Have you seen those weirdos stretching out in the airport, or better yet, on an airplane aisle? Yup, I am one of those weirdos. And you should be too.
First, let’s get one thing clear – this is not an essay on how to change your life and health while on holiday. If you’re looking for a ‘how to get a six pack in one week’ type of information, I’m sure there are plenty of self-acclaimed gurus on the internet.
These are a few gentle reminders on how to look after yourself and your joints while also enjoying the ski slopes and après-ski.
Stretching saves lives
If you’re travelling with family or friends, it probably took a long time to manage everyone’s life schedules to align. It would be a shame to lose this opportunity by getting a muscle strain or injury that could have been avoided. And yes, I agree, stretching is annoying. Especially if you’re slightly hungover and sleep-deprived. But it’s either this or staying in bed and watching everyone else have a good time while you’re rubbing some cream on your ankle.
So, before hitting the slopes, the key is to warm up your muscles.
For a skier, extra focus goes towards legs, hips and lower back. Any movement with a twist and a wide range of motion will do the job. Think leg swings, torso twists, butt kicks, etc. It doesn’t have to be rocket science or a one-hour session. Just move your body and have fun while at it.
Now, after the slopes are closed and before shots are getting filled at the bar, take a few minutes to stretch your muscles to increase overnight recovery. No big extravagant movements, just gentle stretches for your hamstrings, calves and quads.
My personal favourite to finish any stretching session is in child’s pose – stay there as long as feels comfortable.
Drink water, eat, sleep, repeat
A good friend of mine taught me a very simple and extremely useful skill in life. Every time he doesn’t feel too well in his body, he scans his actions through three simple questions – did I drink water? Did I eat a nutritious meal? Did I get a good night’s sleep? And I think it’s a brilliant way to live not only in daily life, but also on holiday.
Don’t worry about your protein intake or macros. Enjoy the fatty local delicacy and wash it down with a local beer. As long as you drink water throughout the day, don’t skip breakfast and manage to get sleep, you will be ready to tackle those slopes. It might sound basic, but it works. And you are free to go back to a more regimented schedule after the holiday.
Take a deep breath
All is well with having a strict workout routine, tracking your macros, doing cold plunges and all the other wellness trends. But there comes a moment when it’s time to stop scheduling life and just simply live. Being away from your regular environment is an ideal time to try just that. Take a seat, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and focus on your body.
If you’re not practising meditation on a regular basis, this will probably feel strange. You will try to overthink this. All kinds of scenarios will pass through your mind. And that is OK. Let it be. Just observe. Every time you catch yourself thinking, just come back to focusing on your breathing, your chest, or your belly. As many times as it takes. There are no penalties and no way to ‘mess it up’.
Then take it to the next level. Do this outside. Take a few deep breaths. Feel the cold air entering your nose and breathing tracks. Feel the sun on your face. Look at the snow-covered trees and mountain silhouettes in the distance. Really look. Did you notice any strange shapes? A bird flying by? A frozen waterfall? Be present in the moment.
You will remember this moment for the rest of your life. And it will be a much better gift to yourself than a posing photo you can’t even remember taking.
The secret is in the basics
When you are on holiday, the rules of life are different. Whether you belong to the 4 am club or sleep until noon on a regular basis, the daily schedule will be different on your holiday, no matter what. Especially if you’re travelling with a group of people.
So, how to balance your mental and physical health in all this chaos? Stick to the basics. Stretch before and after skiing. Drink water, eat food and take a few deep breaths from time to time. That’s the whole secret.
See you out there!
