How to find an exercize video to use while traveling?

September 5, 2007 4:17 AM

Help me choose an exercise video to keep me sane during two weeks of travel.

Two weeks traveling in a foreign country for work. I would like to buy a DVD with an exercise routine. Nothing too strenuous or complicated, and hopefully no longer than 15-30 minutes. NO EQUIPMENT AT ALL due to serious suitcase space issues -- a standing routine is preferable or I'll lay on the hotel rug. Yoga or qi gong would be ok. Goals are to:
* de-stress
* stay limber
* keep me calm for public speaking (big phobia of mine)
* help w/ jet lag (on some trips I don't sleep for the first 3 days)
There's still time to buy on Amazon if I place the order this morning. DVDs are preferable to a book due to suitcase space. What do you recommend?

(Bonus: I'll report back in 2 weeks and let you know the results.)

posted by bchaplin to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

This isn't a DVD, but I really like FitDeck. It's a deck of 50 cards with a different bodyweight exercises on each card. It's infinitely modifiable and scalable to keep things different and depending on which version of each exercise you do (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) and how long you give yourself per card it can be easy or really rough.
posted by Anonymous at 5:13 AM on September 5, 2007

It is also on Amazon if you want to buy it from there.
posted by Anonymous at 5:14 AM on September 5, 2007

I've enjoyed AM and PM Yoga. About 25 minutes each, mostly relaxing with a little stretching, not strenuous, and you can use a hotel towel instead of a strap, and a folded-up towel instead of a block, if you use those things. Here it is on Amazon. Good luck!
posted by orangemiles at 5:22 AM on September 5, 2007

Make sure the DVD would work in a foreign country, or that you will have your own local DVD player (like your laptop). DVDs are made for different regions, and an American DVD will not work in a French DVD player, for example. You can look here for info on the different regions.

Sorry if you've already thought of this, but I didn't want your plans to be ruined!
posted by ohio at 6:28 AM on September 5, 2007

Seconding the AM and PM yoga. That's one of my favorite workout discs. I don't think there's any propwork in those, aside from an optional folded blanket to sit on (a pillow or hotel blanket will work fine).
posted by Lyn Never at 6:36 AM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far! Ohio, good point, but I will be using my own laptop, so no problems there.
posted by bchaplin at 7:01 AM on September 5, 2007