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here is a strange moment that can happen at the beginning of a vacation. You have checked into the hotel, unpacked the suitcase and finally put the work calendar away. Everything says you are officially off the clock.

Your body, however, may have other ideas.

After weeks of deadlines, meetings, planning, packing and simply getting to your destination, it is not unusual to arrive on vacation while still feeling as though you are rushing through a workday. The scenery has changed, but mentally and physically, slowing down can take a little longer.

For National Yoga Month this September, Suzanne Frazer, a yoga and wellness instructor at The Lake House on Canandaigua in New York’s Finger Lakes, is encouraging travelers to pay attention to that transition.

“We’re constantly rushing, planning and thinking several steps ahead. Even when we finally give ourselves permission to take time off, our bodies can still be holding onto that stress,” Frazer explains.

Her advice is refreshingly simple: you do not need to turn your vacation into a wellness boot camp to begin unwinding.

Vacation Mode Isn’t Always Instant

Travel is supposed to provide an escape from everyday routines, but getting there can sometimes be stressful in its own right. There are flights to catch, bags to pack, traffic to navigate, reservations to remember and countless small decisions along the way.

Then suddenly, you arrive.

We often expect ourselves to immediately relax simply because the vacation has begun. Frazer’s approach to yoga offers a different perspective. Rather than trying to force relaxation, travelers can create small opportunities for the mind and body to slow down naturally.

And that does not necessarily require an hour-long yoga class.

Sometimes yoga can be one pose. It can be one intentional breath. It can even be a few quiet minutes when you stop trying to accomplish anything at all.

That simplicity may be particularly appealing while traveling. Instead of adding another activity to the itinerary, a few restorative practices can become part of the downtime travelers already have.

Four Simple Ways to Slow Down on Vacation

Frazer recommends several approachable practices that can help travelers shift gears, whether they are experienced with yoga or have never stepped onto a yoga mat.

Legs Up the Wall

After spending hours sitting in a car or airplane, walking through an airport or exploring a destination, putting your legs up can feel especially welcome.

Legs Up the Wall is an accessible restorative yoga pose that gives tired legs an opportunity to rest while allowing the body to become still.

It is also wonderfully uncomplicated. There is no need to worry about flexibility, complicated sequences or keeping up with an instructor. It is simply an opportunity to stop moving for a while.

For travelers, that might make it an ideal first-evening ritual after arriving at a hotel.

Spinal Waves

Travel can leave the body feeling stiff, particularly after long periods of sitting.

Spinal Waves introduce gentle movement through the spine. Frazer incorporates the movement into practices designed to help release physical tension and encourage relaxation.

Unlike a strenuous workout, the objective is not to push the body. The emphasis is on moving slowly and noticing how the body feels.

That mindset alone can be a welcome change after a travel day spent watching clocks and rushing from one place to another.

Savasana

Savasana looks remarkably easy: lie down and be still.

For many people, however, doing absolutely nothing can be surprisingly difficult.

There is no phone to check, email to answer or next task to complete. The entire point is to allow the mind and body to rest.

Frazer sometimes combines Savasana with sound immersion, adding another layer to the relaxation experience.

On vacation, Savasana can also serve as a reminder that rest does not need to be productive. You do not always need to be sightseeing, exercising, dining somewhere new or checking another attraction off the itinerary.

Sometimes doing nothing is part of the trip.

Try Bhramari Breath When Travel Feels Stressful

Not every wellness practice requires a yoga mat or even a quiet room.

Bhramari Breath is a breathing technique involving an extended exhale accompanied by a gentle humming vibration. Frazer recommends the practice as a simple way to encourage sensations of calm.

Its portability makes it particularly useful for travelers.

It could be practiced when you are feeling anxious before a flight, trying to decompress after navigating a crowded airport or simply looking for a brief reset during a busy day.

And unlike many vacation wellness experiences, it does not require equipment, a reservation or a particular location.

Vacation Can Be the Perfect Time to Try Yoga

Interestingly, Frazer finds that travel itself can make people more willing to try yoga.

At The Lake House on Canandaigua, she regularly meets guests taking their first yoga class. Being away from their usual routines can make the experience feel less intimidating.

There is something about vacation that gives us permission to experiment. We try unfamiliar foods, explore new places and spend our days differently. A yoga or meditation class can become another part of that experience.

Frazer says guests frequently finish their stay wondering how they can continue practicing once they return home.

That may be one of the more valuable souvenirs a wellness-focused vacation can provide: a habit that lasts beyond checkout.

Wellness at The Lake House on Canandaigua

Set along Canandaigua Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, The Lake House on Canandaigua has incorporated wellness programming into the resort experience throughout the year.

Guests can participate in daily yoga, meditation and stretching classes. The property also offers restorative yoga accompanied by sound immersion, as well as creative art and yoga retreats.

One of its more unusual experiences takes wellness into the water.

Year-round floating sound baths are offered in the resort’s heated outdoor pool, allowing guests to float while experiencing the sounds and vibrations of the session.

Together, these activities give travelers different ways to approach wellness without requiring them to arrive as experienced yoga practitioners.

Maybe the Best Vacation Activity Is Slowing Down

Travel tends to encourage us to fill our days.

There are restaurants we want to try, attractions we want to see and places we want to photograph. Even relaxation can become something scheduled between breakfast and dinner.

But perhaps one of the best things we can do on vacation is leave a little room for nothing.

National Yoga Month offers a timely reminder that yoga does not always need to be about mastering poses or completing a class. It can simply be a way to notice how your body feels after weeks of moving quickly and give yourself permission to slow down.

Your vacation may officially begin the moment you turn on the out-of-office message.

Your body might just need a little more time to arrive.