Flight Travel Tips: How to Stay Grounded, Hydrated & Balanced
When traveling, particularly when you're taking a flight, the stress on your body is immense. You change timezones, which throws off your circadian rhythm, your body's way to stay in sync with nature. You feel jet-lagged -- tired, maybe achy. Generally bleh. Perhaps your digestion is a bit thrown off. Your skin gets dried out and you start to break out a bit... It's not pretty, and it's certainly not the ideal way to begin your vacation or business meetings. Ayurveda teaches us that Vata, which consists of the air and ether elements, increases when flying. Makes sense, right? You are literally going in the air for hours. So ideally, while traveling, we take some Vata-reducing actions to keep us in balance.
Here are some tips to make your travel experience better from start to finish. I do all of these, and there is a noticeable difference between what traveling used to feel like mentally and physically, and what it feels like now!
I Travel Well from Banyan Botanicals
I tested this out on my last trip to Norway and was amazed at how I felt zero jetlag in Norway, and when I returned home. It felt like a seamless A to B, and then B to A, trip. Formulated with Vata-reducing herbs like ginger and ashwagandha, this liquid extract (small enough to be a carry-on liquid) keeps you in balance and even tastes good. Start taking it the morning of your flight, then two hours before you take off. Then every two hours until you land. Upon landing, take it once or twice per day for a few days, and the same on the way back. Remember to check in with your body. You might not need it so much once you land. It depends on your body's needs.
Sheet Masks
If you can manage to muster a little courage to look a bit weird, a sheet mask does wonders for keeping your skin clear as all of the moisture gets sucked out of it by the airplane’s ventilation system. I always pack a few of Dr. Jart’s Water Replenishment cotton sheet masks ($7.50 each at Sephora.) I wear one about half-way through the flight, and one before going to bed when I land. The result? I look better when I land than I did at my point of origin. It leaves you with an incredible glow and plenty of moisture in your skin to ideally stop those breakouts from dryness. Yes, people will look at you when you do this, but who cares? People will also look at you when you arrive and are the most radiant, dewy god/dess in the joint.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is a heating herb. It's a universally loved herb by Ayurvedic practitioners, and anyone who loves a bit of spice. Not only will this help keep your body warm while on the freezing plane, it will also help keep your digestive fire intact, and support your joints, which reduces Vata.
Drink lots of warm or room-temperature water
Try your best to consume at least one cup per each hour you’re on the plane. The ginger tea can be included in the count. The air is drying you out — combat it! But why no cold water? Think of it as freezing your insides. We want to keep our digestive fire going and our internal organs warm and ready to work, particularly as the airplane environment dampens this fire. I ask the flight attendant for a cup of hot water several times, and they always (kindly) give it to me for free. I also usually fill my reusable water bottle (it’s insulated) with hot water at the airport so I’m all set for my first two cups!
Yoga
Prior to take off and when you land, try a simple yoga practice like sun salutations. Even just 5 minutes! If you don't feel comfortable doing it at the airport, do a bit at home beforehand and at your destination. Maybe take a yoga class. This 10 minute routine by Yoga with Adrienne is a grounding and simple practice that can give you an idea of what to do on your own.
Now I ask you: What do you do to stay in balance when you travel? Any good tips to share? Write them below!
