Travel and Routine

Staying Grounded While Moving

Travel is inherently vata-aggravating. Movement, irregularity, displacement from the familiar, crossing time zones, eating unfamiliar food, sleeping in strange beds - all of this disturbs the stability that grounds vata. Yet travel is often necessary and sometimes wonderful. The art is maintaining balance while moving.

Why Travel Aggravates Vata

The Movement Itself

Vata is the dosha of movement. Travel is intense movement:

• Physical displacement (planes, cars, trains)
• Sitting in confined spaces
• Vibration and engine noise
• High altitude (in air travel)
• Speed through space

The body registers all this even when the mind doesn’t.

The Disruption of Routine

Vata is balanced by routine. Travel demolishes routine:

• Different wake and sleep times
• Meals at irregular intervals
• Unfamiliar food
• Disrupted practices
• No familiar environment

This alone is enough to aggravate vata significantly.

The Dryness

Travel environments are dry:

• Airplane cabins (very low humidity)
• Air-conditioned spaces
• Climate changes
• Eating dry travel food
• Drinking less water (bathroom inconvenience)

The Stress

Even pleasant travel involves stress:

• Planning and logistics
• Navigating unfamiliar places
• Security and delays
• Being “on” in new situations
• Managing uncertainty

Before Travel

Preparation

Physical:

• Abhyanga the morning of travel (or night before)
• Oil in ears and nose (protects from dry air)
• Eat well before leaving (don’t start depleted)
• Pack grounding snacks
• Prepare travel comfort items (scarf, warm socks, eye mask)

Mental:

• Simplify the days before travel
• Complete or set aside unfinished tasks
• Set expectations appropriately
• Prepare for disruption

Practical:

• Pack oil (small container for travel abhyanga)
• Herbal teas (calming, digestive)
• Triphala or digestive support
• Melatonin or sleep support if crossing time zones
• Layered clothing (temperature fluctuates)
• Empty water bottle to fill after security

Pre-Travel Grounding

If possible:

• Extra sleep before travel
• Warm, nourishing meals
• Minimal stress and rushing
• Practice that grounds (not vigorous)

Start the journey from a place of stability, not depletion.

During Travel

On the Plane or Train

Comfort:

• Dress in layers, keep warm
• Use neck pillow and eye mask
• Remove shoes, put on warm socks
• Move periodically (circulation and prana)
• Stretch when possible

Hydration:

• Drink water regularly
• Avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine
• Bring herbal tea bags
• Skip the ice

Eating:

• Avoid airplane food if possible (usually tamasic)
• Bring your own nourishing food
• Eat light, warm, simple
• Ginger tea aids travel digestion

Protection:

• Oil in nose (nasya) before boarding
• Oil in ears (protects from pressure changes)
• Close eyes and rest when possible
• Limit screens and stimulation

Driving

• Regular stops (every 2 hours minimum)
• Walk and stretch at stops
• Warm drinks, warm food
• Avoid eating while driving
• Music or silence rather than news

Jet Lag Management

Crossing time zones:

Before:

• Begin shifting schedule a few days before
• Get good sleep before travel
• Avoid late nights before early flights

During flight:

• Set watch to destination time immediately
• Sleep on the plane if it’s nighttime at destination
• Stay awake if it’s daytime at destination
• Drink water, avoid alcohol

After arrival:

• Get sunlight at destination (resets circadian rhythm)
• Stay awake until local bedtime if possible
• Don’t nap longer than 20 minutes
• Grounding practices immediately (walk, oil massage)
• Melatonin at destination bedtime if needed

At Your Destination

First Day

Immediate grounding:

• Abhyanga if possible
• Walk on the earth
• Warm bath or shower
• Warm meal (not too heavy)
• Early to bed

Don’t overdo it:

• Resist the urge to maximize Day 1
• The body needs transition time
• Rest will make remaining days more enjoyable

Maintaining Practice

Adapt your routine rather than abandon it:

Minimum viable practice:

• Tongue scraping (packs easily)
• Some form of movement (even 10 minutes)
• Brief meditation (even 5 minutes)
• Warm water in the morning

Adapted abhyanga:

• Brief self-massage even without full oil bath
• Focus on feet, hands, head
• Small travel oil bottle

Sleep routine:

• Maintain wind-down ritual
• Keep somewhat regular sleep time
• Create familiar conditions (bring your own pillow case, white noise)

Food While Traveling

Choose wisely:

• Cooked over raw
• Warm over cold
• Simple over complex
• Regular meal times even if the food varies
• Avoid ice and very cold drinks

Support digestion:

• Ginger tea before or after meals
• Digestive spices if available
• Don’t overeat (even if it’s interesting food)
• Triphala or digestive support if needed

Stay hydrated:

• Warm water preferred
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Electrolytes if very hot climate

Constitutional Considerations

Vata Types

Most challenged by travel:

• Need maximum grounding measures
• Should avoid back-to-back travel days
• Need more rest and recovery time
• Should pack their own food and comfort items
• May want to limit travel frequency

Pitta Types

Generally handle travel better:

• Watch for irritation with delays and problems
• Don’t push too hard while away
• Cooling measures if traveling to hot climates
• Remember to enjoy, not just accomplish

Kapha Types

May actually benefit from travel’s stimulation:

• The change can be energizing
• But still need routine basics
• Avoid using travel as excuse for inertia
• Maintain some exercise

After Travel

Re-grounding

Returning home:

• Full abhyanga upon return
• Resume routine immediately
• Simple, nourishing food
• Early bedtime
• Don’t immediately launch into next thing

Allow transition time:

• Build in a day before returning to full work
• Resist scheduling obligations immediately upon return
• Let the body settle

Recovery Time

Factor recovery into travel planning:

• One day recovery for short trips
• Several days for long trips or major time zone changes
• The recovery is part of the trip

Without this, vata accumulates trip after trip.

Frequent Travelers

If travel is regular:

Extra attention to grounding:

• Home routine must be very stable
• Non-travel days should be strongly grounding
• Invest in travel comfort

Simplify travel:

• Same airline, same routine
• Familiar hotels
• Pack consistently
• Reduce decision-making

Compensate:

• More abhyanga overall
• Stricter diet at home
• More rest and routine between trips
• Periodic digital detox and retreat

Know your limits:

• How much travel can you sustain?
• At what point does it become depleting?
• When to say no?

The Deeper Practice

Travel offers its own teachings:

Impermanence: Everything changes. Attach to nothing.

Adaptability: The practice is not the form but the consciousness brought to it.

Presence: New places can wake us up from autopilot.

Simplicity: Travel teaches what is actually essential.

When done consciously, travel can be practice. The vata it generates is manageable with awareness. And returning home, we appreciate the routine and stability that we might otherwise take for granted.