My default travel workout is to throw on a pair of running shoes and hit the road. It’s easy, free and a great change of scenery. That said, it can be really fun to try out new classes and gyms if time allows and options are available.
Usually when I’m visiting my parents I stick to runs, solo workouts in the small gym here or poolside self-led yoga practices but I’ve also enjoyed visiting BodyPump classes and CrossFit gyms in the past. This time around I decided to go on a small “tour de yoga studios” since it’s the off-season. Traffic is less crazy and it’s been cold and really windy so I haven’t really wanted to do outdoor workouts like I normally do.
One thing I’ve learned about travel yoga is that you need to go into it with an open mind. It’s so easy to get accustomed to your home studio and the style of yoga practiced there. I’ve learned to set my intention on being open-minded and feeling gratitude for the opportunity to move and breathe, no matter the form of it.
I have been pleasantly surprised this trip to take two lovely classes! More details in the weekly workout recap below! It was the perfect mix of strength, running and yoga with a rest day thrown in there.
Monday
75 mins hot yoga
Tuesday
4 miles treadmill intervals + upper body strength, TRX and dumbbell supersets
Treadmill:
10 minutes warm
10 minutes hills
10 minutes sprints
5 minute cool
Supersets, 2 sets of 15 before moving to next superset:
#1 CHEST
Dumbbell chest flies
TRX push ups
#2 BACK
Dumbbell bent over rows
TRX rows
#3 BICEPS
Dumbbell bicep curls
TRX bicep curls
#4 TRICEPS
Dumbbell tricep kickbacks
TRX tricep extensions
Wednesday
REST
Thursday
3 miles treadmill intervals + barbell total body strength
Treadmill:
Similar to Saturday’s below
Barbell strength:
21-15-9 (decreasing reps, increasing weight)
Bench press (65/70/75)
Back squat (105/115/125)
Pull ups (strict, light band assist)
Deadlifts (75/95/115)
GHD sit ups
Friday
75 mins hot yoga
I visited Hot Yoga Om in downtown Fort Walton for a Radiant Flow class. I was happy to discover that there were over 20 people in class and that our instructor offered options for all levels. There was a decent amount of flow and sun salutations. This studio uses infrared heat and it was my first time practicing in it. While it’s totally different than the heat we use at Y2 (much drier), I did get really sweaty and had a good practice.
Saturday
3 miles treadmill intervals + dumbbell strength
Treadmill:
5 mins warm @ 9 min mile pace
5 mins hills starting @ 6% and working to 9% (45 on, 15 off)
5 mins sprints starting at 7:30 and working to 7:00 (45 on, 15 off)
5 mins hills starting at 9% and working to 12% (20 on, 10 off)
5 mins sprints starting at 6:45 and working to 5:45 (20 on, 10 off)
Dumbbells:
10 x 2 (I took my mom through a simple circuit to do on her own)
Chest flies (25#)
Single arm rows (25#)
Front squats (holding one 35#)
Single leg deadlifts (holding one 25#)
Bicep curls (15#)
Overhead tricep extensions (holding one 25#)
Shoulder side raises (15#)
Shoulder overhead press (20#)
Sunday
90 mins vinyasa yoga
For a couple years now one of my readers and fellow yoga teachers (hi Pam!) has encouraged me to make the trip down 30-A to visit Balance Health Studio for a class with owner Kelli Precourt. I had never been able to swing the trip because it’s a 30 mile drive and during busy season traffic is out of control. A cold Sunday early morning in January seemed like the perfect time to finally make the trip.
CLASS WAS WONDERFUL! I see why Pam loves this studio and Kelli so much. From the moment I walked into the studio I felt relaxed and welcome. The space is three stories with the ground floor being the retail/check-in space with massage and chiropractic rooms, the second floor had a cycle studio and the third floor had a beautiful yoga studio that faces the gulf.
Kelli is an amazingly natural teacher who did a great job of making yogis of all levels feel like the practice was for them, whether you were in child’s pose or handstand. She offered about a million chaturangas and chaturanga push ups and lots of options for play in things like crow, flying pigeon and handstand. The room wasn’t “hot” but it was definitely warm and the combination of a packed house and Kelli’s flow had me dripping in sweat.
We finished with a long savasana where Kelli shared a nice message that really resonated with me about enjoying the journey as much (if not more) than reaching your destination.
If you are vacationing on 30-A, get over to Balance Health Studio and take class with Kelli! The Sunday morning “spicy vinyasa” is not to be missed and I’ll definitely be back!
I’d love to hear about your experiences of taking yoga and other fitness classes on the road! Where have you taken classes? What kind of classes? What did you think?
