5 Best Stretching Exercises for Travelers: Enhance Your Journey with Flexibility

Whether you travel by car, train or plane, these stretches can help you feel better after and during your journey. Let me show you 5 best stretching exercises for travelers.

Why is Stretching Important for Travelers?

Stretching often involves long periods of sitting in cars, planes, or trains, which can lead to stiffness, discomfort, and fatigue.

Stretching not only alleviates common travel-related discomforts but also enhances your overall travel experience by improving circulation, flexibility, and mood. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, incorporating stretching into your travel routine can significantly impact your well-being, making every destination more enjoyable.

5 Best Stretches for Travelers

Upper Neck Stretch

As shown on the picture above, tuck in your chin by using your fingers, while other hand is gently pulling your head up and forward.

Since tension in the upper neck muscle builds with prolonged sitting, this stretch will help you relieve pain in the suboccipital muscles.

Chest Stretch

The next on the list is to stretch the chest muscles.

• Stand facing a doorway or a sturdy vertical surface like a wall.
• Raise your arm to a 90-degree angle and place your forearm and hand on the door-frame.
• Step forward with one foot to create a slight forward lean while keeping your back straight.
• You should feel a gentle stretch across your chest and pec minor.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds while taking deep breaths.
• Repeat the stretch on the other side.

Lats Stretch

The lats are your big back muscles located underneath your shoulders and goes all way to your pelvic.

To keep yourself fresh after your travels, you should stretch them as well.

Here is how:

• Hold a rib wall your both hands and gently lower your body until you reach the squat position.
• Hold this position for 30s.

Hip Flexors Stretch

Stretching the hip muscles after prolonged sitting is maybe the most important stretch when traveling.

That’s why if you’re short on time to stretch, do only this stretch.

Here is how:

Start from a one-leg kneeling stance. Lean forward with your upper body until you feel a pleasant stretching in the front of your hip. Hold for 30s.

Back Rotations

And the last stretch for travelers is here – lay on your back with one arm extended over head and the same leg rotated to the opposite side.

Reach with arm and leg in the opposite directions and hold this position for 30s.

This stretch targets thoracolumbar fascia, a part of your back which is prone to tightness and pain, especially when traveling.