Airplane Yoga - Ancient Secret to Modern Travel
Simple Postures Fight Jet Lag Recirculated Air Stiffness and Boredom
Yoga on an airplane also targets stiffness, helps circulation and being aware of one's breath helps allays fear of flying.
“For airplane yoga, the passenger doesn’t want to particularly do long deep breathing, but one wants to be aware of their breath,” advises certified yoga teacher Amrit Joy of Carpinteria, Calif.
Yoga without the long deep breathing may sound like a contradiction, but adjustments are made to accommodate the recirculated air on an airplane. And as with any yoga practice, the postures, or asanas, should always be a stretch, not a strain.
Strengthening the Immune System
Sit up nice and straight. Using the pointer fingers, press the points at the outside base of the nostrils. Rotate 36 times in any direction. Next, rotate the pointer and middle fingers 36 times at both temples, in any direction. Followed by bringing the pointer and middle finger of either hand to the middle of the forehead and rotate 36 times in any direction.
Moving to the hands, pinch the fleshy part between the thumb and the pointer finger with the opposite thumb and pointer finger and rotate 36 times in any direction. (This part of the hand should be sensitive.)
Lastly, tap the thymus, point at sternum behind the breast bone, for about 30 seconds.
Taking Care of the Neck
In the fashion of nodding “yes,” exhale moving your head forward putting your chin to your chest. Inhale, moving head back as far as possible. Repeat around 10 times, or as often as is comfortable.
Turn head side to side, right to left, as if saying “no.” Repeat 10 times, or as often as comfortable.
Make circles. Ensure your comfort, circle the neck starting with chin to chest, ear to shoulder, head goes toward the back moving toward the other ear to the other shoulder. Repeat four times in each direction.
Shoulders and Arms
Shrug those shoulders. Lift shoulders toward ears as high as possible and release. Repeat four times.
Circle shoulders four times. First toward the back, then toward the front. Repeat four times each.
Stretch! Hold on to right elbow and bring across the front of the body, put hand in back and take a gentle stretch as you are looking over right shoulder. Repeat twice, then do the opposite shoulder.
Clench fists palms down while inhaling. Then stretch fingers out wide while exhaling. Then bring each finger, one at a time, toward the palm twice. Then turn hands over, palms up, and repeat beginning with clenching fists. When finished, circle wrists four time out, four times in.
The Core
Place an invisible gold thread at the top of your head. Allow it to pull you up, stacking each vertebrae evenly on top of the other lengthening the spine. Then let go. Repeat four times. This helps the circulation in the torso.
Twist body to one side, then to the other. Repeat four times.
Legs
Flex the feet bringing the toes toward the head and stretching the heels away. Then point the toes away stretching the top of the feet. Repeat four times.
Circle the ankles four times first in one direction, then four times in the other direction. Bounce the legs. Swing the feet side to side like windshield wipers four times.
In addition to the above simple yoga postures, Ms. Joy, who has been teaching yoga since 1976, advises drinking lots of water for hydration, plus it will get you walking around the cabin toward the restroom. Near the restroom, as space permits, put hands on the wall, above the head, and stretch side to side. A good night’s sleep the night before the trip plus eating light and healthy are beneficial also.
Whether a puddle jumper or a trans-Pacific flight, any plane ride can be made more comfortable and enjoyable with yoga. Not only is it good for the health, airline seat yoga helps pass the time on the plane.
