Maintaining your fitness routine while traveling can be tricky (especially if you're not anywhere near a gym during that trip to visit the grandparents for the week.)
Bodyweight exercises and planks can get a little stale, and doing jumping jacks and burpees all weekend will most likely make you want to throw in the towel altogether.
Fortunately, we have a few simple gym equipment swaps that can help boost the intensity of your home workouts and keep you motivated!
Using an ab roller is a great way to work your abs and upper body. Plus, it can save your mental sanity from doing a million crunches. But there's a good chance that your ab roller didn't make it into your travel bag. A rolling pin could make for an easy switch, but be sure you have a solid rolling pin and are using it safely!
The rolling pin can also make for a great foam roller/massage gun alternative! If you're sore or need your muscles to release some tension, a rolling pin can do wonders for myofascial release (aka getting those knots and sore spots out.) Take the pin firmly in both hands and roll out your thighs to start!
Gliding disks are a workout favorite because they let you hit a greater range of motion with less impact on your joints. Plus, you get to work your core a little extra to stay stable, so you're sneaking in some bonus ab work!
If you don't have gliders at home, place coffee filters under your toes instead. Try doing 30 seconds of Mountain Climbers: In a high push-up position, alternate sliding your knees toward your chest and pressing your toes into the filters.
You can also use paper plates on a rug or dish towels on hardwood floors for the same effect!
If you're new to yoga or aren't super flexible, a yoga strap is a great tool to help you more comfortably sink deeper into a stretch. The average yoga strap is pretty long, but if you're traveling for the holidays and don't have room left in your carry-on, a necktie makes a great substitute in a pinch!
You can also try using your actual belt or the tie from a bathrobe too.
The sled at the gym is a super versatile piece of equipment. You can use it for an upper body, lower body, full body, or a cardio workout, depending on the weight you add and the exercises you do.
When traveling during the holidays, chances are you won't have access to a sled for your workout. But you most likely have plenty of boxes! Load up a large plastic or cardboard box with water bottles or cans as weights and use it for a simple sled push, or toss a towel underneath and hold on to perform sled pulls on the go.
So you're ready to work out at home but need help figuring out what exercises you should do?
Try out some of these at-home equipment swaps and follow our Reindeer Gains sled-focused workout circuits for a fresh and fun holiday workout or join us online at GO2 Fitness to stream your favorite group fitness classes anywhere!