Traveling is in my blood. Since the age of 17 I have been traveling the world for pleasure. And in this most recent year, I have been traveling for a lifestyle. My parents know by now that traveling is not a phase anymore. It is who I am. With that said I have become somewhat of an expert on keeping balanced while being in airports, changing time zones, and eating new foods (aka bacteria).
And I’ve become particularly good at balancing the Vata dosha. Vata dosha is a subtle energy associated with movement from one place to another, among other things. Factor in speed, the dehydrating nature of flying in an airplane, and adjusting to all other changes associated with travel, we begin to recognize how important it is to be mindful to our bodily response.
May these Ayurvedic travel tips that I have collected find their way into your carry-on for your next awaiting adventure~
FOR ALL DOSHAS:
Stay Hydrated
Drink lots of plain water (more than usual). While traveling, take your weight, divide it by 1/2 then add 16 more oz. For example, if you are 150lbs, divided by 1/2= 75 + 16 = 86oz plain water daily. This is the minimum suggested to keep hydrated while traveling. In addition, avoid beverages like coffee, caffeinated tea, alcohol, and soda. Caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and carbonation are dehydrating and aggravate Vata dosha.
Express coffee shops are in every airport. Order a large hot water (usually free of charge) and drink throughout the flight.
Another great tips is to bring your own licorice teabag on flight. Ask attendant for hot water and make your own tea.
Decrease Jet Lag
Sunlight reduces jetleg! When you reach your destination, go outside and let the sun soak your skin for 20 minutes (10mins one side, 10mins the other). Sunbathing resets your body clock to local diurnal time and stimulates Sadhaka Pitta in the brain, which keeps you alert.
Then adopt the local time immediately. Reset your clock and go to bed and get up at the same time you would at home. Resist the urge to nap; it prolongs jet lag.
I suggest taking No-Jet Leg Homeopathic remedy before, during and after flight.
You can also take Banyan Botanicals, ‘I Travel Well’ tincture. With Ashwaganda, Bacopa, Tulsi, and amalaki, this tincture supports the body’s natural ability to adapt to the stresses of travel including changes in time zone.
Put Your Feet in the Ground
Putting your feet on the earth synchs your circadian rhythms to the earth’s circadian rhythms. Make sure you are barefoot and even add in the hands! 10-20mins daily.
Eat Foods That Are Grounding
Avoid drying raw foods like salad, dried fruit, and crackers/chips, and choose warm moist foods with extra oil instead. Look for cooked apples, steamed veggies with garlic, lentils, quinoa, hot soups, and kitchari mixed with ghee and cilantro. If you’re not a strict vegetarian, fish and chicken are also grounding.
Massage Your Body at Bedtime
Massage your body, including the scalp and soles of the feet, with comfortably warm sesame oil or recommended oil for your dosa (in general- vata: sesame/ pitta: sunflower/ kapha: safflower). Then take a hot bath and go to sleep.
Have Transition Time
Have time before travel and after travel to land and reset into your daily life. 1 day before and 2-3 days after is ideal. This allows integration of the trip and easeful space into your everyday activities. Even if it makes your trip shorter or you need to take off more time it is worth it and your body/mind/spirit will thank you.
Meditation and Yoga practice
There are prayer rooms and yoga rooms in many airports and bus/train stations where you can take the opportunity to center and quiet yourself. By maintaining or implementing a practice you will keep many of the bodily systems healthy and balanced, aiding your digestion, keeping the body relaxed and comfortable, settling the nervous system and keeping the mind calm.
Travel Tips for Vata
Ayurveda teaches that you can remain balanced and be a better, less constipated, less gassy travel companion by staying warm; eating cooked foods with a bit of spice; calming an anxious mind by looking over the day’s schedule each morning; spending quiet time in nature; and avoiding caffeine, wheat, sugar, and processed foods. This can help you stay relaxed as you deal with the stress and unpredictability of being far from home and out of your usual routine:
When Vata is unbalanced, you are more prone to worry and anxiety and may suffer from insomnia. Here are some tips to find balance when you’re on the road:
1. Stay hydrated. A day before your travel day and on the day of travel, drink lots of water and stay away from caffeinated beverages. Make sure to drink only water if traveling by plane, and stay away from all alcoholic beverages as these further dehydrate you. Bring a little care package on board with some hand lotion or oil, and a lavender-scented eye pillow for longer flights. Ditch dry foods such as nuts and dried fruit, and instead bring a ripe pear, banana, prunes or some cherries to snack on.
