When most of us think of exercise equipment, we think of treadmills, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, home gyms and exercise bikes; however, most of do not have room to take these cumbersome exercise equipment options with us when on the road. Fortunately, you do not need full-size gym equipment to stay fit and healthy while traveling, and there are plenty of small, portable options that can assist you in getting a great workout without taking up floor space or filling your RVs cupboards when not in use.
There are many exercise options that are readily accessible on the road and require no equipment at all, such as hiking, biking, walking and swimming. But, there might be times or circumstances that call for exercising indoors, such as rainy days, overly hot days or a current health status that limits your mobility. For those times, it is much more convenient to have readily available workout options that are easy to use inside your RV and easy to stow away when not in use.
Here are 10 small, portable options that are ideal for taking with you on the road:
Hand weights – Small hand weights can be used anywhere and are small enough to stick in a drawer or cabinet when not in use. Some can even be filled with water, and then emptied to take up even less room.
Wrist weights and ankle weights – Ideal for floor exercises or when walking and hiking, ankle and wrist weights take up minimal room when not in use.
Resistance bands – Resistance bands take up practically no room at all and are great for working out in tight spaces.
Pedometer – This can fit in the glove box when not in use and is a great way to keep track of how many steps you take each day.
Yoga mat, blocks and bands – Mats can be easily rolled up and stowed away when not in use and are ideal for yoga, pilates and floor exercises.
Twist disks – These go by many names, depending on the manufacturer, but they are essentially small disks that you stand on and twist, working your core muscles and legs.
Balance boards or disks – Again, these go by many names, such a balance boards, balance disks and wobble boards. But regardless of what they are called, they are small, handy exercise tools that allow you to improve balance and core muscle strength.
Pilates ring – This small but mighty exercise ring provides resistance for seated, standing or floor exercises and can slip behind a seat when not in use.
Exercise DVDs – Workout DVDs are available for everything from seated exercises to hip hop routines and yoga to belly dancing.
Sitting Stepper – This one was also mentioned in the post about improving circulation, but is worth mentioning again here. It folds up to easily fit in the glove box when not in use and is a great way to keep moving, even when sitting during long drives.
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