Tips to fly sickness-free
I was recently booked a surprise trip to Fiji (Hallelujah), but whenever I get on a plane, it feels like when I jump on or off, I am prone to sickness. So before my Fiji trip, I turned to many of my trusty gurus to give me bits of advice and tips on how to fly with grace and ease.
So here are my trusty tips for flying with grace and ease:
1. Flying during the day
Sleep deprivation is a killer, it can take days to recover from a sleepless night. And overnight flights, although cheaper, can really play havoc on our system. So I always try to book day flights. However, although this is something I always try to adhere to, as my trip to Fiji was a surprise (five days solo in Fiji - can I hear a boomchickawowow?!), I was extremely grateful for my five days of freedom - I mean "work" - and an overnight flight to paradise was not something I was going to say no to.
2. Don’t eat plane food
I know this is very controversial, but plane food is not great. It has so much added salt, which really dehydrates the body. This may not be well known, but you can bring your own snacks and food on long-haul flights. That way you can choose food that's actually good for your soul. If you bring your own food (as long as it's healthy) I guarantee you will feel better on the other side. If you must eat plane food, choose the vegetarian option.
3. Wear a scarf and socks
This is a nugget of wisdom is from my Chinese acupuncturist Dr Abbie from Zhong Centre. Wear and a scarf and socks to protect your neck and feet from chills and to keep you nice and toasty. Scarves are great as they double as a blanket on the plane. And socks, especially on the way home from a tropical destination, will keep you warm. Chinese Medicine is all about keeping warm, and I am 100% on board with that (sorry Wim Hof AKA Iceman).
4. Bring your own sustainable, non-plastic water bottle
Water is so essential on a plane as the air will dehydrate you, a lot. I find planes give you teeny tiny little cups of water that are like a tiny sip. Bringing your own sustainable bottle (like @cayelife) allows you to drink as much water as you can to prevent dehydration. You will have to finish the water before you enter customs, but you can fill it again when you get through. And flight attendants can fill it up for you on the plane. Water is a saviour when flying. A must for everybody.
5. DoTERRA essential oils
These babies will be your BFF on the flight, including On Guard (immunity support), lavender (which has calming/relaxing properties, promotes peaceful sleep and eases feelings of tension), and frankincense (provides modern health benefits). Also, the Balance blend (my fave) is a grounding oil and promotes tranquility while bringing harmony to the mind and body, and balance to the emotions. Simply roll onto your neck and back of your head, and I add oils to my scarf and breathe them in, too.
6. Meditation
You can do as much meditation as humanly possible on the flight and it doesn't matter what form - guided, concentrating on your breath, Vedic. Any meditation is a good meditation. The physical body is under enormous pressure whilst flying so meditation allows the body to bathe in an incredibly deep state of rest.
7. Drink plenty of hot/warm water and herbal teas
Drinking hot water is an Ayurvedic practice, and during the flight will prevent dehydration. It detoxifies the body. Now this might shock you, but alcohol increases dehydration, so it’s best to stay away from it while flying. Many sicknesses are caused by dehydration, so sorry alcohol, you can't sit with us. Herbal teas and water are the best beverages.
8. Movement and breathwork
Yes, planes are not the easiest of places to stretch and move. However, movement is so essential, especially on long-haul flights, to increase blood flow. Try to find some room at the back or middle of the plane every hour to stretch your body. And while doing so, ensure you team it with lots of belly breathing to move the flow of prana (energy) through the body. A quick breathing technique is box breathing. Breath in for four counts. Hold for four counts. Let go for four counts and hold for four counts. And repeat. As many times as you can. This will help relax the body and mind.
I followed these tips to a tee and for the first time in forever, pre and post-holiday, I didn't get sick. A few post-holiday blues, but my baby boy's cuddles quickly made them all go away. My goodness I missed him. But us mummas deserve rest, too, and we can never, ever feel guilty for that xo
