Peloton Instructor Callie Gullickson shares her ultimate hack for staying active on the go

Peloton Instructor Callie Gullickson shares her ultimate hack for staying active on the go

Even if you've recently developed the perfect weekly fitness routine that works for you, or you've just added a shiny new piece of equipment to your home gym, one thing is for sure: Nothing can kill a workout routine — and your motivation — like traveling. And when Peloton Strength and Bike Bootcamp instructor Callie Gullickson vacations in Italy or returns to Florida to visit family, she follows a golden rule to stay active.

“The only thing I walk past in my classes [and in my own workouts] is, ‘We take the work seriously, but not ourselves,’” she explains. "I love having fun with my workouts. I stay motivated when it's fun [on the road] and you don't have to do your hardest workout while traveling."

Instead, the former dancer and Trader Joe's lover chooses her workouts based on a simple metric: What sounds like the most fun way to exercise? “Maybe it’s more of a music genre class or you’re trying a new workout — I think that’s always fun,” she says. "I teach dance cardio, and when you say, 'I just need to move, it doesn't feel like a workout at all." (Want to try dance cardio for yourself? Check out Shape's most popular online dance classes.)

Callie Gullickson, Peloton Strength and Bike Instructor on training while traveling

I know how good I feel after exercise and I just need something to start my day right.

– Callie Gullickson, Peloton Strength and Bike Instructor on training while traveling

While traveling on vacation or over the holidays, Gullickson has learned the fine art of balancing exercise with relaxation. The key is to remember the post-workout high she feels after the sweat session is over, she says. “I don’t have to train [on vacation],” she emphasizes. “But I know how good I feel after exercise and I just need something to start the day off right.”

For those returning to regular work trips after taking time off during the pandemic, Gullickson suggests viewing your workout as a way to boost your energy levels and mood before what could be a long, hectic day.

“When you're traveling for work, I look at exercise less as a workout and more as an energy converter,” she shares. "When you have good energy, you are a magnet for all things that come your way. When you have an important meeting, this workout will set you up with the best attitude and the best energy so that no matter what happens, you will know that you feel confident and that you have given your all."

Another travel hack Gullickson relies on to get around on the go? Exercise snacks – but not the Trader Joe’s variety. "Sometimes when I'm traveling, my biggest excuse is that I'm so busy and don't have time [to work out] when in reality I do have time," she points out. "So I start with a short workout. There are so many [workouts] on the [Peloton] app or bike that are 10 minutes long. From there I usually think, 'I can do a little more. I'll stay for another 10-minute workout.'"

And there's good news for those preparing for a busy travel season and wondering how best to fit in training. Peloton and Hilton have announced an industry-first partnership. By the end of the year, nearly all 5,400 Hilton-branded hotels in the U.S. (including Hampton by Hilton, Double Tree or Waldorf Astoria) will offer at least one Peloton bike in every fitness center. Additionally, starting today and continuing through January 1, 2023, Hilton Honors members have access to a 90-day free trial of the Peloton app. With this partnership, Peloton can meet its new and current members where they are - whether that's on the go, at home or in the gym.

For some, traveling to a new place and taking advantage of this could be a way to refresh their stale fitness routine. “It’s easier to get stuck in a routine at home,” emphasizes Gullickson. “It's nice to venture out while traveling and try out all the different classes [Peloton] offers on the app and the bike.”

Peloton’s Ally Love isn’t for one-note wellness routines

Outside of exercise, Gullickson relies on getting enough sleep, journaling, and staying well-hydrated to feel good when she's away from home. Peloton's in-app sleep meditations, in particular, receive rave reviews from Gullickson. “I love a five-minute morning meditation, or I fall asleep so easily with the sleep meditations – they are so incredible,” she says. "You wake up in the middle of the night and think, 'Wait, what happened? Is my phone still on?'"

While Gullickson has found a way to balance exercise and rest that works for her, it's important to consider your body's needs while traveling. And if that involves accidentally sleeping in a cozy, quiet hotel room for 10 hours straight, do it.