness activities that may be taking place during your stay;
- Once you arrive at your place of business your colleagues may also be able to provide you with the best places for a good workout and may also give you a couple of names of workers who may also workout;
- If, face painting ideas , you drive around to mark off, face painting ideas , a workout course, make sure the area is safe for pedestrian traffic especially during the time of the day when you plan to exercise. Usually the most pedestrian trafficked areas are the safest (parks,, face painting ideas , fitness trails, etc.) Try to avoid any secluded or remote trails or areas.
Now that you have a pretty good idea as to where and when your workouts will take place, you can unpack your jump rope and begin your jump rope travel program. Whether I plan on exercising in the hotel or going outside I always start with a 5-10 minute warm-up routine. Usually I begin with some very light stretching exercises for my shoulders, neck, arms, legs and back. I also incorporate exercises to strengthen my core muscles as well as my feet. We sometimes forget about working the foot muscles as part of our routine. Although using the IROPE Fitness Program jump rope techniques are extremely low impact, if you're not jumping properly it won't be hard to disturb the hotel guests in the room below yours. So to make sure everyone remains happy and undisturbed, for a starter, warm-up with doing about 15 heel lifts and then, standing on one leg rotate the elevated foot in alternating directions and switch legs. Do about 10-15 repetitions for each leg. If I plan to jump rope outdoors, I like to do 2 or 3 sets of stairs and then a very short walk. Everyone has their own way of warming up. What you do is not as important as how you do, face painting ideas , it. Your warm-up should complement what you're going to do as your core workout. Always make sure you are using proper form and breathing techniques, face painting ideas , for all of your exercises.
Here are a few jump rope tips to try when jumping rope outside your hotel:
- Identify a safe workout spot on the, face painting ideas , hotel parking lot or grounds. Scope the parking lot for vehicle traffic;
- Locate an area of the parking lot that is safe and away from parked cars. Using one parking space usually provides adequate space to practice both stationary and multi-directional jump rope drills. If you have an Optimum Performance Achievement, face painting ideas , Kit by, face painting ideas , IROPE Fitness you can use the markers to practice various stationary and mobile agility drills. If not, there is never anything wrong with a little imagination and creativity. The painted line space dividers provide an excellent reference point for drills like jumping jacks, lunges, and lateral movement.
- Rope Walking a few laps around the hotel parking lot is always a plus if you're not comfortable leaving the immediate area. Again, use the sidewalks if available and always watch for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
- After you've worked out for at least 30 or 40 minutes, don't forget to do your cool-down stretches and re-hydrate.
Don't put your fitness on hold because of travel. Use these easy tips to make your next business trip or vacation your healthiest. For more information on the IROPE Fitness Program please visit www.irope.com.
Carlos Coffman is the creator of the IROPE Fitness Program and author of Jumping Rope the Second Time Around. He is a pioneer in the development of the low impact, total body conditioning backward twirling and multi-directional movement style of jump roping. Carlos has completed several hundred foot races including 65 marathons using his signature rope walking technique. He has also taught his unique program to youth, adults and seniors throughout the US and some parts of West Africa.
For more information on low impact total body conditioning jump roping please visit: http://irope.com
