Ayurveda Article - Stress-Free Holiday Travel For Everyone

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Stress-Free Holiday Travel

 

Long delays and canceled flights...traffic jams...inclement

weather...crowds...all these factors and more can make traveling

during the holiday season a nightmare for many people. Yet, getting

together with friends and family is a big part of what makes the

season so special.

 

"It's possible to travel stress-free," says ayurvedic expert Rama

Kant Mishra. "Once you understand what imbalances are caused by

travel, you can take steps to protect yourself and prevent the

imbalances from developing."

 

Imbalances caused by travel

Vata dosha in general tends to get disturbed during travel. In

particular, continuous sitting disturbs Apana Vata, which controls

the downward movements of elimination and purification. Traveling in

fast-moving vehicles and an unpredictable routine aggravates Prana

Vata, which controls mental and emotional balance. Pachaka Pitta,

responsible for digestion, can also get disrupted by an irregular

schedule of meals and sleep.

 

Steps to stay balanced

Vaidya Mishra offers these practical suggestions to maintain your

physical, mental and emotional equilibrium through travel and hectic

times:

 

Before travel (for at least a week before departure)

 

Be meticulous about adhering to a regular routine. Taking pains to

keep Vata in balance before you begin your journey will help you

withstand stress, time pressure, multiple demands and

unpredictability better. This means eating your meals at about the

same times each day, with lunch being around noon and dinner about 3

hours before you go to bed. It means going to bed by 10.00 p.m. and

getting an adequate amount of sleep. It means planning tasks in

advance so you are hurrying around less.

 

Eat Vata and Pitta pacifying meals. Sweet lassi is an excellent

lunchtime beverage. Avoid extremely sour foods such as pickles and

vinegar and very spicy foods such as cayenne or hot chili peppers.

Eat plenty of sweet juicy fruits, warm milk blended with Rose Petal

Preserve, light proteins such as mung beans.

For specific food guidelines for each dosha, please visit the food

section at http://www.mapi.com.

 

Do a daily self-massage with Herbal Moisturizing Oil or Relaxation

Massage Oil. Massage helps boost circulation, enhances mind/body

coordination, keeps the skin lubricated and tones muscles. The aches

and pains and minor stiffness from sitting for long hours in cramped

places that tend to crop up during travel will be minimized, and your

resilience and energy levels during and after travel will be higher.

 

A scalp and head massage at least three times a week can be very

helpful. The Aroma Massage Oils from Maharishi Ayurveda are light

yet therapeutic. Gently warm a couple of teaspoons of the oil.

Persons with longer hair may need more, to cover all the hair as well

as the scalp. The oil should be warm enough to be soothing, not

uncomfortably hot. Pour the oil on your palm and apply it evenly all

over the scalp and the back of the neck close to the hairline. Using

your fingertips, gently massage the oil into the scalp, working the

oil in for about 4-5 minutes. Ideally the oil should be left on

overnight (use a shower cap to protect your bed-linens) and shampooed

off the next morning. If leaving it on overnight is impractical for

you, leave it on for 2-3 hours, then shampoo your hair well to rinse

it off.

 

Take vitality-enhancing rasayanas such as Amrit or Amla-Berry.

Rasayanas have the ability to boost natural immunity, increase

resilience to day-to-day stress and build energy levels. You'll stay

fighting fit even if the people sitting around you have fallen prey

to the latest bug floating around.

 

Eat cooked prunes and figs at breakfast to ensure regular

elimination. The build-up of toxic matter (ama) in the physiology is

what leads to disorders. Make sure that wastes are regularly flushed

from the system. Take Herbal Cleanse tablets if you experience

constipation. If your digestion if off-balance, take the Herbal Di-

Gest tablets. To balance excess stomach acid, take Aci-Balance.

 

During travel

 

Drink Vata Tea or Worry Tea. These herbal teas are especially

formulated to pacify Vata-related imbalances. Avoid carbonated or

ice-cold beverages, because they disrupt digestion. Avoid caffeine

and alcohol.

 

Eat fresh fruit and light, easy-to-digest foods. These will help

keep Vata and Pitta in balance. Avoid "junk" foods or heavy, hard-to-

digest foods.

 

Listen to soothing music, such as an appropriate Gandharva Veda

melody, or meditate.

 

Diffuse Vata or Worry Free Aroma through a personal diffuser or aroma

locket to help keep Vata dosha in balance.

 

If you feel nausea, eat some fresh ginger or add some fresh ginger to

Vata Tea and sip on it. Research has shown that ginger can help

prevent motion sickness.

 

After travel

 

Drink lots of warm water through the day to replenish moisture levels

and assist in cleansing the channels of the body. Eat light yet

nourishing foods such as mung bean soup for a few days to allow your

digestion to adjust. Continue to drink Vata Tea or Worry Tea, two or

three cups a day.

 

A daily massage will enhance circulation and calm the mind and

nervous system.

 

Finally, catch up on rest.

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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