TRAVEL LIGHT & HEALTHY
When I was a child we played a game: "I’m going on a trip and I take with me." Every child in the circle had to repeat that question with the growing list of wishes of all other children, adding on your own wish. It was so much fun, but of course finally the list got too long and nobody could remember it.
The same thing happens when I prepare for a trip. The list in my head grows and finally on the day of travel, it turns out to be too much to handle and I need to downsize to only the essential in order to keep the body light, the mind calm and the heart in a state of joyful anticipation.
I love the anticipation of a lingering unknown adventure and the sense of gratefulness of reuniting with longtime students, family and friends. Arriving at sacred places where I feel fully embraced and welcomed is like coming home. That is the most essential thing, a state of mind and heart that I experience.
Yet being practical and wise is the key to keep your body-mind safe, balanced and energized where ever you are or go. Here are some basics that anybody can benefit from.
FOOD
Food is the key to radiant health and energy for me. The idea of "you are what you eat" is not only true on the physical level but also on a mental and emotional level. Foods that represent a balance of all tastes we know (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty, astringent) create a chemical balance in the body and with that, immediately effect your state of the mind and your emotional state. Sweetness connects you to love, pungent will fire you up, and astringent creates withdrawl.
Ayurveda, the Eastern Medical Science and Art of Health and Healing, pays a lot of attention to what you eat, in what combination, what tastes will heal and energize your body, when and where you eat. It is just fabulous and easy to do, for anybody. It's simple once you know the ground rules.
FOOD ON THE GO
I love to cook and love to share meals within community, yet food on the go can be challenging. This is what I pack and eat in order to feel grounded, energized and content.
Breakfast or travel meal: Miso soup
Miso soup as prepared here, is high in electrolytes (good for your adrenal-energy) high in minerals (good for bone metabolism, gentle on the kidneys, the source of prana and greens promotes an alkaline state of the body) and it promotes digestion.
The soup balances the vata dosha - ruling bowel movement, blood circulation/capacity to keep the body warm, nervous system/mind, vitality and free movement of the body. All these attributes get easily disturbed while you travel.
Here are the ingredients:
Dried miso (there are forms of gluten-free miso) or miso paste if you travel by car
Premier greens powder
Premier pink salt
Fresh ginger or ginger powder
8 ounces of hot (filtered) water
How to make it:
Boil water (or ask for boiled water during your flight), put 1-2 tsp of the dried mixture of greens, miso, 1/4 tsp pink salt and a slice of fresh ginger. Stir, ready. Eat the piece of ginger, it’s highly beneficial for your digestion.
Dinner meal: Kitchree
Kitchree is a nurturing simple recipe for anybody, any time. I even make it for my neighbor’s baby Loxton who is now 10 months old. He loves it! On the go you need a stove to prepare this. I book a B&B with a kitchen wherever possible.
Here are the ingredients for a meal kit for 5 days
1 cup of rice, 1 cup red or green lentils
2 tbs. spice mix of turmeric, coriander, cumin powder 2:2:1
Travel jar of ghee (clarified butter)
Premier Pink Salt
You will need a stove for this one.
How to make it:
I take 1/4 cup of this mix, add on about 1 cup of water, boil and simmer for about 30-40 minutes until the liquid is almost absorbed but it's still moist and has a thick soupy consistency. Than I add on 1/4 tsp Premier pink salt and 1-3 tsp ghee. That is the frosting on the cake. Absolutely delicious, always, any time.
If you’d like me to help you with your travel essentials to keep you safe and happy let me know.
Be well
Chinnamasta
When I was a child we played a game: "I’m going on a trip and I take with me." Every child in the circle had to repeat that question with the growing list of wishes of all other children, adding on your own wish. It was so much fun, but of course finally the list got too long and nobody could remember it.
The same thing happens when I prepare for a trip. The list in my head grows and finally on the day of travel, it turns out to be too much to handle and I need to downsize to only the essential in order to keep the body light, the mind calm and the heart in a state of joyful anticipation.
I love the anticipation of a lingering unknown adventure and the sense of gratefulness of reuniting with longtime students, family and friends. Arriving at sacred places where I feel fully embraced and welcomed is like coming home. That is the most essential thing, a state of mind and heart that I experience.
Yet being practical and wise is the key to keep your body-mind safe, balanced and energized where ever you are or go. Here are some basics that anybody can benefit from.
FOOD
Food is the key to radiant health and energy for me. The idea of "you are what you eat" is not only true on the physical level but also on a mental and emotional level. Foods that represent a balance of all tastes we know (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty, astringent) create a chemical balance in the body and with that, immediately effect your state of the mind and your emotional state. Sweetness connects you to love, pungent will fire you up, and astringent creates withdrawl.
Ayurveda, the Eastern Medical Science and Art of Health and Healing, pays a lot of attention to what you eat, in what combination, what tastes will heal and energize your body, when and where you eat. It is just fabulous and easy to do, for anybody. It's simple once you know the ground rules.
FOOD ON THE GO
I love to cook and love to share meals within community, yet food on the go can be challenging. This is what I pack and eat in order to feel grounded, energized and content.
Breakfast or travel meal: Miso soup
Miso soup as prepared here, is high in electrolytes (good for your adrenal-energy) high in minerals (good for bone metabolism, gentle on the kidneys, the source of prana and greens promotes an alkaline state of the body) and it promotes digestion.
The soup balances the vata dosha - ruling bowel movement, blood circulation/capacity to keep the body warm, nervous system/mind, vitality and free movement of the body. All these attributes get easily disturbed while you travel.
Here are the ingredients:
Dried miso (there are forms of gluten-free miso) or miso paste if you travel by car
Premier greens powder
Premier pink salt
Fresh ginger or ginger powder
8 ounces of hot (filtered) water
How to make it:
Boil water (or ask for boiled water during your flight), put 1-2 tsp of the dried mixture of greens, miso, 1/4 tsp pink salt and a slice of fresh ginger. Stir, ready. Eat the piece of ginger, it’s highly beneficial for your digestion.
Dinner meal: Kitchree
Kitchree is a nurturing simple recipe for anybody, any time. I even make it for my neighbor’s baby Loxton who is now 10 months old. He loves it! On the go you need a stove to prepare this. I book a B&B with a kitchen wherever possible.
Here are the ingredients for a meal kit for 5 days
1 cup of rice, 1 cup red or green lentils
2 tbs. spice mix of turmeric, coriander, cumin powder 2:2:1
Travel jar of ghee (clarified butter)
Premier Pink Salt
You will need a stove for this one.
How to make it:
I take 1/4 cup of this mix, add on about 1 cup of water, boil and simmer for about 30-40 minutes until the liquid is almost absorbed but it's still moist and has a thick soupy consistency. Than I add on 1/4 tsp Premier pink salt and 1-3 tsp ghee. That is the frosting on the cake. Absolutely delicious, always, any time.
If you’d like me to help you with your travel essentials to keep you safe and happy let me know.
Be well
Chinnamasta