7 September Virginia Beam September 7, 2016 Yoga on the Road Body, Life, Yoga athelets, restorative movements, travel 0 Comment Even dedicated yogis struggle to maintain their practices when they travel. Most of us only manage a quick standing bow for a photo! It’s a shame, because time away is often when we need our practice the most: Travel is hard on the body. Most transportation involves prolonged sitting, which is linked with increased mortality even in people who exercise regularly. Sitting can also cause short-term ailments like stiffness, soreness, and even blood clots. Crossing time zones disrupts your body’s natural “body clock,” which can cause problems with sleep, digestion, and mental function. Yoga can help you prevent and manage physical discomfort. Travel can be hard on the mind. Even vacations come with their own stressors—especially if you’re traveling with kids! Changing scenery and disrupted routines can be exciting, but they can also be destabilizing. A few familiar postures can anchor you no matter where you are. You might not have much time or space to practice, but don’t give up. Embrace the difference and work some simple but mindful movement into your trip: Just move. You might not be able to do Sun Salutations on an airplane, but you can get out of your seat and stretch at least once every half hour. Skip the elevator. Every bit of movement helps! (This is true for anyone who spends a lot of time sitting.) Get creative. Yoga can be done right in your seat. Start by rolling your shoulders down and back and expanding your chest, as we do in Pranayama Deep Breathing. Lengthen through your spine. You can try a literal Chair Twist, a “Half” Half Moon, or Eagle Arms. Try isometrically resisting into stationary objects, like arm rests. Focus on the Big Three. Strength coach Dan John recommends focusing on key areas that are affected by travel and sitting: Hip Flexors – Extended sitting leads to tight hips. Loosen them up with Bridge, Floor Bow, or Pigeon. Thoracic Spine Mobility – Your low back is one of the first places you may notice the effects of traveling. Counter the tension with a spine twist, Windshield Wipers, or a few Cat/Cows. Rotary Stability – Try a “Bird Dog” (from all fours, extend one arm forward and the leg of the same side back; repeat on the other side). Watch this quick little video on a series of movements to address these three issues. Enjoy your trip and spread light wherever you go! Related Articles Who Does Yoga? – Breaking Through Dallas’ Hot Yoga Myths Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but it’s still a very misunderstood form of exercise in America. Misconceptions about yoga, most especially Dallas hot yoga, are still, (sadly) widespread in the West. Here are a few of the most far-reaching yoga myths. You have to be in perfect shape if you want to do yoga. 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This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Advantages of Hot Yoga: 5 Ways Hot Yoga Helps Insomnia The advantages of hot yoga are many and varied… and one of hot yoga’s most surprising benefits is that it can alleviate insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by stress, anxiety and depression, a lack of physical activity, diet, or imbalances in body chemistry. Yoga, especially hot yoga, can address all of these concerns. Yoga Teacher Training: Transformational Learning at Sunstone Yoga Academy Is yoga teacher training right for you? Even basic yoga training can change your life. Whether you want to open your own studio or just take your yoga practice to the next level, Sunstone Yoga Academy can help you open up to the world around you. Our Yoga Academy is for people who are passionate about yoga and growing their practice—we’re not just looking for people who want to teach yoga! Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. Comments are closed.