Taking Qigong on the Road
Traveling can be a joyful, exciting and an adventurous time. It can also be challenging and tiring. Travel can feel nourishing or depleting. Balancing your energy during these extremes can be made easier by incorporating qigong into your travels.
Vacations are a time when we are fully immersed in traveling and savoring life with friends and family. The idyllic long days of summer and annual holidays are treasured times for deepening connections with our loved ones, appreciating the vibrant beauty of the earth and for nurturing our souls.
Qigong can greatly enhance your relaxation and resilience if a surprise travel glitch occurs. Being relaxed and open to fully experience a place, its people and the food greatly improves your travels.
Discovering Qi in New Places
When I travel I appreciate discovering new experiences with qigong in different locations. Practicing qigong in new environments enriches my connection to the place I’m visiting. Before I travel I reflect on the qigong practices I want to continue while on the road. This will prepare me to be able to embrace the moment when it reveals its own unique qi field.
Tips for Practicing Qigong While Traveling
While vacation travels change our routines, we can still incorporate qigong practice while on the road. Here are several suggestions for maintaining a qigong practice:
Bring Your Qigong Recordings
Download your favorite qigong recordings and listen to them during flights, on trains, buses, car rides and even while napping. Here’s a few suggestions:
Visualize the Movements
If you can’t perform the physical movements, listen to recordings and visualize doing your practice.
Practice in Nature
Seek inspiring locations to perform your movements, embracing the natural world by visiting local and national parks and trails.
Invite Companions to Join
Encourage your traveling companions to join you, fostering connection through practicing together.
Practice Yang Qi* Anytime
Focus on conserving your qi with simple breathing techniques wherever you are. This is one of the best and easiest practices for traveling because it immediately relaxes you and can be done anywhere while seated or lying down.
The True Purpose of Qigong
By integrating your qigong practice into your travels, you’ll feel more relaxed and open to enjoy the journey.
“In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley
Practicing will help you feel more receptive and resilient during your adventures. Embrace and allow qigong to enrich your experiences and create deeper connections with the people and places around you.
Traveling offers another opportunity to incorporate qigong into your everyday life – after all, that’s the true purpose of qigong practice.
Happy Trails!
*To practice Yang Qi, sit comfortably, eyes closed and relax. Place the center of both palms so they are aligned over your navel (right hand rests against navel for women, left hand for men). Begin breathing in the belly, with each inhalation belly gently expands, and with each exhalation belly gently contracts. As belly expands, mind expands out, as belly contracts qi returns home into lower dantian. Yang Qi can be done at any time, such as before falling asleep and upon awakening.
