YOGA & TRAVEL
By Laura Plumb

Traveling is like yoga. It enhances concentration, teaches us to develop patience and helps broaden our perspective. With so many travel-related stresses, it’s important to maintain an open mind and breathe deep when faced with challenges. Even if you’ve never done yoga, you can use its practices to stay calm, focused and energized while traveling.

This simple breathing exercise can be done anywhere – even in your airline seat. Inhale and count your breath. Then exhale, making it the same length as your inhale. Repeat 3 times. Now, try to make your exhale twice as long as your inhale. Repeat 3 times. This will calm and still the mind, and can be repeated often.

Stretching is especially important while traveling, as it helps the digestive process, calms the nervous system and increases energy. Standing in your hotel room, reach toward the sky and then fold your body downwards towards your toes. Hold for 3 breaths and repeat 2 more times. Then, lie on your back with arms outstretched and bring your knees to your chest. Hold for a few breaths. Let your knees fall to the left and breathe slowly, deeply, evenly. Repeat on the other side, observing the breath. Return to your back and take a moment to give thanks for your body, your breath, life, the opportunity to travel and the adventures ahead!


Escape Magazine
August 2007