OUR body IS the gym... Stay Fit and Travel, Part 1

So I’ve officially made it through my first month On the road. When I set out on this journey I had several emotional, mental and spiritual goals .. and one physical mission: to maintain a level of fitness, health, and commitment to a movement practice with my body. I didn’t really have any idea or attachment to what that would feel or look like. Reflecting on this mission so far reminds me of a quote from the movie, Soul Surfer, “I don’t need easy, I just need possible”... because it hasn’t always been easy....but it’s definitely possible. Between an eight day chest cold, then catching a stomach bug that lingered and left my digestive a mess, and my body sluggish, it is sometimes difficult to find the energy to do as much as I would love to do. So, I shift my focus to doing exactly what I can do instead.

In my head before my trip I thought I could easily commit to 20-30 min exercise /day unless I was doing something super active for the day as part of my fun and adventure, then I would skip the workout. Initially prior to getting sick this was no problem at all... I did what I could when I could, where I could, and wouldn’t let anything hold me back, not even worrying how silly I looked. I worked out in my hostel room, on a beach, on the outside deck of a riverside bar, a rooftop, and now a 3rd floor balcony.

Prior to being sick I mostly stuck with the 20-30 minute goal, picking out a small variety of body weight and band movements with a strength focus, while sometimes adding in a few movements together done with more speed for conditioning. I have worked out alone, and I have also had friends along the way join in with me.

What’s interesting is what happened after I got sick was unexpected and so far wonderful.... Because my energy levels were off I started slowing down a bit, and with each passing day I started getting more creative. My only goal would be to do whatever I could, knowing that was enough. And I feel that now more then ever in my life I’ve been practicing my own form of “yoga”, if you will. A movement practice of mindfulness, approaching each session intuitively. I look forward to my alone time, my sacred space, where I can go into the experience unattached to any outcome, and then flow into each movement, as it feels right. Even my thought process has shifted - I don’t look at it as “I have to get my workout in,” rather, it’s just my movement time. My muscles and joints feel better then they have in a long ass time, I feel more intuitive, connected, whole and present with movement... I look forward to this time everyday, knowing some days I need a little less, and some days if I have a busy day and I miss it, it’s ok ... At least no matter what I will likely be walking a ton daily allowing blood to flow and body to move.
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I am just excited to continue on this path, and see what shows up around every corner. What started as such basic group of movements has expended into a large tool box of creativity and fun. 95% of the time it’s just me, my body and a band... and it works!!!! Traveling for a long time, not having a gym, not having a big space, no fancy equipment - it’s no excuse... there is always a way to move.