Taking Your Mindfulness on the Road
August is here, a major vacation month in our area, and we notice traffic on the roads is light, since many of us are out of town. Traveling, for business or for pleasure, is exciting but can be draining as well, especially air travel. I wanted to share a few tips on how to make the experience a bit better and arrive at your destination if not replenished at least not too wiped out.
- Make good food choices to nourish your system before your leave. There are better options than McDonald’s or Cinnabon in airports; fuel up with healthy foods to maintain steady blood sugar and to boost immunity.
- During your trip, try to eat more like a vegetarian so not to disrupt your digestion.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink plenty of water before and during your flight, and avoid coffee and alcohol.
- Move around as much as you can. If you practice yoga, squeeze a short practice in before you head to the airport or get into your car. And if you are flying, there are now many airports with designated yoga rooms where you can go if you have a connecting flight or you get to the airport early enough.
- Take a deep breath when things go unplanned. We all have experienced cancelled or over booked flights, clogged roads due to accidents and other unforeseen events. I try to remember the phrase “this too shall pass”, and figure out how to turn what can be seen like a major problem at the moment into a passable or positive experience. No doubt, there is stress, but we have a choice to move through any situation with as much grace as we can. (I am still working on this one.)
Wishing you a wonderful summer month, whether you are going on a trip of a lifetime, or dropping your child off in college.
We look forward to seeing you at IPY, where you are always welcomed!
We look forward to seeing you at IPY, where you are always welcomed!
Warmly,
Ursula and the IPY Teachers