Exercise in the Sky
Aug 27, 2004 | 8:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Tejas, I just can't get away from the place
Programs: Exxon Mobil Supertanker, WN Double Peanut, Accor Golden Cockroach
Posts: 8,350
Exercise in the Sky
My wife is a Pilates instructor, and I've been bugging her for a while to put together a set of exercises for those of us who fly. Apparently Jet Blue is already doing this, according to this article she sent me (free registration required).
Aug 27, 2004 | 9:57 am
#2
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,927
Qantas' in-flight system has a yoga video you can select, at least in the upgraded cabins, as I recall. I also just bought a book called "Airplane Yoga." I just got it, and they're pretty simple poses, but I've found on my own that I can do quite a few yoga asanas in an airplane seat. You'll often find me sitting in the shoelace pose.
Aug 27, 2004 | 10:51 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Falls Church VA, Good Ol' U.S. of A!
Programs: AA, UA, DL, SPG, HHonors Silver
Posts: 184
I'm glad to hear of people who have actually done this (I've seen articles about it). It might be good for my upcoming long flight. I've exercised with the Winsor Pilates DVDs, but fear not... I won't try "rolling like a ball" down the aisle! 
Aug 27, 2004 | 3:27 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NYC (formerly BOS/DCA)
Programs: UA 1K, IC RA
Posts: 60,745
The United exercises are really sophisticated, too:
1) Move your foot up and down.
2) Stand up and stretch every couple hours.
I think that's it. If I'm forgetting something it's like rotate your wrist every 30 minutes or something.
1) Move your foot up and down.
2) Stand up and stretch every couple hours.
I think that's it. If I'm forgetting something it's like rotate your wrist every 30 minutes or something.
Aug 27, 2004 | 3:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Erie, CO USA
Programs: UA, M&M, AA, AS, Marriott, et al
Posts: 1,565
Originally Posted by tokyotraveler
On the UA flight I was recently on, they would show basic exercises to do in your seat -- dont' know if this is what all airlines do but this was also on a trans-Pacific flight.
Aug 27, 2004 | 4:14 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Niceville, FL, USA
Posts: 2,792
Originally Posted by TRRed
At least in the past, these also included lifting your legs straight out while seated. It fails to notice that there is usually a seat in the way.
Aug 28, 2004 | 7:49 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Platinum (until December), FB Explorer, BA Blue, M&M Pleb
Posts: 8,616
Lifting one leg up at a time, as far as I can and rotating my foot approx 20 times works wonders for me and removes any discomfort for a while. It's not a full substitute for getting up and having the occasional walk around the cabin though.