The Best Bodyweight Workout for Travelers

When traveling around the world, chances are gyms are not in your immediate thoughts. You'd rather spend your days exploring ancient temples, beautiful white sand beaches, and the quaint cobblestone streets of Europe. Who wants to spend their days sweaty in the gym, staring at a rack of dumbbells or a generic treadmill?

As much as you want to spend your days relaxing and exploring, exercise is essential for your physical and mental health.

Exercise has many health benefits, including weight loss, decreasing the risk of developing diseases like cardiovascular disease, and improving mood.

While I'm not saying you should immediately put down that delicious chocolate croissant and run to the closest gym, I recommend blocking out at least 30 minutes daily to exercise.

Exercise can range from yoga, running, and weightlifting to walking around and sightseeing. The best part? You don't need a gym to exercise!

I've worked with many clients who would use the excuse of “I can't get to the gym” not to do their workouts. I call bullsh*t every time.

You can exercise anywhere. In a hostel. On the beach. Anywhere! So now you have no more excuses not to work out on your trip around the world.

It's a common misnomer that you need weights to do strength training. While dumbbells, barbells, and squat bars are necessary for some exercises, your body weight is the best piece of equipment you have.

Using your body weight, you can quickly get a full-body workout on the road without equipment. Consider adding the best pre-workouts for an energy boost.

The Workout

Burpees

Burpees are the ultimate bodyweight exercise that everyone loves to hate. People hate them because they are hard, but they're also practical. Burpees are equipment-free exercises that work your whole body and are also intense cardiovascular exercises.

How to Do a Burpee: Start standing with your feet hip-width apart. Lower your body into a squatting position and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Step or jump both feet back until you're in a push-up position. Complete a push-up. Jump your feet back to their original position, stand up, and then jump into the air with your arms above your head.

Wall Sit

You'll need a wall for this exercise. Wall sits are a great way to work your quadriceps and hamstrings while on the road. Wall sits aren't complicated; they are just painful. Be prepared for some shaking and crying.

How to do a wall sit: Find a wall and slowly slide your back down until your thighs are parallel to the ground, almost like you're sitting in a chair. Ensure your knees are directly above the ankles and your back is pushed back straight against the wall. Think about sucking your belly button right into your spine. Looking for a challenge? Grab some water bottles or rocks and do biceps curls.

Plank

Planks are one of the best core exercises. Skip crunches and sit-ups, which add unnecessary strain to your spine, and do some planks. Not only does a plank work all your ab muscles, but it also works your shoulders and arms and improves your balance and posture.

Related: How to Beat Jet Lag in Six Steps

How to do a plank: Lie face down on the floor with your forearms on the floor. Extend your legs behind your body and rise up on your toes. Make sure your shoulders are directly in line with your elbows. Keep forearms straight in an “11” shape. Keep your back straight and hips up, and tighten your core. Hold the position for 30-60 seconds or as long as possible. Keep your head and neck in line with the rest of your spine. 

Triceps Dip

Your triceps are those tiny muscles in the back of your arms. While many people focus on their biceps, the triceps are just as important as they help extend the arm, which is essential when you want to drink your beer. All you need for triceps dips is a chair or a large rock.

How to do a triceps dip: Sit on the edge of a chair or bench. Grab the edge of the surface with one hand on either side of your legs. Slide your bottom off the chair and drop it towards the floor right in front of it. Bend your arms until they come to a 90-degree angle, then straighten your arms again. For an easier dip, keep your feet on the ground. Straighten your legs and keep only your heels on the ground if you want a challenge. 

Jump Lunges

Lunges are a great exercise to target all the major leg, butt, and core muscles. Lunges are incredibly versatile and can be done with or without weight. And lunges have many benefits, including improved balance, better hip flexibility, and a more toned bottom. While there are multiple ways to do lunges, the jump lunge is one fun alternative that also serves as a cardiovascular exercise.

How to jump lunge: Start in the lunge position with the right foot forward. Use your arms to propel you as you jump into the air and switch legs, landing in a lunge with your left foot forward. Repeat and continue switching.

There are so many other bodyweight exercises that you can do on the road. These are just a few of my personal favorites. Here's a quick exercise routine using the above exercises that you can complete in under 30 minutes, anywhere.

The 30-Minute Bodyweight Hostel Workout

5-Minute warm-up: You can run around the block a few times, do jumping jacks, or do anything that gets your heart rate up and your muscles warmed up.

Complete for one round:

• 15 Burpees
• 30-60 second Plank
• 15 Lunge Jumps
• 15 Triceps Dips
• 30-60 second Wall Sit
• 30-60 second Plank

Rest for 30-60 seconds before repeating the round for a total of 5-8 rounds.

Cool Down: Walk or jog around the block and stretch.

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Now that you know more about the different forms of gym-free exercises and workouts, you should also know about post-workout recovery. Exercise is good for the whole body, but it can sometimes cause muscle soreness, fatigue, or even pain.

When you're not traveling, consider using workout recovery tools like Exogun, an affordable percussion massager that effectively eases pain, speeds up muscle recovery, and is trusted by many of the world's athletes.

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Note: If you are starting an exercise routine for the first time, remember to consult with your healthcare provider. These exercises are done at your own risk.