7 ways to get a workout when traveling for business

We’ve all been there: you’re traveling on a business trip and you arrived jet-lagged, nerves fried, wired on too much coffee and not enough healthy food. While it’s tempting to just throw yourself on the king-sized hotel bed and order grilled cheese from room service, what your body (and your brain!) really needs is a some exercise. A good workout will sharpen your thinking, unfuzz your mind, help you sleep better and allow you to focus in on the business at hand.

Here are some ideas to help keep you moving when you’re away from home.

1. Find a local gym or class. What better way to meet the locals then to find out where they work out and go pump some iron while you’re in town? Check with the hotel concierges—sometimes local gyms will even offer a discount to hotel guests.

2. Use ClassPass. Not sure which classes to check out? As always, the Internet provides. In this case in the form of a service called ClassPass, which lets you pick and choose classes to take at various fitness facilities across the country. Join ClassPass’s monthly subscription service and you can take a class at any participating yoga or dance studio, gym etc. in cities all over the country.

3. Check out the hotel gym. Never underestimate the power of a good stair-stepper, yoga mat or a set of free weights. Most hotels have at least the basics in their hotel gyms and some of them are downright posh. A hotel gym is a great way to squeeze in a late night or an early morning workout without leaving the comfort and safety of your temporary home base.

4. Pack your suit. A friend of mine once gave me the good advice of never going out of town without a swimsuit. You never know where a pool might pop up and a swimming is a great, low-impact way to torch some calories. Plus a bathing suit doesn’t take up too much room in your suitcase. And don't forget your goggles!

5. Walk (or run) it off. If your stay is a little longer or you just want to get out of the hotel and see the sights, see if there is a walking tour or a running club you can join. Pike13 CEO Jon Zimmerman recently attended the Marketing United conference in Nashville. With the help from some friends from Fleet Feet Nashville, we organized a little morning run for conference attendees. It was a great way for folks shake off the effects of the previous night’s cocktail party, get a run in, and make some new friends.

6. Wheels up. If biking is more your speed, you're in luck! Many cities offer bike-share programs where for a minimal fee, you can rent a bike for a couple of hours. And some hotels even keep a fleet of bikes at the hotel for guests to borrow.

7. Find a friend. It's true, science says so. Working out with a friend offers motivation. See if you can connected with a like-minded colleague and partner up. Whether it's going for a run or hitting the hotel gym, having another person to sweat alongside of you makes you more accountable. Plus you can network—who knows, maybe you'll land a new business opportunity over lunges or downward dogs.

Even though you may be traveling for work, don't forget to take care of yourself. You and your business will be stronger for it!

photo credits: Italy Lomo series: Bike hire via photopin (license) and Pike13