In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores ways to balance Vata during travel and maintain calmness through changes in movement and environment.

If you are traveling by boat, for example, you have the water gently moving you, hopefully gently, and you are not in a storm. But if you are traveling by plane, you are moving at a very high speed, which aggravates Vata. You are also at a high elevation, where the atmosphere is more rarified, which aggravates Vata, and you are in a very dry cabin, where dryness also aggravates Vata. You are moving from one location to another where there will be different latitude, longitude, temperature, and humidity. All of these sudden changes can aggravate Vata.

So in general, you want to avoid unnecessary Vata aggravation before, during, and after travel. Make sure that you get enough rest before you travel. Make sure that you are properly packed, so that you are not waking up the next morning and running around like a headless chicken trying to finish everything before you leave. Try to remain focused, calm, and relaxed. Breathe calmly, meditate a little extra, and give yourself enough time to reach the airport and complete everything without rushing.

Once you are on the airplane, depending on how long you will be traveling, reducing sensory stimulation can be very useful. When I travel long distances, across an ocean or across a continent, I bring earplugs to reduce noise as much as possible because loud sounds aggravate Vata. I bring an eye mask for sleeping, and I make a point of wearing a vest, which not only works as an additional carry-on but also provides some weight, and that weight helps keep the body calm. The seat belt can have a similar effect.

You cannot always predict the temperature inside a cabin. Sometimes it will be unusually warm, but often it will be cool. Cool is fine, but you do not want to become cold while traveling. If necessary, bring a blanket. For longer trips, a neck pillow can also be very useful.

Do not eat too much while flying because your digestive system does not function as effectively while you are in the air. You can have a small snack if needed, but make sure you are drinking water regularly. Avoid alcohol as much as possible. A small amount may have a calming effect on Vata, and beer also contains a lot of water, but it should not become a regular part of managing travel.

If possible, sleep as much as you can while traveling. Use whatever safe method works best for you to calm your nervous system and keep yourself in as peaceful a state as possible during the journey.

When you arrive at your destination, if possible, do not immediately become active. Go to where you are staying, calm down, perhaps do some abhyanga, take a warm bath or shower, and rest. If it is not early morning, go to sleep. If it is early morning, have a calm and quiet day. Try to stay awake until at least around 8 PM so that you can begin adjusting yourself to the new location.

Only after a day or two should you become fully active. Also remember to eat Vata-reducing foods, such as soup, and do not eat too much until your digestive system and the rest of your body have had time to adjust.