Staying fit while traveling

Here’s a statistic I came across recently: 4 out of 5 members of Self magazine’s Insider Panel say they exercise while on vacation. That’s an encouraging number, I thought, until I considered the source: a fitness magazine, whose readers likely lead active lifestyles whether they’re traveling or not.

But what about the general population? And what if you’re traveling not for vacation, but for work or other non-leisure reasons? Do you fit exercise into your itinerary?

My guess, supported mostly by anecdotes I hear from fellow travelers, is that fitness routines – or, for that matter, any thoughts of working out – more often get left at home.

To be sure, working out on the road is tough. Gym shoes consume precious carry-on space. Sweaty clothes get stinky after a few hours stashed in hotel laundry bags. And the chances your hotel will have a decent gym – while increasingly good – are still not guaranteed.

But consider the benefits of working out on the road. I’m one who always packs running shoes, and I find that even a short run around the area where I’m staying not only boosts my energy, but also adds to the excitement of exploring a new place. (Just make sure you know a route that leads you back to your hotel!) And lately I’ve made a point to seek out local yoga studios. More than just a workout, I’ve discovered that doing yoga with a group of locals is an awesomely authentic travel experience.

I’m encouraged, too, to find more hotels investing in fitness options for guests. At many hotels, what used to be a former guest room stuffed with a refurbished treadmill and a few barbells now qualifies as a bona fide gym, complete with trainers, fitness classes and après-workout smoothies.

We’d love to hear your thoughts: How do you stay fit while traveling? What are your favorite hotel gyms? Please share your comments below.

Kim Lowe is a senior producer for Bing Travel, currently searching for good yoga studios in Vancouver, her next travel destination.