I almost titled this article "Why are the airlines trying to kill us?”… but then I remembered, they just don't know better…

I'm not sure why this holiday season's travel hit me as hard as it did, I've been all over the globe by myself without a hitch.  Maybe it’s possible that my perspective has changed in the recent past...now that I've experienced what a healthy doshic balance feels like, travel induced Vata derrangement is like a bucket of ice water to the face!

When we view travel from the Ayurvedic lens, it's a lot of "too much".  When you label something as 'too much', it's most likely a Vata issue - once Vata gets going, it's hard to grab ahold of it!  The gunas (attributes) of Vata are light, sharp, cold, dry, rough, hard, mobile, subtle, and clear.  We’re all made up of our unique mix of the 5 elements, which can be further categorized into the 3 Dosha (translates as ‘fault’).  Regardless of your primary dosha, Vata is the one that’s most likely to be in motion and therefore can cause problems like an unattended toddler!

The first law of Ayurveda is "like increases like / opposites balance".  With that in mind, let's review what we DO know about air travel:

You're moving in a can of cold, dry air, at top speeds and top altitudes.  You're going up and down.  At high altitudes your ears pop because you take on a bit more air...
Sounds like a lot of cold, dry, mobile and light.

But wait, there's more....

On the plane we're served ice water and soda, so we're drinking more cold air.  No thanks.
We distract ourselves with our tablets, screens and laptops, while plugged into our headphones to keep the deafening din at bay - but we're just adding to the sensory jamming that’s occurring from all angles.

If you're lucky enough to get an upgrade, you sit back and think things are going to be soft, warm and still...but it's not that different from economy after all, except you're served the textbook list of unhealthy food combinations, with ice cold silverware, and an appetizer of dry nuts. 

When we finally get our cold luggage off the constantly whirling baggage claim, fighting over hundreds of other eeeked-out, derranged and confused travelers, we're ready to hit Dallas traffic.  It's almost laughable and it’s amazing we're able to make it home.  When the dry sinuses / dry cough / running nose starts, we blame that poor man with allergies for getting us sick.

Did you know that the Guidebook to Being Human was written ages ago in Sanskrit, in the Charaka Samhita?  Did you know there are ways to help reduce and even prevent crazy derangement from travel?

Get Oily and stay juicy:

• Plan for plenty of time for a warm oil massage before your flight, you don't want to start out dry.
• Eat a warm, nourishing breakfast such as oatmeal, made with ghee, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg.
• Pack snacks such as dates, grapes, berries, cherries, bananas, cheese sticks, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds.  Consider bringing your own tea, such as fennel, spiced or peppermint - all are pacifying to Vata.

Increase your personal fire and power:

• 1 hour before you fly, take 2 capsules of organic dried ginger with a cup of warm water.
• While on the plane, drink 2-3 cups of water, every 1-2 hours. 
• *I purchase room temperature bottled water after security
• No caffeine  - it provokes Vata - sorry!
• Practice alternate nostril breathing to find balance and calm your nervous system (even mental alternate nostril breathing helps!).

Get grounded and relax:

• When you arrive, warm sesame oil on your scalp and the soles of your feet.
• Drink a nice, warm ojas producing drink such as a cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg and ginger.  A nice alternative to stay warm would be chamomile tea. 
• Consider practicing a few asana which support deep breathing, such as dynamic bridge, a few gentle triangle, some down dogs for spinal extension and focus on extending your exhale. Spend a little time finding all toes and knuckles planted firmly on Mother Earth!

Best of luck - please take care of yourself and help neutralize the scattered vibrations!!