How to exercise in your hotel room while on vacation

Try these three yoga-inspired moves you can do that don’t require any more space than the length of a yoga mat — or a bath towel if you’re in a hotel room.

By Stephanie Mansour

Taking a vacation can mean checking out from work, everyday life — and many times, workouts. Coming home from vacation can often be stressful and full of catching up on work, life, and focusing on a workout plan for weight loss! But what if it didn’t have to be this way?

Would you believe it if I told you that some of my weight loss clients actually lose weight on vacation? While this may seem unbelievable, it’s true! In fact, one of them lost eight pounds on a seven-day vacation without paying much attention to food or limiting her cocktails. She “moved” everyday for 15 minutes in her hotel room and slept eight hours a night. It was the winning combination that her body needed to lose weight.

While all bodies are not created equal, hopefully this anecdote inspires you to at least consider putting together “a workout station on vacation” — and integrate a minimal time-consuming exercise plan into your vacation schedule.

I created three yoga-inspired moves you can do that don’t require any more space than the length of a yoga mat — or a bath towel, if you’re in a hotel room.

Pulsing Warrior II

Standing wide on your mat, turn your right toes towards the top of the mat, and turn your left toes toward the front left corner of the mat.

Bend the right knee to track over the right second toe, and keep the left leg straight.

Press down through the outer edge of the left heel. Lift the arms up as high as the shoulders and reach the right fingers towards the front and the left fingers towards the back. Relax your shoulders. This is your starting position.

Straighten your right knee, and then bend again. Repeat this 10 times.

Turbo Chair Pose

Standing with your feet as wide as your hips, reach your arms up overhead.

Relax the shoulders and allow the ears to have space around them.

Bend your knees and reach your glutes back, pull the abs in, and keep the arms reaching alongside the ears.

Press down through the heels to stand up and squeeze your glutes at the top.

Move quickly in and out of this pose to get your heart rate up. Repeat this 10 times.

A flying warrior three yoga pose, as shown here by health and fitness expert Stephanie Mansour, is a great addition to your vacation workout. — A flying warrior 3 yoga pose, as shown here by health and fitness expert Stephanie Mansour, is a great addition to your vacation workout.

Flying Warrior III

Standing at the top of your mat, balance on your right foot and reach your arms up towards the ceiling. Then press down through your right heel as you lift the left leg straight behind you, flexing the foot.

Lean your upper body forward as you create a diagonal from the tips of your fingers all the way down your spine through your left heel. Hold this position once you’re parallel to the ground, then slowly come back to the starting position. Repeat this 10 times, then switch sides.

Stephanie Mansour wants you to ‘“step up” your fitness regimen. Mansour coaches private clients in weight loss, provides fitness/health/lifestyles advice on national TV shows, and offers her free 21 Day Challenge online. Check out her fitness tips every Thursday in the Well section of the Chicago Sun-Times. And visit her website at stepitupwithsteph.com.