- Exercise bands.
Exercise bands are a must have on any trip I go on. You can literally look in any of my purses and you’ll find a band sitting next to my lipgloss. They’re lightweight so you don’t have to worry about adding extra lbs to your luggage and they hardly take up any space you can wrap them up and throw them in the bottom of your suitcase. You’ll never know they were there. You can get a versatile workout with a variety of bands on the road, from glute-activation exercises to resistance training on your arms, and even a nice stretch. You’ll remain active and keep your body feeling energized.
- Lacrosse ball.
There are few things that are more uncomfortable than sitting on a long plane ride or being packed in a van with all of your friends for a six-hour drive. A small lacrosse ball can help you workout those knots in your back, your hands, legs, hip flexors and feet. One of my favorite airplane moves is to put the ball under my foot and press into the ball moving it around, until I find “the spot”.it’ll hurt but it also feels good. Hold it for 30 to 40 seconds and release.
- Soul-feeding book.
I have anxiety, and as much as I love traveling it can make for a pretty interesting experience when things don’t go as planned. One of my favorite books to travel with is Lodro Rinzler’s Pocket Book Guide to Meditation. It’s small so it fits easily in the side of my suitcase, always there to help me de-stress in uncomfortable travel situations.
- Chapul Bar.
You can’t rely on healthy airport food. Some airports nail it, offering fresh green juices and real fruit smoothies; while others you’re stuck with potato chips and a sandwich made four days ago with questionable ingredients. I love to indulge on my vacations but the airport is not the time for that (I save it for the more wholsome, locally-owned spots). I always travel with a few Chapul bars on hand to keep my energy levels high and my tastebuds satisfied. Lately I’ve been going for the Thai and Matcha Banana bar, but I’m an equal opportunity customer; I’ll travel with any flavor to fuel up.
- Wireless headphones.
Music is my escape. Headphones that aren’t getting tangled up in my luggage, jacket, or someone else’s arm as they’re trying to cross over me and get to the bathroom keep me sane. Always load up on your favorite playlist and be sure to seek out some new music that you haven’t heard. That way each time you listen it’ll always remind you of your trip! I also like to pre-load a few guided meditations so I have them ready to go, even when I don’t have access to wifi.