Holidays Exercise
With the Easter holidays upon us and the weather (hopefully) improving, many of us are just getting back into a routine… and then everything changes again. Whether you have children at home, are travelling, or simply taking time off, your usual structure can easily disappear. That’s where holidays exercise becomes less about perfection and more about flexibility.
You might recognise yourself in one of these…
Maybe you’re the person who thinks, “If I can’t do my normal routine, I won’t bother.”
Or perhaps you know your body well enough to feel that if you don’t keep moving, everything starts to feel that bit stiffer hips tighten, your back aches, and running just doesn’t feel as comfortable.
Both are completely normal especially for runners over 40, where consistency plays a big role in keeping your body feeling strong, mobile and injury-free.
Holidays Exercise: Why Doing Something Is Better Than Nothing
I’ve just come back from holiday, and with my son now at university, I can’t even blame him for disrupting my routine!
But the week before I went? It was full. Work to finish, things to organise, packing, sorting the dog… and my fitness routine? It quietly slipped out of the window.
And if I’m honest, it annoyed me.
Not because I missed a few sessions but because I knew there were small things I could have done that would have made all the difference.
Simple things like:
- Planning my week ahead (even loosely)
- Shortening my sessions instead of skipping them altogether
Research shows that even short bouts of movement can help maintain fitness, mobility and strength, particularly as we get older. The NHS recommends regular activity spread across the week even in shorter sessions to support overall health and joint function.
This is exactly where holidays exercise comes in, it’s about adapting, not stopping.
Simple Holidays Exercise Ideas That Actually Work
When your routine is disrupted, the goal isn’t to do more it’s to make things easier to stick to.
Keep Pilates short and effective
- 10-minute sessions can still activate your core and support posture
- Focus on hips, glutes and mobility to support your running
- A loop band is easy to pack and adds gentle resistance
Adapt your running routine
- Shorter runs (15–25 minutes) still maintain fitness
- Explore new routes to make it feel enjoyable, not like a chore
- Let go of pace goals—run for how it feels
Fit movement into your day
- Take the kids out on bikes or scooters while you jog alongside
- Head out early for some quiet time before the day starts
- Use walks and family time as part of your activity, not separate from it
You Won’t Lose Your Fitness (But You Might Feel Better for Moving)
A common worry during the holidays is losing fitness.
But the truth is, fitness doesn’t disappear overnight. In fact, studies show it takes several weeks of inactivity to see significant declines. What does change more quickly is how your body feels, stiffness, reduced mobility, and that “heaviness” when you return to running.
That’s why keeping some gentle holidays exercise in your week can really help you:
- Stay mobile and reduce stiffness
- Maintain strength and running form
- Feel more like yourself
One of my members recently came back from New Zealand. When I asked if she’d managed to do any Pilates, she said, “Yes… I missed it too much not to.”
And that says it all.
Let Your Routine Flex This Easter
Being on holiday or having your usual routine disrupted doesn’t mean everything has to go to pot.
It might just look like:
- Two shorter runs instead of three longer ones
- A few 10-minute Pilates sessions across the week
- More flexibility and less pressure
And that’s enough to keep you moving forward.
Stay Consistent with Simple, Supportive Holidays Exercise
If you’d like a way to stay consistent even when life gets busy or routines change my membership is designed to support you through exactly this.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Simple, effective Pilates sessions you can do anywhere
- Monthly plans that remove the guesswork
- Support to help you stay consistent without pressure
So, whether you’re at home, away, or somewhere in between you can keep showing up for your body in a way that feels good.