Body Break: In-Flight Exercises Get Passengers’ Heart Rates Up
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APEX Insight: Being on an airplane is no excuse for skipping a workout session. With longer flights than ever before, a new wave of in-flight exercises may take fitness-on-the-fly to higher levels.
Sitting is the new smoking, or that’s at least according to a number of health experts. Backed by recent research, the march against our sedentary proclivities has helped popularize Fitbits and standing desks and highlights the lack of activity passengers get when traveling, particularly on a lengthy flight.
“Prolonged sitting can have adverse effects on your muscles and overall health,” says certified personal trainer Megan Hamm, who is based in Vancouver. “A five-hour flight may not seem long, however, when combined with the rest of our day … Over half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary. Small bouts of exercise are imperative to maintaining overall physical and mental health, especially when combined with other effects of flying.”
“A five-hour flight may not seem long, however, when combined with the rest of our day … Over half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary.” €” Megan Hamm, personal trainer
Currently, the world’s longest nonstop flight is Emirates’ Dubai-Auckland route, lasting roughly 17 hours and 15 minutes. The airline offers resources to help passengers stay healthy on board, including energizing in-seat exercise instructions delivered through radio channels and pages in the in-flight magazine. The suggested exercises are geared toward reducing muscle fatigue and encouraging blood flow, minimizing the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Chinese carriers such as China Southern, Spring and Shenzhen have brought the importance of in-flight fitness to the forefront by having flight attendants lead passengers through a series of in-seat stretches. The captive workout session encourages the cabin full of passengers to mimic the flight attendants through a series of arm, head and leg movements that increase blood flow and activate the body.
“Once passengers gain awareness, they’re more likely to change behavior.” €” Megan Hamm, personal trainer
While many airlines offer tips for staying active, they are often found hidden in the seatback pocket or in-flight entertainment back channels. Actively demonstrating movement in front of passengers creates mindfulness around activity. “One way we can prevent stagnation is to have flight attendants monitor sitting times. Once passengers gain awareness, they’re more likely to change behavior,” Hamm offers.
Passengers from China and Japan, where it’s not uncommon to begin a workday with morning exercises, may feel more comfortable with collective in-flight exercises than flyers from elsewhere, but as Chinese and Japanese flyers begin to travel long distances in larger numbers, in-flight workout sessions could become the norm.
For those who’d rather downward dog on terra firma, airports worldwide are getting on board with fitness, too.
“Body Break” was originally published in the October/November issue of APEX Experience magazine.