Stayng Pain-Free On Holidays

Photo - Enjoying Hanauma Bay, Hawaii 2006

Another year has almost flown by and as we get closer to the holiday season it's the ideal time to plan how you will prioritise your health and well-being during this time.

Throughout the year I've had clients who have enjoyed trip of a lifetime adventures for 6 plus weeks only to experience their back, knee, or shoulder pain flaring up when they returned. The holiday high is short-lived when they go through the frustration of regaining their previous fitness level and overcoming their pain again. Other clients are experts at incorporating just enough Pilates in their holiday schedules to stay pain-free while thoroughly enjoying their trip.  Here are some practical tips to set yourself up for success and ensure you stay pain-free this holiday season.

Prepare in Advance To Stay Pain-free

Whatever mode of transport you use during your holiday you will usually be sitting for long periods. It's important to take a moment to make sure your environment is supportive and won't leave you in pain when you reach your destination. Ensure you can maintain good posture while you are seated.  If you have back pain use a small rolled-up towel for support in your lower back.  A travel. pillow can help support your neck  If you are driving, schedule regular stops so you can move around. If you are on a plane or train try to walk around if it's safe to do so.  Pack warm clothing in case the air-conditioning is too cold which can cause stiffness.  Layer your clothing so you can remove layers if the environment is too warm. Either temperature extreme can cause dehydration and increase pain levels so take water and stay hydrated.  Dehydration and muscle stiffness can lead to pain flare-ups. If you are carrying your own luggage keep it light. Carrying heavy bags is a common cause of pain and injury.

Allison Keeps Up With Pilates While Holidaying

One of my lovely clients who I'll call Allison is incredible at maintaining her Pilates practice on holidays. She has a lumbar disc bulge that causes tingling in her foot due to nerve compression. Pilates is giving her relief and she is progressing extremely well so she is highly motivated to continue with her sessions to avoid surgery.  She has a large family with many children and grandchildren but still manages to fit in 1 on 1 virtual Pilates sessions with me wherever she is.  Just recently she attended a family celebration on the mid-north coast of NSW and her entire family was staying in a large Airbnb house. Allison said it was nothing for her to slip away for 30 minutes into one of the rooms for her session with me. She also regularly visits family in the country and interstate. She says they can do without her for 30 minutes while she does her session. When she drives she keeps her Pilates equipment in the boot of her car. If she doesn't have her equipment I can make it work without it.  Allison would have missed so many sessions if she wasn't good at scheduling Pilates on holidays.

Choose Whan and How You Do Pilates

It's essential to choose a holiday Pilates schedule that is manageable for you. You need a happy medium between enjoying your holiday and maintaining your fitness. If you are having an active holiday with lots of walking and swimming you may need less Pilates than someone who is lying by a pool.. Don't make Pilates a chore but rather something you can slip into your schedule in 5, 10, or 15-minute sessions with minimal disruption to your holiday time. My on-demand video library has videos of these lengths and can be used from the website or as an app on your phone. You could do Pilates in the morning or before bed each evening. If you are in a warm climate, try an outdoor Pilates session, something you may not do at home. Get creative and keep it interesting. Establish how many times per week is sufficient for you or do you need to do it daily?  Plan ahead so you know what you will do to stay pain-free and maximise the enjoyment of your holiday.  Pack any resistance bands or small balls you will need so you are ready for your sessions.

Don't Beat Yourself Up If  You Don't Do Pilates!

Life happens and even the best-laid plans can get pushed aside. If you find you don't get to do your Pilates practice for whatever reason - don't beat yourself up!  That's one of the reasons I'm here - to help you overcome your pain when you return and help get you back to where you need to be to enjoy pain-free living again.

My book MOVE FREE FROM PAIN by Joanne Sutton contains more information about virtual and on-demand Pilates and how these methods of learning Pilates can work for you both at home and on holiday. I  offer 1 on 1 Pilates sessions virtually via Skype and the personalised nature of these sessions ensures you are following a Pilates program of exercises that are ideal for your unique situation so you can live a pain-free life.

If you are ready to start Pilates email me at [email protected] .  Alternatively, you can book an Initial Assessment with me here or  take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my online studio - a library of on-demand videos, and start straight away.  It would be my pleasure to assist you on your Pilates journey to pain-free living!