Why abandon our health while traveling?  Energy, awareness and health are especially vital in less familiar places.  Holistic health encourages us to take responsibility for our health.  When we educate our minds, listen to our bodies, and explore our hearts, the principles of holistic health can guide us near or far from home.

Leaving home behind doesn’t also mean you have to leave behind your peace of mind or your exercise routine.  Exercise is important and can be gotten by avoiding moving sidewalks, by walking quickly through airport hallways, and by moving every few hours in a flight.  Don’t be afraid to move!  Power walks after a long flight or between flights is important for getting the blood moving and also for reenergizing the body.   Look for quiet areas in lounges for stretching and for yoga, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Most people take some form of work with them when traveling, whether their mobile phone or laptop computer.  Laptops can be used to play exercise DVDs, so you don't have to ignore your health program though you may miss your favorite class.  DVDs are available for low impact aerobics, yoga, and even tai chi.  What else might you do, stranded indoors, if the weather is not cooperating?  Guided imagery tapes are also available.  These are cassettes or CDs designed to help a person visualize and achieve a particular state of emotional and physical health. Each session has a particular focus, from stress relief and general well-being, to aiding a traveler with sleeping difficulty, or helping a passenger through a smokeless flight.

Frequent hand washing is always recommended, especially when traveling.  According to the CDC, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used as a disinfecting agent; however, alcohol does not remove organic material.  Therefore, packing a sanitizer or even wet wipes is encouraged for those temporary situations without water and soap, but nothing works more effectively at guarding against infection as frequent hand washing.

Having nutritional snacks at hand is healthy, economical and will make you feel better.  Commercial snack food may tempt the weary traveler, but that which we put into our bodies we also get in return.  Keeping fresh fruits and vegetables with us is an important way to ensure that our needs for nutritious foods get met.

From sitting in a crowded space during a flight, or inching through a disembarking crowd, aches and pains and even injuries may result.  Numerous massage tools are available to help alleviate a pinched muscle or aching back.  These tools are small and fit into carryon luggage, which means that you don't have to wait to arrive at your destination for relief.  The Original Jacknobber® looks more like a toy than a serious massage instrument.  It is handheld and consists of different-sized knobs that can be easily used to stretch and ease muscles in the neck, back and shoulders.  A Still Point Inducer is used to relieve muscle pain and headaches by releasing tension and restoring balance.  With the Still Point Inducer situated under the weight of the head where the skull and neck come together, a person lies motionless for 10-15 minutes.  Inaction can be powerful and reinvigorating.

Arising frustrations resulting in tension can be eased with a tennis ball.  Muscles can be loosened by moving or rolling the ball over a sore spot and varying the pressure.  Similar to trigger point therapy, one can sit or lie on a tennis ball and hold the pressure constant on a particular tight or sore spot, or situate the ball between oneself and an immobile surface, like a chair or wall.   A ball can also be rolled under the ball of the foot, with pressure dependent upon weight placement.  Two tennis balls placed in a sock and fastened by a knot can also be used similarly.  Each ball can be rolled along both sides of the spine from the neck to the lower back.

Staying energized and making good decisions is crucial.  So is paying attention to your body and making sure to accommodate all of you!  Whether traveling for business or pleasure, taking care of your body, mind and soul will help keep you happy and healthy and worry free.

		Christine Reay is co-owner of Creative Wellness in East Lansing.  Reay is nationally certified in massage therapy and bodywork, and specializes in clinical and sports massage.