Yoga While Travelling
"What yoga poses are going to help us during our travels?"
As we live in Singapore we often need to travel to neighboring countries or further away for business, work or for a vacation. During the trip we spend hours in the flight, at the airport checking in, waiting for flight transit or waiting for flights delayed by bad weather, etc. All of the waiting and flight time can leave us tired and exhausted as we start our trip.
Here are some yoga poses you can do while waiting for your flight that will give you energy and refresh your body. These asanas can be done at the airport lounge, in the waiting room, or find a gate with no upcoming flights.
Supta Baddha Konasana Supta Padangusthasana 1 & 2 Urdhva Hastasana Urdhva Baddhangullyasana Gomukhasana arm Garudasana arm Vrksasana Utthita Trikonasana Virabhadrasana 2 Uttanasana Parvatasana in Swastikasana (twist) Parvatasana in Virasana (twist) Adho Mukha Svanasana Adho Mukha Virasana Adho Mukha Swastikasana Paschimottanasana Viparita Karani Savasana
If there is no space to open your yoga mat, you can do these asanas at your seat or standing:
Uttanasana
Urdhva Hastasana
Urdhva Baddhangullyasana
Gomukhasana arm
Garudasana arm
Vrksasana
Utthita Trikonasana
Uttanasana
Twisting on seat
Adho muka Svanasana (put hands on seat and stretch back)
Pascimottanasana on seat
Savasana (seated closed eyes and breath)
These poses stretch the upper and lower back, and relax the mind. During the trip, our shoulders may become achy, we may feel pain in our lower back, and our body becomes stiff. With some upper back stretches, forward bends and some twisting, we can release the tension and aches in the body and cool down the mind. And we can feel fresh and fit again.
These days there are airports that have a yoga or meditation room for travellers, to help relax the body and mind. Here some airport recommendations, mostly in US and Europe:
San Francisco Airport (SFO), between Terminal 1 and 2, and near Gate 69 in Terminal 3. Open 24 hours.
Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORB) Terminal 3 Mezzanine Level, Airside (6 am – 10 pm)
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) Concourse C (6 am – 10 pm)
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) D40 between Terminals B and D airside (open 24 hours)
Burlington Airport (BTV) at Second floor, airside (4 am – 10 pm)
Sioux Fall Airport (FSD) Near the business center
Helsinki Airport (HEL) Kainuu Lounge (open 24 hours)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) SkyTeam Lounge in Terminal 4, opposite Gate 10 (5 am – last flight)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Near C14 in Terminal 1 after security and near D1 in Terminal 2 after passport control (open 24 hours)
Geneva Airport (GVA) Meditation Room at Transit area, Mezzanine level.
Notes:
Don’t force yourself to do all the poses at one go, just pick the poses that you can do most, and be practical.
Watch your flight time and how you are feeling. You can do many of the yoga poses when you are on board as well.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!!