2. If you experience nervousness or fear of flying, meditate during your flight. Load up your smartphone or music device with soothing spa music and guided meditations. Insight timer is great to use. Meditating while crossing time zones can also help with jetlag as your biorhythms sync with the circadian rhythm of the new location. Rescue Remedy by Bach Flower Remedies is an herbal based, non-toxic, and over-the-counter formula you can take before and during your flight to help with anxiety.
3. Stay warm during travel. Being cold can bring you out of balance. Bring socks, layered clothing, and even a small blanket to keep you warm, and sip warm liquids throughout the trip.
4. Prevent constipation, which is a common issue while traveling, with the following tips: a. Stay hydrated—it will help tremendously (see number 1 above).b. Use a common Ayurvedic herbal remedy called triphala for mild constipation. Triphala has a mild laxative effect as well as a rejuvenating effect on the cells. To help with constipation, take three triphala tablets in the evening before bed with a warm glass of water. c. Alternatively, sprinkle a tablespoon of ground organic flaxseed on your oatmeal or soup to help get your bowels moving. d. Finally, practice the dirgha breath, or the complete three-part yoga breath. Learning how to breathe deep into the lower abdomen will help you relax the muscles and release tension so you can use the bathroom easily.
5. At night, while on vacation, try to create a consistent routine so you can get the sleep you need. If you’re sharing a hotel room or accommodations with others, announce your bedtime ahead of time. Make sure those who wish to stay up later make arrangements to hang out in the lobby or another part of the hotel and come in quietly when they are ready for bed.
Travel Tips for Pitta
And what about the other dosha, our fiery friends, the pittas in the room? Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water (add lime to make it even more refreshing) or coconut water. Choose cooling foods and herbs like cucumber, watermelon, juicy berries, aloe vera, mint, and cilantro. Avoid overly oily, fried, and pungent foods. Avoid overstimulation to the senses: Turn down lights and choose music that is soothing and relaxing. Try cooling pranayama such as Nadi Shodhana (Alternate-Nostril Breath) and Sheetali (the Cooling Breath). (To practice Sheetali, inhale through your teeth or curled tongue and exhale through your nose.)
While Pitta types typically like the thrill of adventure, sometimes the drive to try everything can bring you out of balance. Here are some tips:
1. Eat slowly so your stomach can signal to your mind that it’s full, which takes anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Although Pittas typically enjoy strong digestive powers, when you overeat or try many different types of food at once, you may experience heartburn or irritable bowels. Drinking a couple of tablespoons of food-grade aloe vera can help with heartburn. Stick to cooling foods like cucumber, melons, cilantro, and mint.
2. Stay out of the sun at the hottest part of the day, or wear a hat and a pair of sunglasses. The sun will aggravate your Pitta
3. Enjoy non-competitive activities. You don’t always have to be the first hiker up the hill, the first swimmer to cross the pool, or the perfect tour guide. Ass a little spontaneity to your vacation and laugh when things do not go as planned.
4. If you are travelling with Vata and Kapha, honor the fact that they may not more at the same pace as you and probably need more sleep. If you find the need to embrace every moment of your hard-earned vacation, get up early, leave the hotel roo, and go do a morning sunrise walk on the beach. You’ll appreciate everyone’s vacation dynamic much more if you try not to control how the adventures should be.
Travel Tips for Kapha
Your dream vacation may be an all-inclusive resort with nothing to do and nowhere to go with meals at your disposal when you want and a nice beach lounge and the latest romance novel.Yet this might not be your reality. If you have to compromise with others on vacation, you may find yourself on a more high-energy vacation than you wished for. But you love to please and enjoy the company so it doesn’t bother you too much. But take note, Kapha types can go out of balance if you don’t honor your needs, too. Here are some tips:
1. Stick to a meal plan. Overeating may be tempting with so many different things to enjoy and, after all, the kids deserve an ice cream after being so good. However, focus on eating only during meal times and avoid snacks. If you need to try a dessert, get one for the whole table and take only a bite or two. Take a short, 15-minute walk after every meal.
2. Honor your need for quiet time. Either conce a day or a few times during your vacation, announce to your travel campanions that you will be taking some time to do whta you want and if that is sitting in the hotel room and unwinding, reading, or taking a bath, that is okay. You should feel refreshed coming home from vacation and if you are constantly accomodating the needs of others, you will feel resentful and hold onto emotions. Plus, since you are normally so easygoing, others will respect you for setting the boundaries you need to have your space and time during your vacation.
When you re-read over all of these recommendations, you will see that you can take a little from each dosha. Keep it easy and enjoy~
Aum shanti.
