Flying fit

South Shore resident Maggie Melanson, who operates a health conscious
catering service, has just published "Fly Fit" (HRD Press): a book of tips and exercises
to help airline passengers preserve their mental and physical well-being. Few
travelers need to be encouraged to dress comfortably (Melanson recommends
sneakers and workout stretch pants with a loose-fitting top), but it's also
worth heeding her advice to arrive early at the airport to cut down on
stress. Those long security lines are a lot easier to take when you're not
listening to the last boarding call for your flight. So what to do with all
that extra time once you've reached your gate? Melanson suggests taking a
brisk walk around the terminal. Even "casual running" won't seem out of
place, she says, since passengers are always hurrying to catch their
flights. She also recommends a few turns up and down a flight of stairs --
two stairs at a time for a better aerobic workout. I'll try it. But I'm not
sure that I have the flair to do pliés in the restroom or claim a quiet
corner of the terminal as a "personal yoga space." Melanson also offers a
lot of simple stretching exercises that you can do in your airplane seat or
while waiting for your luggage. (She's much too polite to tell you what to
do if your bag doesn't arrive.) Check out Melanson's website.

Posted by Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent