What do you do for recovery?
Phil: “I make sure to stretch. I’ve found it’s extremely important as you get older. Doing 10- to 15-mile hikes in the Amazon carrying heavy photography gear is very taxing on the body, and it wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t spend time taking care of my body, foam rolling, and getting enough sleep.”
Silja: “In addition to good sleep, infrared saunas have been a game-changer for me. They help relax and rejuvenate tired muscles and decrease inflammation. I like to go for a 30-minute session at HigherDOSE in SoHo, but I also have an infrared wrap (it looks like a sleeping bag) at home, which I’ll hop into immediately after a long flight.”
How do you stay fit while traveling?
Phil: “We try to be outdoors as much possible. In the Amazon, you see a set of species during the day that’s completely different from the wildlife at night, so going into the field at all hours keeps you on your feet. It’s important to stay active and healthy because if you get tired you can’t see as much as possible or take advantage of being in such an amazing part of the world.”
Silja: “You take for granted how much walking around, exploring, can be a workout. I’ll go for a run in whatever city I’m in—it’s the best way to immerse yourself in local culture.”
What’s the most important part of your travel routine?
Phil: “Hydration is key. I make sure to drink plenty of water to prevent headaches. It’s also important to pack a nutritious meal before the flight, since airport food is not something we’re generally excited about. Whatever city we’re traveling in, we look for a local healthy spot from which to source our next meal before getting on the plane so that we’re always prepared.”
Silja: “I’m flying cross-country and back next week in 24 hours for work and so being prepared is essential. I like the healthy Brazilian food that can be taken to-go from Market Ipanema in SoHo—they’re like my food family. Another trick is adding a few drops of anti-inflammatory tinctures to water to drink on the plane. Tweefontein Farm makes fantastic ones like turmeric and echinacea that they sell at the Union Square Farmer’s Market.”
What’s on your travel bucket list?
Silja: “We’re planning to go to Italy for our honeymoon and Japan is also up there.”
Phil: “Any place that has fantastic local markets for Silja and allows me to do jungle time.”