Air travel- though quick, convenient and time- saving, it sure takes a toll on your joints, muscles, your mind and sleep. If you are a frequent flyer or have travelled for prolonged hours via flights, you may have experienced an urge to get up and take a walk down the entire cabin. Sitting or even taking a nap in a seat with not enough leg room for long hours, makes your entire body and mind stiff. You tend to experience physical fatigue even if you have not done any exertion. You may also experience mental fatigue because of the stress and anxiety air travelling can give.
To help with such issues and to aid in having a peaceful flight, the Ministry of Ayush and Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, have launched a simple 5-minute in-flight yoga protocol.
5-minutes yoga at your seat:
- Centring and grounding oneself for 15 seconds
- Gentle joint movements for another 45 seconds
- Seated yoga postures such as modified tadasana, gentle spinal twists
- Pranayama and breath work
- Meditation for around 30 seconds
Benefits:
- Helps improve blood circulation
- Reduces muscle and joint stiffness
- Helps with jet lag
- Calms and recentres mind to curb stress and anxiety
Caution!: All the suggested movements are to be practised gently and lightly.
Don’t forget to try this 5-minute protocol the next time you travel. It can also be helpful for long train journeys or even long office hours.
What are some methods you use to help reduce fatigue while travelling?
Related read: Press Release: Press Information Bureau
MBH/AB