Fitness for Trekking

As part of our recent holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia(we arrived back this week), we did a short trek in Sapa. It was a great experience but because of the combination of steep hills, clay soil and rain, it was not easy.

Here are some fitness ideas if you are planning a trek

- build up a good basic fitness level

- work on your flexibility, balance and agility - if you are walking on slippery steep ground, you will find these fitness elements are being constantly tested

- prepare yourself for the downhill sections - glutes and hamstrings will take a beating - if you have access to a elliptical machine, backwards stepping is a useful preparation.

- if your are going to use a pole for support (we would not have been able to do without our bamboo poles) - shoulder, back, arms and chest will all need work

Balance and Agility Training

As part of your fitness training, do you include balance and agility training.

Unless you are doing yoga (great balance training), dance, a martial art (both balance and agility depending on the style) or gymnastics of some form, you should consider including some balance and agility training in your routine. Together they play a part in your long-term functional health.