Cultivating Individual Health

We are happily residing in Rabbit City (the name given Jon-Paul's birth home by Malte :), and could easily get quite comfortable and stay here a week.  It's an adorable town that surprises one with the fair weather and easy going happiness of the people who live here.  With three health food stores, several yoga studios, and some lush medians along residential streets, Rabbit offers all sorts of stuff for folks like us. 

We also quite liked Jackson, Wyoming--could be classified as a near perfect place (especially in mid-september!), except for just one thing, a house in town with comfortable accomodations and any sort of view is a million bucks.  So, Jackson Hole Wyoming is out ;)   We were quite impressed with the stark, open and unharmed land of the entire state of Wyoming; which is a good thing, because we had 12 hours of daylight to enjoy it as we passed through.  (tongue out!)

Some Ayurvedic Tips for Wellness on the Road:

Travel is an exemplar and completely efficient way to throw Vata--the elements of air and ether--OUT!  By increasing Vata qualities, like movement, change, transition, new places, quick stops, unpredictability, missed toilets...signs and symptoms of Vata dosha may begin to appear.  Here are some useful ways to prevent this from happening.

From the taste point of view: eat salty foods at lunch to help soften tissue, prevent constipation, and appease Vata (qualities of air and ether). for breakfast pick sweets like pastries or sourdough pancakes--whatever's available (sorry I just have to brag a little about my husbands sourdough pancakes!).  When it comes to dinner, nourishing meats or other proteins and some seasonal vegetable are an excellent way to cure the body and mind from road buzz. 

If you are prone to dry, constipated stool, go out of your way to have a healthy bowel movement every day.  Lots of fresh fruit packed in the car will add fiber, crunch, and sweetness (all things you need extra of); eat 3-4 fresh fruits (I especially recommend Mona's asian pears, there is nothing like them in all the world) everyday and mark my words, you won't have any trouble.  Carry a fiber supplement, too as a back up, to prevent backing up.

Performing nasal irrigation (Neti), daily if possible, is key to adjusting to the local allergens and funk of each region you pass through.  This practice will also prevent colds, and drying of the nasal passages, especially when followed with Nasya (nasal oiling).  Speaking of oil--after you clean something (aka your body), oil it before you put it away.  ;)  This is especially true on the Road.  

Wall Drug South Dakota, HERE WE COME!!

Ruth, JP & the Girls