Active Vacation: A Secret to Self-Discovery

Have you ever considered an active vacation? Not exercising was recently found to be as bad for you as smoking. Yes, you read that right. The choice to forego daily sweat is as bad of a choice as you can make. The reverse is also true . . . no amount of exercise was found to be not beneficial. Extreme athletes are more healthy than fitness junkies (although the benefit is small). What isn’t small, however, is the benefit of the even moderately active hold over the sedentary. An active vacation just might be a perfect way for you to find exercise options that you will enjoy.

In Sedona we have it easy, we know. The skies are blue, the trails are just out back, and they are breathtaking all the time. They never feel old or mundane. There really isn’t any excuse anymore, even for those with grayer skies and icy winters. Get up, get moving, or choose health problems on par with diabetes. Start considering an active vacation.

As a person that loves exercise and considers it the best part of every day, I thought I’d share a few secrets for those less motivated. Firstly, do what you love! I love to hike and mountain bike. I consider this playtime and hike and/or bike (or ski) every day of the year. . . .no matter the weather. Watching the counter on a machine is less fun than sub-zero wind, and I do it for less time. Outside, a 30-minute workout feels like nothing. So get outside to add extra minutes almost effortlessly.

It does more than just distract you. Nature is surprising, interesting, and alive! Today I saw a bald eagle and thought I felt a cougar watching me. Probably my imagination, but exciting anyway. Even the more awful experiences (like that subzero wind) are exhilarating. After the ordeal, I feel noticeably more alive than if I were stuck with the safe and sane, but numbing, elliptical machine.

So find something you like and get outside more often, what else? Well, the fitter you are the more energy you have! So start where you are at and be okay with it, after a week or two, you will notice a difference, and then you can do more. Be patient and kind to yourself.

You can’t love what you don’t know. Most people I talk to that are sedentary came from sedentary families. You do what you know. Overcoming habits can take tremendous energy at first, but establishing a new habit is worth it. You won’t stick with it though if every workout is drudgery. While I’d be lying if I said literally every workout is a joy, I still have little problem getting out there, partly out of habit. I brush my teeth daily, I exercise daily. It’s that important. So get in a routine.

 

So how else can you make getting your daily exercise fun? Take classes! Do ski classes or mountain bike classes. Join a running group or gym. Try pilates or dance. Do new things! You are bound to find something that fits you and that motivates you to HAVE FUN! Exercise should be the best part of the day. All of us were kids once, and that kid is still in you somewhere. That kid would love an active vacation. Let yourself play.

Finally, solidify your intentions and motivate in a deep way by taking active vacations. Structure your vacation around adventure. The body and mind relax best after a workout, and inspiration is energizing. Try a vacation centered around getting outside and connecting with nature. Consider new fun activities that challenge your heart, body, and soul.

And of course, how could I not fail to remind you that if you are looking for a place to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, or do outdoor yoga, at all levels, the Sedona area is accessible, beautiful, and inspiring. You can’t go wrong, with hundreds of trails, each and every one is a gem. Sedona Vortex Adventure guides can help you find the best spots, and you can also throw in healing or wellness sessions out on the land or at our center.