Posted at 07:00h
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by Powerliving
In yoga, we are always reminded to stay in the present moment. We are encouraging our minds to not wander off into the future or back into the past. We need to stay in the present moment to feel grounded and calm.
When you are about to travel and board a plane, remaining grounded is easier said than done. Take your yoga practice off your mat and into your real life to ground yourself before you start traveling.
For instance, most of us love to travel, but when it comes to flying – not so much. The time at the airport waiting to board a plane is for a lot of us nerve-wracking. Your heart is racing, and your mind wanders off in all different directions at once. You are going through all possible scenarios what can happen on your upcoming flight or reconstructing your ultimate flight experience in detail. Hence your nervous system is on high alert. Before a long travel day ahead, you aim to be calm and collected, therefore not in fight or flight mode.
Grounding and connecting yourself back to the present moment is essential now. We have listed three poses that you can easily do at home or the airport before you board your flight. Anytime during your travels when you need calming energy. You will not only calm your nervous system but also connect to the now. More or less easing yourself into flight mode. Additionally, we will link you to some much craved in-flight stretches over at yogaholics.
This ultimate standing yoga posture is a great way to get grounded no matter where you are, whether standing on a long security line, waiting to board the plane, or even as you wait for other passengers to board before take-off. Energetically, Tadasana connects us to both the earth beneath us and the heavens above, making it a mighty pose for feeling grounded even when you’re about to travel high into the air.
How-to: Stand with your feet together or hip-width distance apart, whatever makes you feel more stable. Align the centre of your heel to your second toe and imagine the arches of your feet are suction cups, drawing energy up from the earth. Firm your legs by gently pulling your knee-caps upward and press your thighs back. Keep your chest broad and lifted as your front ribs draw inwards to your naval. Keep the back of your neck extended. If you feel comfortable, allow your eyes to close.
Take big luscious breaths and stay in your mountain pose for 2-3 minutes. You can always come back to this pose whenever you need to take a moment to ground yourself during your travel time.
You are looking to anchor and not balance on one leg, so tree pose seems a bit counterintuitive, right? However, tree pose can be a real-time training ground for learning about how your nervous system responds when you’re startled. Your yoga practice should not leave you feeling frightened or angry. Instead, it’s about how aware we are of what we are feeling—and how quickly we can return to calm.
How-to: Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with your feet together and firmly rooted into the floor. Pick up your right leg, bend your knee, and turn your thigh out, placing your right foot above or below your knee. Find a steady gazing point in front of you. And bring your hands to prayer in front of your heart. If you are comfortable, straighten your arms and reach them overhead. Maybe challenge your balance with shifting your gaze upwards or even closing down your eyes. Don’t worry about balancing perfectly; instead, allow yourself to waver and wobble. Remind yourself that you are safe.
Stay here for 15-20 breaths, then switch sides, taking a few moments to take deep breaths with both feet on the floor before switching sides. Both sides will most likely be completely different, and you will wobble more on one side than the other. Embrace it and know that it’s not about the perfect still tree after all.
One of the main muscles that become over-activated and tightens due to stress is the psoas. Low Lunge is a great way to release this muscle. Because of the psoas’ proximity to the diaphragm, releasing the psoas will also help you breathe easier. Give it a try with Anjaneyasana.
How-to: Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position. Step your right foot through your hands and inhale to lift your torso upright. If you are uncomfortable placing your hands on the airport floor, step back into a lunge and lower your back knee to the floor instead. Keep your pelvis lifted off of your front thigh to lengthen your spine and help you isolate your deeper hip flexors (read: the psoas) versus merely stretching your quadriceps. Reach your arms overhead to open your front body even more and to ignite your breath. Think long spine growing from your hips through the crown of your head. Stay here for 10-15 breaths, then repeat on the other side. Perhaps you want to repeat both sides up to as many times as you feel the need.
