Tuesday, June 9, 2015

How to Stay Healthy on the Road: My Top 10 Travel Essentials

One of my all-time favorite quotes is this little gem by Einstein that goes: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." I strongly believe that the same holds true for your travel style. If I had to put my wander-lusting Zen Girl twist on the old classic, it would go something like this -- "There are only two ways you can travel. One is unprepared, malnourished, flustered and hangry. The other is balanced, peaceful and always in the flow." Sometimes I'm the former, sometimes I'm the latter. More often than not, I try my hardest to embody the peaceful, centered traveling yoga girl spreading love and good vibes, versus the "0 to 100 real quick" crazy pants. That being said, if you ever catch me in an airport without my emergency supply of raw almonds, run. The word "hangry" doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. 

Travel has the tendency to bring out the worst in people. So much is out of our control and that causes lots of chaos. To be totally honest, I'm just plain tired of having hectic travel experiences. I've been on the road since 9 years old. I've spent many of Christmases in airports and it doesn't seem like the Universe it letting me change my travel game up. In fact, as I type this, I'm booked to fly 6 times in the next 6 weeks, logging over 18,000 miles between early June and mid-July. Out of pure necessity, I'm actively re-thinking and re-designing my travel style to ensure that I'm 100% in my super-zen-gypsy-soul flow from now on.

Here are my Top 10 Travel Essentials I will for sure be packing on every trip going forward -- 

  1. Your favorite tea -- purchasing premium tea on the road is expensive! Pack your own tea bags, most places will give you a free cup of hot water.
  2. Emergen-C and/or powered greens -- if you're used to drinking a green juice or smoothie everyday, you'll be heartbroken when all you can find is Minute Maid. Pack your own and stay healthy and hydrated. 
  3. Peppermint oil -- great for hangovers, rub a few drops between your palms, breathe deeply. 
  4. Arnica -- in gel or spray form, relaxes tight muscles. Apply before and after flights. My favorite is a spray bottle of arnica that also has MSM in it.
  5. Extra lotion -- planes are extremely drying, keep re-applying lotion to your hands, neck and joints throughout the day. My favorite to travel with is a thick lotion made of avocado oil, macadamia nut oil and lemongrass.
  6. Healthy snacks -- after an unexpectedly long layover in Mexico City where the only food option was carne asada tacos, I learned to never leave home without a good supply of healthy munchies. My favorite travel snack-pack includes: raw almonds, dark chocolate, dried mango and Rickaroons {a delicious gluten free snack packed full of superfoods}
  7. Your favorite scarf -- pack the perfect multi-functional scarf, one that can transform from keeping you warm on a plane to a bikini cover up to a beach blanket. 
  8. Big cozy socks -- even if you're going somewhere tropical, a pair of warm cozy socks will be a lifesaver when they turn up the AC on the plane or after a long night dancing in heels.
  9. DJ Drez and Trevor Hall -- these are my favorite yoga musicians that always put me into an immediate state of peace, even in a crowded airport terminal. Whoever yours are, make sure you download them from the Cloud ahead of time so you have access to your favorite tunes while off the grid. 
  10. Your journal and a new book -- long flights are the perfect time to reflect. Use the time away from technology on "airplane mode" to check in with your goals and intentions for the adventure. Mindless travel leaves you feeling unfulfilled (and oftentimes empty) when you return home. Wandering with a purpose helps you feel more balanced and more present for each new place you go and person you meet.
the view from above ~ flying home to San Diego is always a blessing!
literally squeezing in my yoga practice in a teeny tiny hotel room in Paris
stretching it out on the beaches of Miami after a long, uncomfortable red-eye flight

{Frequent Flyer Tip}
 as soon as you get to town, locate the nearest sushi restaurant. I was just visiting a small town in Connecticut and couldn't find a healthy snack to save my life. Our hotel was surrounded by steakhouses and diners and I was in desperate need of a big green salad. Luckily, there was one sushi spot in town, and where there's sushi, you can guarantee there will be avocado and at least a few veggies. The salads were so refreshing and exactly what I needed to stay balanced and healthy throughout my East Coast travels. I went there 3 days in a row!

What are your travel must-haves? Share in the comments section below!

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