Top Tips for Vibrant Traveling

I love to travel but travel can cause vata to increase leading to fatigue, constipation, gas, bloating, insomnia, dry eyes, dry skin, anxiety and foggy brain.   Here are a few of my favorite tips that will make your travel as comfortable as possible.

Love yourself with Oil  
Give yourself an oil massage every day leading up to your trip or at least do on the morning of your departure.  A nice oil to use is Banyan Botanicals Massage Oil.  It’s easy to pack a small bottle to rub on the soles of your feet at bedtime.  A whole body massage is even better.   Adding a few drops of lavender to the oil will add a calming, anti-bacterial fragrance.   If I am flying I put a couple of drops of oil in my ears and carry earplugs to block out the drone of the airplane.

Stay Hydrated
Drink lots of water and avoid caffeinated coffee and teas, soda and alcohol which are dehydrating.  Absolutely avoid iced drinks as these will dampen your digestion and make you feel colder. 

Ginger, ginger, ginger.
Drinking ginger tea will keep you grounded and calm and your digestion strong.  I pack a thermal mug and my own ginger and chai tea bags.  Most any coffee shop will fill your mug or just ask for a cup of hot water to put your tea bag in.   You can also use Ginger Extract.  I fill my mug before I board a plane and avoid drinking water on a plane except from a fresh bottle.  Water in the hold may not be completely free of contamination. 

Avoid Sugar
We should all avoid sugar, but especially when traveling. Consuming sugar weakens your immune system for 11 hours!  Think about getting onto a plane and breathing recirculated air for the whole trip…not pretty.

Bring your own snacks and eat healthy foods.
Pack a variety of healthy snacks so you aren’t tempted to reach for sugary, salty, processed food.    Avoid dry, raw, cold and especially iced foods and instead focus on cooked, grounding foods like soups, and hot herbal or decaffeinated teas.  Avoid airplane food.  It has been pre-cooked, frozen and microwaved.  Definitely not helpful for your energy and is tough to digest.  I sometimes cook kitchari the morning of my trip and carry it along in a thermos.
Simple things to pack are oatmeal packets, ginger, nuts and fresh fruit. Do your research before your trip so you will know where to find wonderful local restaurants that feature home-cooked fresh food.  Remember, if you are not hungry, don’t eat.

Stay Warm and Comfortable
I always dress in layers and adjust as necessary.  A wide scarf is especially useful.  I use it to wrap around my neck, or drape it over my legs, or sometimes even use it to cover my head.  It makes me feel like a movie star.
Keep a Routine
When you reach your destination, get outside in the sunlight for a half hour to coordinate your circadian rhythms and reduce jet lag.  Maintaining your normal routine as much as possible will help keep your energy up.

Take Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha relieves stress and helps you stay calm while you travel.  Take one tablet in the morning and evening while you are traveling.  Don’t forget to breathe deeply and calmly.  Practice Alternate Nostril breathing if you know how.

Cumin, Coriander and Fennel Tea
Lovingly called CCF Tea, this combination is wonderful to boost digestion, and to keep gas, and bloating at bay.  I use a tea ball to make tea in my thermal mug in the morning.

Triphala
Triphala is a must in every travel kit.  Not only is it a gentle detoxifier, triphala supports your digestion, boosts your immune system and helps prevent constipation.  Take one or two tablets at bedtime.  Do not take triphala if you are pregnant or menstruating. 
In the mornings drink a big glass of warm water to hydrate your digestive system and keep things moving.

Nasya
Dryness often occurs during travel and lubricating your sinuses with Nasya Oil will help prevent stress, help to balance your hormones and keeps bacteria and viruses away from your nasal tissues.  Just apply one or two drops to each nostril in the morning and the evening while traveling. 
 
Be Here Now
Enjoy your trip.  Practice being in the present to fully experience your trip.  Remember to schedule down time into your trip so you can rejuvenate your energy. Happy travels!
​Shivani

It is always recommended that clients work with their physicians for routine medical care and treatment of illness.  Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils, especially when pregnant or nursing.