Staying Fit in Your RV or On the Road

While it may be true that you are “vacationing” or maybe you live full-time in your RV, either way, it is very important to incorporate some type of fitness routine into your day-to-day life on the road. Just adding some measure of keeping tabs on your health is helpful, and the easiest things to focus on are getting your heart rate up each day and keeping yourself moving. Staying active can be difficult, especially if you have limited space or don't have access to equipment you are used to using.

Common Concerns or Challenges

Many travellers struggle to keep their fitness routine intact because of the change in surroundings that can be a frequent occurrence. Sometimes after arriving at a new destination, the last thought on your mind is where and how you will fit in a workout. Ease yourself into your new space by reminding yourself that you will be in unfamiliar surroundings - and this can be an adventure! A little research goes a long way and can make it much easier to get started in your fitness routine in a new place.

Depending on the city or town you are visiting, you might be able to utilize a gym membership, or if you are lucky, the campgrounds you are staying with may even have a workout space onsite! If you are staying with us at WillowWind, you can enjoy access to our fitness facility that is set up with a treadmill, weights, bike, elliptical and more. The facilities even received kudos from one of our guests recently on the The Fit RV blog.

Use the Natural Elements

One popular way of getting exercise in on the road is taking advantage of the natural surroundings in your campsite of choice. Check in with the campground you’re staying with to see what types of activities can be found closeby - find out about different walking trails you might be able to take, places to swim, ride bikes, or climb. Look up the typical weather patterns and make sure to be prepared with appropriate clothing or safeguards against inclement weather, like bringing along a waterproof jacket or tossing an emergency blanket in your pack just to have all your bases covered. If you are an avid explorer, this method of getting your blood pumping will come easily, and may even be a part of your routine already. Many cities or towns will also house a visitors center, which can provide you with additional tips and info to help make your adventures more easily planned.

Many people rely on equipment in their normal fitness routine, like using weights, dumbbells, stationary bikes, or treadmill, but the same type of exercise can be accomplished with a changing environment, sans equipment. The absence of these luxuries found in gyms and designated workout spaces can actually be helpful to teach you new ways of staying fit, using just your own body and small tools to assist you. Easy and inexpensive, yoga mats can create a comfortable space that is easy to clean, move, and transport while giving you a designated space to do lunges, stretch, or actually do some yoga! Helpful for circulation, yoga is a great way to keep your body lean and stretched out - all important for long hours on the road without much mobility. Another easy and useful tool for strengthening is a resistance band. This can be used outside of the RV, out in nature on your own, or even inside the RV, as it is very compact and is used in tandem with your own extremities.

RV Workouts

Some people might feel the need for privacy during their workouts and don’t prefer to exercise in public spaces like on hikes or walking trails. While some campgrounds will afford some private space around the site, sometimes it can be difficult to carve out some private space depending on the available spots upon your arrival. Luckily, it is easy to develop a method for working out inside the small space of your RV. If you have enough space for a yoga mat, you can utilize available WiFi at the campgrounds (one of WillowWind RV Park’s many amenities) and get into a video series to walk you through your workouts.

One great benefit of using online tools like YouTube tutorials or apps to work out is it helps you understand the proper form needed to make sure you are performing the moves correctly. You might be familiar with the different ways of working out or exercising that are best for you, but it is always helpful to have another human providing you with the example to follow for the best (and safest) results. Sometimes using different apps can be motivating as well as educational - providing you with words of encouragement to stay focused and offering new ideas or methods that might push your limits or help you understand how to build the perfect fitness routine for your body. Check out apps like Aaptiv (subscription based) or a free service like Fitness Blender to experiment with your workouts.

Low-Impact Exercises for Seniors

Your exercise certainly doesn’t need to be high-impact, and for many seniors, low-impact workouts are easy to find on YouTube. One way to stay fit inside your RV would be to use a wall and the tool of your choice, whether a resistance band, chair, ball, or lightweight hand weights. You can do many different exercises that strengthen and engage your most critical muscle groupings in small spaces, like chair sits against the wall, leg lifts, or side bends. All of these are helpful in getting your heart rate up, circulation flowing, and feel great as you get your day started.

The most important thing to remember is that fitness is key to helping you feel good and enabling you to continue being the RV adventurer you are. Make sure to find something that works for your normal routine, and helps you feel accomplished - but the key element in sticking with a routine is finding something that is easy for you to do regularly. Look for ways to incorporate fitness into things you already enjoy doing or will have planned already.

Keep up with the WillowWind blog to learn more helpful travel tips or ideas for the travellers we welcome at our RV Park. Contact us today to make a summer reservation as space is limited - we hope to see you in Hurricane, UT soon!