Travelling This Summer? Here’s How to Keep Your Body Happy

Summer holidays are filled with excitement, however, they can cause the body to complain. Long drives, airport queues, heavy bags, awkward seats, rushing for trains, it all adds up.

We are going to give you a few hints and tips to help make the journey more smooth.

1. Breathe fully — especially when things get stressful

Travelling can be a bit of a whirlwind. Maybe you’re navigating the underground, trying to catch the right train, or juggling bags and tickets. When stress levels increase, our breath becomes shallow and quick without us even realising. This will activate the sympathetic nervous system.

A long exhale or even better a sigh tells your nervous system, “You’re safe.”

2. Take regular breaks, even if you’re not driving

A short walk, a stretch, or even standing tall for a minute helps reset both the physical and mental body. It doesn’t need to be a big movement, just a moment to remind your spine that it’s allowed to move.

If you’re travelling by train or plane, even standing in the aisle for a minute can help.

3. If you can’t stop, move where you are

Sometimes breaks just aren’t possible, long flights, busy trains, motorway traffic. In those moments, bring the movement to your seat.

Try:

• Shoulder rolls

• Ankle circles

• Wrist circles

• Seated calf raises

• Gentle neck turns

4. Lift correctly

Suitcases, backpacks, beach bags. A few simple tweaks make lifting much safer:

• Keep the load close to your body

• Bend your knees

• Avoid twisting as you lift

• If you do twist (because real life happens), gently twist the opposite way afterwards

5. Stretch and move when you arrive

Once you reach your destination, give your body a moment to unwind. A few gentle stretches, a short walk, or a tiny mobility sequence helps release the stiffness from travelling and sets you up for a more comfortable holiday.

If you want something ready‑made, here’s a tiny mobility sequence you can use anywhere.

If you are travelling away from Gloucester, but sill want to keep your gentle movement up, we have an online yoga portal, packed with yoga flows designed to keep you mobile