Archive for the ‘Travel Health’ Category
Five-Minute Meditation
June 18th, 2009 | 
Author: Stress is an integral part of our world. There are techniques to handle stress in our lives, but it’s difficult to find time to meditate for hours. This technique will teach you how to meditate in just five minutes to feel better for the remainder of the day.
Look For A Quiet Place
You can find a quiet place anywhere you are. The bathroom is the best place. Go into a stall and shut the door behind you. The world can wait five minutes for you.
Tune In Tune Out
People will be coming in and out of your quiet place. You may hear toilets flushing and people talking. You need to tune out these distractions and go deep inside your head. There is nothing going on out there that you need to worry about at this moment. The world goes on with or without you.
Play a song in your head. If you have an iPod or iPhone, put in your earphones and listen to relaxing music. Do what it takes to filter out distractions. This is your time, let nothing distract you.
Get Cosy
You don’t have to sit down to meditate. If you’re in a bathroom or somewhere you don’t feel comfortable sitting down, find a comfortable place to stand. Drop your shoulders. Roll your head around to loosen your neck muscles. Drop your arms to your sides.
If you are standing, don’t lock your knees. This prevents blood flow to your brain. Some people have been known to pass out. Bend your knees slightly until your body feels comfortable.
Close your eyes. Relax your facial muscles. Be aware of any tension you may have in your body, your face, your neck, your stomach, or your shoulders. Release the tension. Relax every muscle.
Focus Focus Focus
This is the healing part of meditating. Focus your closed eyes on a spot between your eyes above your eyebrows. This is called the third eye. Sometimes you can see a small spot behind your eyes. Focus your vision and you will be able to focus your thoughts.
Take in a slow, deep breath. Imagine breathing in all the positive energy around. Think relaxing, positive thoughts. Breathe in strength, power, energy and life. Your body is renewed with essential oxygen and nutrients. Feel the power of your breath in every part of your body, from your head to the tips of your toes.
Slowly let out your breath. Imagine you are letting out the tension and stress in your body. The negative energy is now released. Anger and frustration is floating away. It’s draining from your body, and you feel your body relax.
Notice your body with just one complete breath cycle. Keep focusing on your third eye, and repeat the breath cycle five to 25 times. Stay focused. Don’t think of anything except the positive energy flowing in and the negative energy flowing out.
After five minutes, slowly open your eyes. Notice that the world looks calmer, peaceful, and your body will move a little slower as you get back to work. This feeling will stay with you for the rest of the day. It’s that simple.
Posted in Travel Health, Welcome! | 
Tags: meditate, meditation, relaxation techniques, stress | 
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Practical Tips For Avoiding Jet Lag
What Is Jet Lag
Jet lag refers to a combination of symptoms that occur as the result of travel through three or more time
zones. Everyone has an internal clock that is set to correspond with the external changes experienced in a
24-hour period; primarily relating to the day/night cycle. Traveling through several time zones can disrupt
the body’s internal clock; your body may think it’s time to sleep even though it may be the start of a new
day.
Symptoms of Jet Lag
Jet lag can affect different people in different ways. Some people have little problems with jet lag and can
recover rapidly while others find jet lag to be very disruptive. Typical symptoms of jet lag include daytime
sleepiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headache, irritability, gastric discomfort, and trouble initiating
and maintaining sleep.
Factors Contributing to Jet Lag
There are factors associated with travel that can contribute to jet lag. Traveling can be a stressful and
tiring activity, causing fatigue by the time you reach your destination. Just being in a new environment can
produce a feeling of disorientation. Many people find it difficult to sleep in a strange bed, and it may take a
day or two to feel rested. The direction of travel can also influence the amount of jet lag experienced. Jet
lag is more severe when traveling east than when flying west. It’s easier for your body to extend the day
rather than shorten it. Jet lag can last for several days.
TIPS FOR AVOIDING JET LAG
• Decide whether to stay on your “home time” or adjust to your new environment.
• If possible arrive at your destination in the early evening (local time).
• Anticipate your new time zone. Sleep on the plane if arrival is in the morning and stay awake if
arriving in the evening.
• Get plenty of sleep before you travel. Being rested will make the adjustment to a new time zone
easier.
• If possible, start adjusting sleeping and waking times to your new time zone days before leaving on
your trip. For example, if travelling west, try going to bed and getting up an hour later each day
for three days before leaving. If flying east, reverse the process.
• Prevent dehydration during the flight by drinking plenty of water. Dehydration contributes to
fatigue.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine during the flight.
• Exercise during the flight by stretching and walking.
• Eat several small, light meals throughout the days before, during, and just following your flight.
• Avoid using sleeping pills. They can cause a hang-over effect.
• If a nap is needed, keep it short (10 to 30 minutes) and nap only in the middle of the afternoon
(local time), once you arrive at your destination.