Summer means vacations means road trips. Our bodies and boredom can take its toll on long hours in the car, so how can you keep healthy and happy behind the seatbelt?
Body
Fuel up by bringing healthy snacks like grapes, nuts, berries, string cheese, yogurt - these will help you stay alert for the long distant driving. If you have a hard time sticking to healthy snacks, try portion control by preparing small bags of goodies before you go.
Check out these sites for more ideas:
Keep your body from getting sore by stopping at regular intervals and getting out of the car. When you're stuck for long periods in the car, try some Stoplight Yoga:
Basics: Concentrate on your breathing and keep a good posture
Waiter Pose: Hold onto the steering wheel with one hand, and then raise your other hand and firmly press it flat against the roof of the car. Hold for a few seconds as you breathe. Release the pose, then take the
hand back a little further. Press, breathe, and hold again. Keep taking
the hand back a little at a time as you open up your arm pit and the
side of your body.
Spinal Twists: Keeping your foot on the brake, sit up a little straighter
and gently pull your abs in, then using leverage with your right hand in
between the seats, reach across with your left hand to a comfortable place
on the passenger seat and pull yourself into a gentle twist. Look over the
right shoulder. Keep
breathing and hold for 10 - 15 seconds, slowly release, check the
stoplight and at the next signal, twist to the other side.
...and a few sites for stretch ideas when you get out of the car
Mind
Those breaks are important, not just to stretch your body but to rejuvenate the mind. Get some fresh air, close your eyes for a bit and relax - you deserve it!
To keep you alert on the road, try some of these sites games, trivia and more...
