FITNESS & WELLNESS
Have Yoga, Will Travel 94
First things first, let’s be more aware of our own bodies and flexibility. Do you feel bendy? We are all able to touch our toes and even bend our spine all the way back but yet so many of us can no longer do this because we are so out of practice. Ask yourself when was the last time you attempted to stretch it all out?
If you don't have the luxury of stretching out midair, at least be sure to stand up and move around every hour to minimize the risk of blood clots
During the hotter months here in Qatar or on your travels, something similar actually happens to your body – it swells in size. Felt your hands and fingers puff up? Ankles and calves get a little tight? This is first of all, a sign of edema when the body holds onto fluid, as it feels dehydrated so it tries to remain hydrated. It also comes from poor circulation and a lack of lymph drainage due to immobility. So let’s think about a recent flight you took, perhaps a long-haul one. Felt stiff? Tired? Puffy? Would you believe me if I said I flew 16 hours to Miami with no stopover and walked off the plane full of energy without any stiffness in my body? Believe me –hate me if you must –but this is how you can feel the exact same way on any flight duration:
Flex At 30,000 Feet Once the seatbelt sign has turned off, I’m off. Up and out of my seat hiking up and down the plane (even in the middle of the night). I stretch as much as I can at the bathroom or pantry areas and then rest and repeat. This is essential on flights over six hours because in-flight exercises encourage blood flow, calm the mind, and reduce the rare possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein (normally lower limbs). There’s a slight risk of developing DVT if you remain seated in an aircraft for a prolonged duration. Therefore, during your flight, it's important to move regularly and aid water retention by drinking water – a lot of water. I ask the cabin crew for a 1.5 litre bottle. Drinking enough on a flight not only keeps you hydrated, but it makes you need the bathroom so… you have to move your body to get there. Qatar Airways passengers may be familiar with the advice given by well-known physician and holistic guru, Deepak Chopra: 1. Drink plenty of water. Flying dehydrates the body, leaving you tired and irritable. 2. Meditate during your flight. Taking deep breaths will help to calm your mind. 3. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These are both extremely dehydrating at high altitudes. 4. Eat relatively lightly. Aid digestion by getting up and moving after your meal.
Words and selected images by Lynsey Riach
There’s a new holiday essential to pack in your luggage that’s not only light-weight but will help you feel stretched out and ‘zenned’ out on your travels this summer… We introduce you to a little habit we like to call hotel yoga!
H
ave you seen that person in Hamad International Airport contorting their body at the gate before boarding? That person is me. Yes, I am one of those people who stretch at any given opportunity – while standing in line, during commercial breaks and yes, even in my car… but I can tell you that it benefits me greatly and even more so on my travels, so I ask you trust me on this one and give my stretching obsession a try for size.
Stretch It Off You know the feeling – stiff and tired. After a long trip, your muscles tend to be tighter than ever. When you get to your arrival gate, ward off lower-back soreness with a forward fold by bending at the hips and falling forward, hug your knees and rock side to side. And once you're at your destination, help your body and mind re-set with the Surya Namaskar sequence described below – you’re body will thank you for it as you face-plant into your bed.
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