Travel Like a Yogi
Yogi Travel Tales:
I have spent most summers on the go for as long as I can remember. By foot, plane, train, bus, car, taxi. Sleeping in airports, hotels, homes, cabins, and cabins. I’m a pretty darn good traveler, but it hasn’t always been this way.
What happens dosha-wise when we travel:
I’m VATA PITTA and I truly love the stimulation of traveling – taking in new landscapes, meeting new people, tasting new foods, etc. Yet, I also struggle with transitions. Does this sound like VATA? Yep. Change isn’t always easy for me. Traveling tends to stress the body and mind. Traveling can be very un-grounding. In the past, traveling has tended to exacerbate digestive and sleep issues for me.
Let's look at travel from the dosha perspective:
When we even just start to think about travel, we are uprooting. This is VATA. KAPHA is grounded and stable, earth element, and VATA is up in the air. So, travel is inherently, VATA dominant. It takes energy upward.
Depending on your primary dosha, travel can elicit different responses in you.
There is a spectrum between stability and spontaneity. Dance within that spectrum.
Recommendations:
What happens dosha-wise when we travel:
I’m VATA PITTA and I truly love the stimulation of traveling – taking in new landscapes, meeting new people, tasting new foods, etc. Yet, I also struggle with transitions. Does this sound like VATA? Yep. Change isn’t always easy for me. Traveling tends to stress the body and mind. Traveling can be very un-grounding. In the past, traveling has tended to exacerbate digestive and sleep issues for me.
Let's look at travel from the dosha perspective:
When we even just start to think about travel, we are uprooting. This is VATA. KAPHA is grounded and stable, earth element, and VATA is up in the air. So, travel is inherently, VATA dominant. It takes energy upward.
Depending on your primary dosha, travel can elicit different responses in you.
- If you are KAPHA, and stuck in your ways, you may be resistant to change, resistant to the idea of travel, and it might actually be great for you.
- If you are VATA, you may love the idea of travel because you love change and spontaneity, and it may also aggravate you.
- If you are PITTA, you may really want to be in control of your travel situation because PITTAs like control.
There is a spectrum between stability and spontaneity. Dance within that spectrum.
Recommendations:
- VATAS: stick to a routine. Really do your dinacharya. Too much spontaneity will disrupt your digestion, sleep, etc. You'll be happiest if you stick to a predictable morning and evening routine.
- PITTAS: create your routine, visualize your routine (all doshas) and then practice going with the flow. You can’t control everything when you travel.
- KAPAHS - Use your routine to energize you and then practice spontaneity.
My Best Habits and Tools for Travel:
Stay hydrated. This is my number one travel tip. It’s so easy to get dehydrated while traveling. In my experience, dehydration leads to grumpiness and poor digestion. I always travel with my water bottle, and I bring a thermos with hot water. Ayurveda recommends room temperature and/or warm water rather than cold beverages for sound digestion. To feel at home, I like to travel with a few of my favorite herbal tea bags. .
Travel with nourishing and grounding food. There is nothing worse than being hungry while traveling, and there is nothing worse than being somewhere like an airport terminal or gas station convenience store with no good food choices. I love to try new foods wherever I am, but on travel days, I always bring along my own nourishing food and food that is easy to digest.
Support your digestion. These are some ways I support my digestion while traveling:
Medicinal Support. I’m a big fan of herbal essential oils for travel. I use lavender to reduce stress and to help me sleep. Peppermint and ginger help with motion sickness and improve digestion. Eucalyptus is great respiratory support. Citronella is great for repelling insects. Tea tree for cuts or sores.
Other must have items for my travel kit:
Clothing. Comfortable clothing and footwear, layers, scarf for meditation and for the plane, favorite hat,
Stick to a routine. No matter where I am, I follow the same morning and evening routine. My routine helps me feel at home wherever I am. My AM routine includes waking up early, drinking warm water, doing my meditation practice and doing at least 10 minutes of yoga asana before breakfast. In the PM, I strive to go to bed before 10 PM. Before bed, I drink a cup of herbal tea and massage my feet with oil before bed. A foot massage relieves stress and fatigue from travel and helps settle the nervous system for sleep.
Move your body!. A few poses every day while traveling will help your body feel comfortable and strong. Whether your travel includes lots of plane or car time, or lots of hiking, a few sun salutations in the morning or some supine poses in the evening will refresh, enliven and keep your body from getting stiff or sore. Check out my audio practice files – play right from your smartphone.)
Travel with nourishing and grounding food. There is nothing worse than being hungry while traveling, and there is nothing worse than being somewhere like an airport terminal or gas station convenience store with no good food choices. I love to try new foods wherever I am, but on travel days, I always bring along my own nourishing food and food that is easy to digest.
- Fresh fruit
- Raw or cooked veggies depending on the season
- Instant oatmeal with chia and flax seeds is great for early morning breakfasts on the go
- To make sure I get my daily dose of greens, I like to bring along super greens powder to add to juice or water.
- My favorite herbal teas
Support your digestion. These are some ways I support my digestion while traveling:
- Ginger tea. Drink throughout the day and after a heavy meal.
- Triphala. Take the Ayurvedic remedy Triphala in capsule or powdered form with warm water before bed for smooth digestion.
- Calm
- Add chia seeds to your favorite drink. Chia seeds are great for energy and they support bowel regularity.
Medicinal Support. I’m a big fan of herbal essential oils for travel. I use lavender to reduce stress and to help me sleep. Peppermint and ginger help with motion sickness and improve digestion. Eucalyptus is great respiratory support. Citronella is great for repelling insects. Tea tree for cuts or sores.
Other must have items for my travel kit:
- Eye maskt
- Squirt bottle with oil for self massage
- Tongue scraper
- Safe Sunscreen
Clothing. Comfortable clothing and footwear, layers, scarf for meditation and for the plane, favorite hat,
Stick to a routine. No matter where I am, I follow the same morning and evening routine. My routine helps me feel at home wherever I am. My AM routine includes waking up early, drinking warm water, doing my meditation practice and doing at least 10 minutes of yoga asana before breakfast. In the PM, I strive to go to bed before 10 PM. Before bed, I drink a cup of herbal tea and massage my feet with oil before bed. A foot massage relieves stress and fatigue from travel and helps settle the nervous system for sleep.
Move your body!. A few poses every day while traveling will help your body feel comfortable and strong. Whether your travel includes lots of plane or car time, or lots of hiking, a few sun salutations in the morning or some supine poses in the evening will refresh, enliven and keep your body from getting stiff or sore. Check out my audio practice files – play right from your smartphone.)
Visualize what you want to have happen on your trip
This is the fun part! What do you want to make happen on your trip? Take some time the night before you leave on your trip to visualize how you will travel, where you will go, who you will meet and how you will do your mornings and evenings while you are away. Visualize yourself doing your habits in your hotel room or tent. Visualize the people you will be traveling with or meeting. Catalyze the power of potentiality. What can happen? It is up to you!
Bon voyage!
Bon voyage!
