interview by Prime Sarmiento

  One of the main concerns while traveling on your own is how to stay fit and healthy. After all, who will ever take care of you when you're ill? In this interview with The Gypsygals, travel magazine editor, novelist and health buff Maya Calica offers some tips on how to stay fit and happy while on the road.


Q: What do you think is healthy traveling? What does being fit mean?

A: To me, being fit is being able to go from place to place and feel great, not catch one's breath while going up a mountain, or feel too tired to walk the stretch of a beach. When I travel, I also prefer to walk whenever I can, especially in walking cities like Tokyo, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong.


Q: Why is this such an important issue for women traveling on their own?

A: I want to fit in my workout routines even when I am on holiday. So if I can't really go to a yoga class, it helps that I am doing a lot of walking so I maintain a level of fitness even when I am away. And maybe I won't gain too much weight while on holiday!


Q: What do you need to prepare to ensure that you'll be fit and healthy while on the road?

A:  I run and do my yoga classes regularly before a trip. Then I pack my running shoes, running and yoga gear, and a workout DVD I can play on my laptop. When I am in Manila, I do a Bikram yoga class, or book a Barre-3 class.


Q: What do you need to avoid so you won't fall ill while traveling?

A: I take lots of water, take my multivitamins, and my Omega-3s. I take a product called Mila, which are chia seeds. Very rich in loads of nutrients.


Q: Any exercises that you do while in the plane or out traveling?

A: On the plane, I just twirl my toes and twist my upper body. When I get to a destination, I take lots of walks and run. I was in Puerto Princesa recently, and I ran on the beach, with a view of the mangroves! We also went scuba diving, which uses up a lot of energy! In Legazpi, I did a trek on the lava wall — that was hard work to me!


Q: How about food and drink? How can you avoid overeating or binging on junk food while traveling?

A: If I'm on holiday, I allow myself to enjoy wine and food. I compensate by going for a run, walk or swimming. When I was in Hong Kong in March, for a cover shoot for the magazine, we ate the delicious local food. But since we walked a lot, and Hong Kong is hill-y, my jeans actually felt looser after the trip!