Staying healthy while traveling

Travelling to India is fresh on my mind and while it is super exciting, at the same time it can create an environment susceptible to getting sick.  By throwing us off routines, eating differently,  exposure to different air, pollution, viruses, sleep deprivation etc can put us at risk for getting sick. Not to mention the stress of it all which can also weaken our immune system.  Travelling disturbs our vata dosha - that of air and space - and is the dosha that can cause the most disturbances. Here are some tips I use to stay healthy.

- Staying healthy starts before travel begins. In the week leading up to travelling (especially before a big trip like India), I will start probiotics (if I'm worried about travelers diarrhea), amp up my vitamins (such as Emergen-C or Airborne if I'm flying or know I'll be around crowds), stay extra hydrated, keep up on my exercise routine and make sure I'm getting enough sleep. 

- Instead of reaching for coffee, alcohol or cold sodas on the airplane (which are dehydrating and cold exacerbates vata), I like to bring my own tea. Ask for hot water from a flight attendant or even better, bring your own empty thermos/mug and ask a nice barista to fill it at a coffee shop before you even get into the plane. Ginger, tulsi, or chamomile teas are great options.  Our gut health tends to get disturbed first and foremost and keeping our channels moving with warm tea or even plain warm water will help combat disturbed vata. 

- BREATHE! Use your breath to your advantage.  Maintaining a deep belly breath, diaphragmatic breathing, will only help your physiology stay strong both physically and mentally as well.  It will keep the channels, or nadis, clear so they can bring vital oxygen and nutrients to your body and help keep you grounded.  

- Sleeping can be an issue while travelling due to environmental factors or just due to disturbed vata.  I tend to be sensitive to noise when I am trying to sleep so I bring a pair of ear plugs.  Additionally, I do utilize melatonin especially if I am crossing several time zones - it helps signal the body that it is time to sleep. Also you can utilize herbs such as ashwaganda if it is right for your constitution.  

- Once you get to your destination, get into your routines as quickly and thoroughly as you're able.  This includes eating at regular times, sleeping at regular times and any other habit or routine you do at home try to mimic. I always use my nasya oil to help keep my nasal passages lubricated and clean, my neti pot to remove any pollution that has accumulated, tongue scraping etc.  Routine is a great way to calm vata.

- OIL.  Oil is your best friend and is one of the other best things you can do to combat disturbed vata. I travel with a small bottle of sesame oil in my checked bag. I use it for my full body massage before showering (abhyganga) and you can also use it to help you sleep by oiling your feet/ankles before bedtime.  

- One of the biggest issues with travelling is change in bowel habits.  Perhaps TMI, but the first time I was in India, I didn't poop for 9 days. IT WAS MISERABLE. I expected to have travelers diarrhea instead.  In Ayurveda we talk about poop a lot. It is a really important indicator of the health of the rest of your body.  Some people may get nervous and get more diarrhea.  Pay attention to where you land.  For me, that first time I realized after some time there was a huge mental component to this - a friend help me realize I felt out of control. Once I considered this and did some twisting yoga postures, I was able to let it go.  Getting back into any routines that help regulate your bowels will help. Different foods may or may not help. Herbs such as triphala or castor oil can be of benefit as well as staying well hydrated. A good belly massage with the sesame oil you packed can also be helpful. 

- Depending on where you are travelling, following simple food rules (you can check CDC website for an extensive list) but making sure you are drinking clean water (either via bottled water, or a travelling water purifier you bring such as a lifestraw water bottle), avoiding ice, raw or uncooked foods, anything you can't take the peel off easily, street foods, etc, will help you avoid travelers diarrhea.  I am happy to report nobody in our group got food poisoning while in India by following these rules. I always carry medicine for travelers diarrhea (antibiotic and pepto bismol). 

- Lastly when travelling abroad I always check the CDC website to see what is recommended for vaccines or otherwise.  This is where Western Medicine excels. No, I do not want to get malaria, Typhoid or other preventable diseases.  It would also ruin my trip!  Depending also on where and the time of year, I carry bug spray.  While we were in India, monsoon season had just ended and dengue fever was running rampant.  So avoiding mosquitos by using bug spray and trying not to hang around out side at dusk helped prevent that.  Also - use sunscreen! 

So those are a few of my recommended tidbits to stay healthy while travelling domestically or abroad!