Travel healthy & happily

Most people love to travel and enjoy the beauty of inspiring new places. It’s uplifting for your energy and sense of wellbeing, if done wisely. As a globetrotter I have experienced how difficult it can be to adapt to another climate, new environment, other foods and most of all, not being able to rest in my own sacred space at home. 

So what do I do to keep my body happy and the mind serene?  It's easy.  Here are some of my personal secrets that work well for me.

THE ART OF DOING NOTHING
The next best thing to being home is creating an inner and outer environment that feels like home and helps you deeply relax. The key to controlling your inner environment is in developing a daily lifestyle that includes rituals that help you relax, and to continue doing these even when you travel.

 

Whether you’re on a long flight or just arriving in your hotel room or at a relative’s home,
the first thing to do is resist the desire to get going right away, engage in talking and do things just because you’re worried that you’re going to miss out on something.  Instead, take 30 minutes to sit or lie down, close your eyes and do absolutely nothing.

Whatever it is, it can wait. That's the mantra that saves you from crashing and getting depleted during travel.  It sounds simple, yet how many people give themselves a 30-minute break each the day?

HOW TO RELAX & DO NOTHING
Step 1: 
Relax the body
Go to the bathroom if needed, finish what can't wait and then turn off your phone.
Close your eyes, give space to your arms and legs, roll your head slowly from the right to the left and allow it to end in the middle. Wiggle and adapt just as long as needed, until you’re in the most comfortable position. To help you easily move from the outside world to the inside world, cover yourself with a blanket, put on sound reducing headphones if you have them, change into clothing that keeps you warm and isn’t tight, and place an eye pillow over your eyes.


Take plenty of time for this. The wiggling is crucial not only for your body to be able to surrender to deep relaxation, but also for the mind to slow down. Allow the body to do what it wants to do, don't resist.  Eventually you will give in and unwind.

Step 2
Slow your breath down
Gently and gradually, to a pace that you can easily sustain. Don't worry about where your breath should be or where it should go. Just breathe.

Step 3
Slow down your thoughts. 
Once a thought comes to mind, don't resist it. Smile, observe it and let it go. One thought at the time. 

If disturbance in the body arises, go back and start at step one: wiggle and adapt your position until you feel completely comfortable.

Enjoy, unwind, be happy

Chinnamasta