Press Release of the Week: Feeling Fit on the Road
Eat right, get your circulation flowing, and maintain proper posture: these are the latest travel tips from the Historic Hotels of America .
In a press release from the organization, in tandem with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, seven historic hotels share some of their advice for healthy, tension-free traveling.
It’s a relatively ingenious press release, actually, as press releases go: it offers information and expert opinions, while at the same time publicizing a few of the nation’s more well-heeled tourism destinations.
“The Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, reminds guests of the importance of staying hydrated,” reads one bullet point, for instance.
In addition to getting your eight-glasses a day, here are some other tips HHoA member hotels suggest:
• Standing in long lines and racing through terminals takes a toll on the feet. To rejuvenate, Leah Wagner, lead fitness instructor at the Spa at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz , N.Y., offers a simple suggestion. Place a tennis ball or similar sized firm ball under the ball of your foot. While seated, roll the ball back and forth under the arch of your foot. This can be done in your hotel room, at your desk or even on an airplane.
• A sure-fire way to feel tired and irritable after traveling is to indulge in junk food. Instead, Sheryl O’Brien, spa director at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, N.C., recommends reaching for fresh fruit. A quick candy bar or bag of chips at the airport or gas station might offer a quick fix, but will only bring you down later. A more nutritious snack will fill you up and provide a good source of energy.
• Daniel Chong-Jimenez, executive chef of the Spa at Norwich Inn in Norwich, Conn., suggests eating light meals comprised of lean protein such as chicken breast, tuna and light ham, along with greens and vegetables. He says eating carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and sweets will result in drowsiness and diminished energy.
• The Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, reminds guests of the importance of staying hydrated. This is especially true when traveling to warmer climates and higher altitudes. The El Convento offers abundant supplies of bottled water at various points throughout the hotel.
• Kate Means, director of the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va., which includes the Williamsburg Inn and Colonial Houses, advises getting adjusted to the new time zone quickly. Set your watch on the airplane, then focus on diet, exercise and relaxation and enjoy your surroundings. There are some great places in this world and you should take the opportunity to appreciate them.
• Once you reach your destination, don’t just sit on the couch. Sue Andersson of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Jekyll Island, Ga., says getting up and out will start you off on the right foot. Take a 20-30 minute stroll early in the morning to clear your mind for the day ahead, to get your circulation flowing and to explore the sites. For instance, on a walk near the hotel you will see beautiful century-old cottages, the Jekyll River, the Historic Wharf and the huge oak trees covered with Spanish moss.
• Maintaining proper sitting posture while traveling will help to prevent neck and back soreness according to Rob Vorhees, head personal trainer, and Phyllis Ellerman, fitness director at the Sports Club at Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, Va. They suggest keeping your seat in a more upright position; keep your head in upright position; support your lower back by placing a small rolled-up towel between your lower lumbar back and the seat back; and keep your shoulders in proper alignment.
Photos from the Beat
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