Episode 022 Traveling with Ayurveda

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Episode 022 Traveling with Ayurveda

Ayurveda Travel Checklist

Booked a gig? Heading out of town? Use this checklist to stay committed to your daily rituals

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We are well into our Ayurvedic studies and often I am asked how do you stay on course when you are traveling. So today I wanted to talk about how well Ayurveda travels and give you my best tips and tools to stay the Ayurvedic path.

Ayurveda is actually very easy to travel with because Ayurveda honors where you are and what you have available. Also there are no hard "unbreakable" rules to feel guilty about.

Whether I am traveling to my home state or across the world, I know that I won't lose the practice of Ayurveda while away from home.

Here are my top 6 tips on how to stay with your Ayurvedic journey while on tour, on a regional gig, or off in a different country:

1. Prioritize what you can get while you are still in NYC. These are your specialty items that need to be bought while you are still at home

Living in NYC or any major city can provide you with conveniences that you might not get if you are gigging in a small town or a different country. Notice the items that you need and love that only come from Whole Foods, Trader Joes, specialty markets, or boutiques that you support. These could be things like supplements, vitamins, essential oils, spices, workout classes.

When I am traveling I make sure to hit up my favorite Indian spice shop for Ayurvedic spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander) and grab a few travel size spice blends that are easy to use.

I also hit up my favorite essential oil shop. I trust them and love the experience I get when I walk into the shop. I pick up Lavender, Lemon, Oregano Oil, Peppermint, and Clove Oil to support my travels.

Another stop I make before I leave town is to my herbalist shop in Chinatown. I make sure I have enough teas and supportive herbs to get me through while I am away.

One last place I stop is my favorite yoga studio Laughing Lotus! I always get in a class so I can leave with the spirit of Lotus. Now as a tip, you can get their online service while you are away. For $15.00 you get unlimited classes you can stream from anywhere. You know I have this!!!

2. Simplify your beauty routine to include what you must have

Now when I am at home I love to make my beauty routines and spa days super luxurious, but when you are on the road you are either dealing with limited space in your luggage, or limited time. I suggest to take a look at your beauty routine and pick out your essentials.

What do you absolutely need to keep your skin healthy, clean, and moisturized?

For me I need:

• Dr. Bronner's Almond Oil Castille Soap
• Almond Oil for moisturizing
• My make up bag consisting of mineral makeup, cruelty free mascara, and a few eyeshadows

I would love to be able to take my clay mask and other oils, but I know that when I am traveling I need to stick to the basics for my luggage and what I will have time for.

When me and my husband travel we are up from from sun up to sun down, exploring every corner we can, so there is no time for us to sit in the room for a luxurious spa day. Keep it simple.

3. Pre-order hard-to-find items and have them sent ahead (if possible)

So when you have a regional gig it's possible to ship some of your essential items ahead, so you don't have to worry about luggage space.

When I was doing The Color Purple, I knew I wanted to be able to have green smoothies everyday. It sounds super luxurious to do so, but I had my mind made up. I order a Nutribullet online and had it shipped to the theatre so it would be there when I got there. Now shipping a blender is not a priority for everyone, but I am sure there are some non-negotiable items you might love? Maybe a humidifier, or foam rollers.

I'll share another story here: I was booked to do RENT in Rhode Island and fortunately for me they bought us Amtrak tickets instead of flying. Now I was in crazy mode, but I knew I wanted my juicer with me. I was determined! So I packed my juicer, and rice cooker in my luggage. With those two items I knew I could make anything. Minimial clothing and maximum kitchen supplies. And you know what...another cast member did the same thing! She brought a few outfits and an entire kitchen!! I wasn't the only crazy one, PLUS it sparked a cast hangout where we all made juices!

4. Minimize your spiritual items so that you get all the energy you need without lugging your entire altar with you

Here's one of my favorite tips! Create a traveling altar.

When I am in NYC I have everything I need: my essential oils. my full altar, my books, beads, music. Really everything! But when I travel I can't bring everything with me. So here's what you do:

• Find what spiritual items are really important to you.
• Find a small box that can hold everything. You can find small ones at michaels or on line. Mine is about 7 inches x 4 inches. Not too big at all
• Decorate the box with pictures or drawings that will connect you to your practice
• Any books that feed you with spiritual goodness, transfer them to a kindle. In full disclosure I allow myself 1 real book and 1 journal. Anything else I buy on the kindle app for my phone/ipad
• Download your meditation music to your phone just in case the wifi is nonexistent. No use in skipping your meditation due to faulty internet

5. Don't forget to add in some luxury items that promote your self care

Now I know I have talked about trimming down to make everything easier, but one thing that I ALWAYS do is always add in a few luxury items. Now what is luxury or excessive to each person will differ based on what your base needs are but here are a few I bring:

• Aromatherapy diffuser- It's small and gives hotel rooms or cast housing a fresh smell
• Accuball- This is a magic very small foam roller used to massage my feet after a long day, target sore muscles, or relax tight muscles after a long day on the bus
• Travel Candle- Super small but I love lighting candles during my meditation
• My tripod- Easy to use for recording audition videos on the road or recording yoga videos

6. Look at your ritual practices, pick what's important and buy/bring the items that support them.

In past episodes I have talked about Ayurvedic practices and rituals. Go back to those episodes if you need to reconnect. Write down what practices/rituals you can realistically keep while you are away from home, and make sure you have the supplies to support them.

Be real with yourself, there is no need to commit to everything if you simply don't have the time. If you are confused about what to keep, start with the things that bring you the most joy. If you love making tea, make sure you have enough tea leaves to last. If you love oil pulling, make sure you bring enough oil along with you.

Ayurveda is a simple practice that honors the season. If nothing else meditate, sleep well, and stay hydrated.

Here is a checklist of items to think about when you are packing for your next trip or gig.

Ayurveda Travel Checklist

Booked a gig? Heading out of town? Use this checklist to stay committed to your daily rituals

You got it! Check your inbox for your packing checklist!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Email Address I'd like to receive the free email course. I Need It! Powered by ConvertKit

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