Top Pilates Tips For Travel

Traveling is exciting, but it can throw off your pilates routine with your body suffering the consequences.

Whether you’re going on a business trip, a holiday, or a weekend getaway, maintaining your “travel fitness” while on the road is easier than you might think.

Here are some top tips to keep your body aligned, mobile and pain free, no matter what part of the world you might be!

Pack Light with Travel-Friendly Equipment

One of the best things about pilates is that it can be practiced with minimal equipment or indeed no equipment. To keep your practice going while traveling, invest in portable, travel-friendly items like:

• Resistance bands – Lightweight and easy to pack, they can be used for stretching and mobility exercises.
• Pilates balls – These can be deflated and won’t take up any space in the suitcase and are great for spine mobility and adding challenge to core strength exercises.

Stick to Short and Effective Sessions

While you may not have a full hour to dedicate to a workout, you can still squeeze in a short 15 minute session at the start or end of the day.

These sessions can be highly effective in keeping your body on track. Focus on key areas like stretching and mobility and choose exercises that you’re familiar with and can perform easily.

Have a program planned and ready to go that is specific to your needs and you can realistically get done amongst your travel plans.

Focus on Breathing and Mind-Body Connection

Travel often comes with stress and long hours of sitting.

Pilates is not just about physical movement—it’s about mindfulness and breathing. Take a few minutes every day to focus on deep breathing and restoring your mind-body connection.

The pilates controlled breathing can help reduce stress, promote a sense of calm, and release muscle tension.

Breathing exercise can be done anywhere, in any position and can be highly beneficial during stressful long flights.

Stretch During Layovers or Flights

While you may not have the space to do a full pilates routine while flying, you can still incorporate stretches and light movements. During layovers or long flights, make it a point to:

• Stand up and stretch – Walk around to prevent stiffness and circulation issues, a few rolldowns will help tremendously.
• Seated stretches – Do seated twists, shoulder rolls, and ankle circles to release tension.
• Deep breathing exercises – While seated, practice controlled breathing to stay calm and relaxed.

These small moments of movement and stretching can go a long way in preventing travel fatigue.

By incorporating these tips into your daily travel plans, you can keep your body ready for any physical challenge you encounter when exploring.  

Pilates is all about flexibility—physically and mentally—so with a little creativity, you can adapt your practice to fit any travel schedule.

Safe travels and happy pilates!