3 Ways To Keep Up Your Meditation Practice When Traveling
Contributor: Cristin Smith
Photographer: Sarah Shreves
It’s the perfect season to travel, but perhaps you have just mastered your meditation practice and might be concerned as to how you will find time to act on it while exploring the world. Paige Davis, a mind-body enthusiast, suggests that travel can be beneficial to your meditation. Travel may take us out of our comfort zone, but that’s the goal here. It’s healthy for us to get out of our daily routine and embrace the awareness to be more present in our lives. As Pico Iyer once said, “We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate”. Below are three ways to maintain your meditation practice when traveling.
1. Find A Quiet Place
Whether you’re exploring the streets of a large city or taking surf lessons on a tropical beach, finding a quiet place to meditate is simpler than one may think. The hotel bathroom or patio is an excellent place to start. Grab a pillow or a blanket, and spend time with your mind for a few moments. It’s not the most luxurious of spaces, but you’ll have a better trip if you spend some time focusing on your mental health.
Feeling adventurous with your meditation? Take a solo hike to the top of a peaceful mountain, bike ride to a beautiful viewpoint, or float in the sea. The amount of places to practice meditation are limitless. All you need is a quiet setting, clear mind, and an open heart.
2. Take Advantage Of Early Mornings
Vacation usually calls for sleeping in, which leaves you with a late morning and a sluggish mood. But what’s more beneficial to you, sleeping in or getting an early start? Harvard biologist Christoph Randler discovered that early risers are more proactive and feel more in charge of making things happen. Other studies have shown that most early risers use their mornings for organization and spend time setting goals.
So, next time you’re on a trip, wake up with the sun, make yourself a soothing cup of tea, and meditate through the silence of the morning. You’ll feel refreshed, renewed, and ready to take on whatever adventures the day has in store for you.
3. Remember To Breathe
With travel, we sometimes feel anxious. The planning, packing, and thought of entering the wide unknown can often place stress on the mind. If you start to feel anxiety creeping up on you, breathing meditations will help you relax and soothe your worried mind. The purpose of breathing meditation is to calm the mind and develop inner peace.
When you find yourself on the plane headed to your destination, try to take advantage of the time before takeoff. Listen to the hum of the engine, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. By paying close attention to your breath, distracted thoughts will calm. This will ultimately allow your mind to feel lucid and clear. Be sure to perform breathing meditation anytime you feel anxious, so that you may experience your trip with an optimistic mind.