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 | | A fresh way of enjoying your holidays | | |
Going on holiday is not just about lying around in a lounge chair sipping a martini on the rocks and sucking on an olive. It is not just about lazy mornings spent by the pool nibbling on sumptuous ice cream dishes. Holidaying is also about being active. In other words, it is about getting out and moving. Such forms of exercise as hiking, Nordic and fitness walking, and jogging are all ways to supplement your next holiday experience while relieving stress, combating osteoperosis, heart disease, and arthritis, and improving muscle tone. Whatever method of exercise you choose, and whatever speed you prefer, you can enjoy the weather as it warms up, learn more about the region you are visiting, and improve yourself phy-sically by taking a more active view to your next vacation. |
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Hiking through the hills
Hiking is the perfect way to achieve a more intimate view of the local area.
Enjoy the surrounding hills, fields, and forests from a first hand point of view. Getting out and hiking is simple. All you need is a pair of sturdy shoes. Most hikers prefer special boots, but comfortable walking shoes are suitable for day trips or hikes which last for just a few hours. Make sure your clothes are weather appropriate and practical as well. The next step is finding people to hike with. Many local tourist offices and hotels offer planned hiking trips, and it is often easy to meet people by chance in hotels, some of whom may also be interested in enjoying the weather and scenery on a more personal level. When hiking, even if the trip is very short, do not forget to bring drinking water and a map. The need for a gulp of fresh water can always occur, and a break to orientate yourself is sometimes necessary. |
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Nordic Walking is the new wave
Nordic Walking is the new wave
Nordic walking is another way to start moving on your next holiday. This form of exercise has become extremely popular in recent years. Two specially constructed poles and a pair of running shoes are the only equipment required. Nordic walkers hold the poles and move their arms backwards and forwards while exercising. The poles, which are much like more athletic versions of walking sticks, help exercisers move on slippery surfaces and also allow wal-kers to tone their entire bodies. In addition, Nordic walking causes energy consumption to rise by 20% as compared to regular walking, and 400 calories are burned per hour as opposed to 280 calories per hour when going for a stroll. Muscle tension and pain in the neck and shoulder regions all decrease, and this form of exercise is easy on joints and knees. When going uphill, Nordic walkers should lean forward more and use the poles more, and when going downhill, exercisers should shorten their stride and keep their knees bent. |
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Heat it up with fitness walking
Fitness walking simply involves moving at a more determined pace than someone out for a leisurely stroll, and moving the arms forwards and backwards in a controlled motion. This form of exercise burns nearly as many calories as running does, but like Nordic walking, it is easier on the body. People performing this type of movement generally cover a kilometre in around eight to ten minutes. Participants should always look straight ahead rather than at the ground, and should keep their shoulders down and their backs relaxed. Fitness walking can be done anytime, anywhere. Whether you are visiting a city or holidaying in the mountains, this form of exercise is always an excellent way of seeing more of the area. |
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Jogging is where it’s at
One of the most time honoured ways to get out and enjoy the fresh air is to go for a jog. Don your running shoes and a jogging outfit, and you are ready to go. Jogging, ideal for people in search of a more fast-paced workout, raises your heart rate, helps you stay in shape, and allows you to get closer to the place you are visiting. You never know what you could discover while on a jog-an out of the way but charming café, a creek you did not even know existed, or a surprising view. Remember to warm up first with a quick walk and take time to stretch out before and after running. It is also important for joggers to attempt to maintain a constant pace, and to remain hydrated. Keep in mind that it is a more high-impact form of exercise than the above mentioned exercises. Joggers should therefore be free of joint problems or knee injuries, and distances run should be increased gradually. |
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Bathing in the afterglow
After a long hike, a Nordic or fitness walking workout, or a good jog, it is all the more satisfying to return to traditional holiday pleasures. You have stretched your muscles, seen more of the region, and burned your share of calories; now it is time for a little enjoyment. Find yourself a comfortable lounge chair by the pool, order that cocktail you have been craving, or enjoy the dessert you have been dying to try. Let yourself be pampered with a massage, a Thalasso treatment, or a hay bath. You have supplemented your holiday with some physical activity, and the time for relaxation has arrived. |
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© September 2010 - European Publications GmbH
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