relief for hips & jet lag tips for optimal integration
Thanks to the immense privileges of A. living abroad and B. traveling overseas to visit family, I have cultivated many tools and learned many lessons, two of which are:
1. ways to counteract my cross-continental carbon footprint within my daily life, alongside a constant prayer for more ecological fuel options (I believe in the brilliance of our future generations!);
2. a lot of jet lag tools to help equalize a cranky brain and body – especially when it comes to tight and achy hips courtesy of long travel hours and uncomfortable seats.
Whether or not you’re traveling or are actually jet lagged, the feeling of being off-center, sore, and brain-foggy does not make for an easeful or productive day.
I once spent what felt like the majority of an 11+ hour flight battling with my airplane seat because my hips were so unhappy that it affected my back, and my whole body felt gross as a result – head and tummy included.
I’ve also had situations where I’ve barely slept a wink after landing despite being tired beyond belief, making the act of teaching a yoga class the following morning seem like a waking dream (I made it work, but I wasn’t my best self).
In addition to feeling like your brain is spinning and your digestive system is out of whack, when you have to go from airplane / car / train seat to desk chair, your hips will also probably be screaming for relief.
It unfortunately doesn’t stop there – achy hips can result in (or come from) residual pain in surrounding areas, especially the quads, psoas, lower back, and hamstrings.
Dis-ease in these places, whether from travel or not, can affect the digestive and reproductive organs, sometimes even the diaphragm – all of which can be exacerbated by internal and external jet lag-related aches.
*Contact me for support on cultivating integrative tools that will balance your body and mind.
For what it’s worth, here are a few simple yet effective jet lag hacks that have kept me as balanced as possible over the years – hips and beyond:
- Pre-travel wellness. A combo of the points below pre-travel / as part of a general lifestyle is like preventative care. When the body is well nourished, it functions like a literal well-oiled machine in a variety of circumstances; it can bounce back a bit quicker if and when it’s thrown off – muscles and joints included.
- Movement. Stand up when possible and do whatever movement feels accessible in a small space. If you’re in a car, stop when you can to wiggle around. Once at your destination, get the blood and lymph flowing with your choice of activity. I love doing inversions in a home or hotel yoga practice for a whole mind-body reset (this is my favorite mat – they have travel versions, too).
- Meditation. Between getting to and from airports / train stations to your destination and the duration of the trip in general, traveling can have a pretty intense affect on mental and emotional wellbeing. Enjoy experimenting with whatever mindfulness practices help you feel the most grounded and calm.
- Sleep. Prioritize it. If needed, support your sleep with non-toxic supplements – these gummies worked for me. I love Hey Freya’s Rest product, topical magnesium, and I’ve used rescue remedy to calm a wired or anxious mind.
- Digestive aid. Probiotics, ginger (cooked into food, ginger chews, ginger tea), peppermint or warm herbal tea, peppermint oil (inhale it), toasted fennel seeds (chew a few), non-ice water, simple snacks / a simple warm meal upon arrival.
- Immunity supplements. My go-to products in the past few years are propolis (both nasal and throat sprays), echinacea tea, zinc in moderation, and water / electrolytes (to be continued re: the hot topic of salt!).
- Headache relief. Drink plenty of water – add electrolytes if you have them (avoid alcohol while equalizing), inhale peppermint oil or rub it on your temples / the back of your neck mixed with a carrier oil like coconut (steer clear of your eyeballs), get good rest, eat nourishing non-processed foods.
- Non-processed plane / car / boat (?) snacks. Ayurvedic chef Divya Alter once advised me that snacks with good oils and fats like coconut chips, sourdough with an olive oil-based spread, date and nut bites, or simple whey or plant protein smoothies mixed with water can be easier to digest than airy food like crackers – especially on planes where the air is dry. I often bring steamed veggies and boiled eggs to keep me satiated in lieu of questionable plane or roadside meals.
- Non-processed post-travel food. If you’re not in the mood or able to cook after your long trip, I highly recommend Divya’s dried packets for 1-pot meals and their new nourishing smoothies. Sakara is another one of my favorites for a snacks (the granola!) and amazing organic meal-delivery.
- Good books. I favor books – even on a Kindle – over the overuse of electronics and excessive blue light for optimal reintegration post-travels. But if you love binging movies on planes like me, consider blue light blocking glasses.
- Cozy plane gear. Planes can be frigid – bring layers so you’re not scrunching up your muscles into a cold little ball (not conducive to hip or jet lag relief). I was so glad I brought a light shawl and Pact organic cotton crew socks on my last flight to keep my neck, feet, and ankles from freezing.
- General muscle relief. Alongside an anti-inflammatory diet and gentle movement, I’ll sometimes use creams or balms when I really need it like Dr. Bronner’s, Badger, or products with organic hemp / CBD.
- Hip relief. Explore the restorative yoga and yin postures in this video to relieve soreness, tension, and aches in the aforementioned areas – whether the pain and discomfort is coming from physical or mental stress (if needed, please modify the posture and timing, or use different props to suit your needs).
*A variety of other ecologically-conscious yoga / mindfulness tools, pantry staples, and more can be found on my Amazon storefront (as an affiliate, I receive a small commission).
Jet lag is mostly inevitable when traveling across time zones, but by exploring these and other conscious tools, practices, and products, you might be able to equalize with a bit more ease (and with less of a carbon footprint to offset said travel to boot).
What helps you ease jet lag woes and maintain equilibrium – travel-related or not?
Take good care,
S
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