Zarafshan ShirazNew Delhi
Maintaining a yoga practice while traveling can be a beneficial and important experience because despite the challenges of travel, incorporating yoga into your daily routine can help reduce the physical and mental stress that often occurs during travel. Traveling can take a toll on your body and mind, but experts suggest using yoga as a form of self-care to stay refreshed and healthy.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddha Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Centre, shared, “Incorporate restorative asanas and meditation into your practice to promote relaxation and ensure you are taking care of yourself amid the demands of travel. Taking time out.”
He suggests some straightforward and practical tips to ensure that you can continue your yoga practice uninterrupted on the road –
- Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar): Follow the Surya Namaskar sequence to welcome the warmth of spring. Move through poses like Mountain Pose, Downward Dog, Cobra and Warrior to create a rhythmic flow. This sequence energizes the body and coordinates the breath with the movement, celebrating the vibrancy of the season.
- Mountain Pose (Tadasana): Stand straight with your feet on the ground, aligning them with your hips. Extend your arms along your body, palms facing forward. Feel the stability of a mountain while connecting with the earth beneath you. Breathe deeply, and with each exhale, release any tension, embracing the peace outside.
- Vrikshasana (Vrikshasana): Find a firm spot and transfer your weight to one leg. Place the sole of your other foot on your inner thigh or shin, avoiding the knee. Bring your palms together in front of your chest or extend your arms upward like branches. Focus on a point ahead to increase balance, feel inertia, and reach for the sky.
- Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana): Lie on your stomach, place your hands under your shoulders. Inhale as you lift your chest, keeping your elbows slightly bent. Arch your back and look upward, like a cobra. Feel the stretch in your spine and chest.
- Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana): Sit with your legs spread, then bring the soles of your feet together. Allow your knees to fall toward the ground while opening your hips. Hold your feet and gently flap your knees like butterfly wings. This pose encourages a feeling of flexibility and openness.
- Child’s Pose (Balaasana): Kneel on the ground, sitting back on your heels. Extend your arms forward and lower your chest toward the ground, resting your forehead on the ground. This resting posture promotes relaxation.
- Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana): Start on your hands and knees, curl your toes and lift your hips toward the sky. Straighten your legs and press your palms on the ground.
- Conscious breathing techniques: Incorporate simple breathing techniques like Kapala Bhati or similar in-breath counting to stay connected to your practice even if you don’t have the physical space for elaborate postures. Mindful breathing helps reduce stress, increase focus, and can be practiced mindfully in any environment.
- Healing Walk: Raise your arms up, keeping them shoulder-width apart. Now, start walking in the same position with your hands raised up and your hands can remain in the air for 1-3 minutes. Initially this may not be possible as you will have to train and strengthen the muscles of your arms and shoulders. Starting with one minute increments, gradually increasing it to 1-3 minutes and so on until you are physically able to hold your arms straight up for 1-3 minutes. Do not become capable enough with the strength required to keep up. For one round of exercise you will need to do at least three sets of these walks of at least 1-3 minutes each.
He concludes, “Practicing yoga while traveling is not only possible but also highly beneficial for maintaining overall health. By keeping your practice simple, adaptable, and consistent, you can seamlessly incorporate yoga into your travel routine, keeping you grounded and centered no matter where your adventures take you.
