Meditation Trainer Journey Recommendation in occasions of COVID

Car Free Day London 2019 Meditation Teacher and Spirit: Unlocked Founder Niraj Shah shares his experience of traveling from London to Greece in August and gives practical tips on how to stay calm and grounded if you decide to vacation this year.

Travel in times of the pandemic! Was it a trip you booked in advance or a last minute decision?

We made a late decision for this particular trip, but not a reckless or hasty one. My wife and I had booked three different fully cancelable short flights in July, August and September but then decided it made more sense to settle in a place where we could live and work for a month. We can both work remotely and it is normal for us to combine work and travel. We went from idea to quick research to secure the ideal villa and flights in 36 hours!

Did you feel scared at all?

No. We are very experienced, regular passengers and air travel before the pandemic was not a stressful experience for us. We had already traveled once during the pandemic – in early July to Mallorca, Spain – so we also knew that our regular airline had good COVID measures in place. It is important that we do not have to consider any other health problems or look after children. Either would probably have prevented us from traveling by plane.

We also live in a quiet part of a remote island (Rhodes, Greece), so of course we are also away from the crowds. We know the worst-case scenarios in terms of lockdowns, quarantines and potential illnesses and have taken precautions that we are comfortable with. Risk-based decisions with incomplete information are an integral part of our business life that we also apply to our private lives.

What was the mood like on the plane, at the airport – did you feel the intense energy or was it mild as always?

We were traveling on a Saturday morning in August so Heathrow Airport was full! Still, the vibe felt pretty good to me. The airport staff seemed happy to be back at work, and fellow passengers generally looked quite relaxed, all in all. I heard anecdotally that not all airport experiences were this pleasant during the pandemic, so we may have been lucky.

You have prepared very well for the trip. What exactly did you take with you?

For years I've been wearing a high-quality 100% blackout sleep mask, headphones and a light hoodie. I see planes as one of the last bastions of WiFi-free recreation! The mandatory COVID face mask comfortably completed the cocoon effect in a way that didn't feel claustrophobic. I'm used to meditating in airplanes, but this combination has helped me internalize even faster and deeper. It was the next time I meditated significant quieter environment or a flotation tank without actually being in a flotation tank. I'll keep doing this long after this pandemic is a distant memory.

And of course you meditated! Did you focus on anything special during your practice before the trip? Did meditation help you relax on a plane?

I LOVE meditating on airplanes. There's no WiFi, which is a huge distraction from life, and it's a really great way to get out of the zone and travel inside. Meditation undoubtedly helps you relax on airplanes, and I like the coexistence of what makes a stressful experience deeply nourishing. It is incredibly liberating to learn and know that we have tremendous power over how we shape our subjective experiences.

In terms of my focus, in my experience as a teacher and guide of multiple meditation styles, the best meditation styles or techniques for each individual vary widely based on each of our own lifestyles, goals, cognitive stories, and preferences, so I don't think so it will be very helpful to share my focus on this opportunity.

Meditation is as unique and individual as we are, there is no one size fits all for every style of meditation! For meditators or meditation learners, just try to do what you are practicing or learning and be kind to yourself.

Remember, in most meditative styles, a great chance for brain growth is actually when you notice that you are distracted and then gently return your focus to what you were doing on purpose. This is the opposite of the unhelpful idea that we have to clear our minds or try not to think about anything!

When we focus again, we do one rep in the mental gym. We train our minds to go where we tell them to. This is not an abstract "woo woo" statement, but the way our brains physically develop new neural networks that lead to new behaviors (in this case, we increase our ability to intentionally focus).

What would be the solutions for those who prefer vacation to stay but still feel anxious to make the 2020 travel experience calmer?

• In my opinion, if someone is very afraid of air travel, it is better not to do so. There are so many beautiful places in our home countries that we often overlook and now there is an opportunity to discover them by road or rail.When someone is genuinely determined to travel by air, or is in a situation where they do choose to do so, the following things can add peace of mind to travel in 2020:
• Get to the airport early and allow plenty of time for unexpected delays. It sounds so simple, but for most people it can take so much stress away if they give themselves a little space and time.
• Be aware that you may encounter others who may feel stressed outand more importantly, their behavior has nothing to do with you. Everyone is triggered more than usual, so having the intent to spread situations rather than escalating them is more important than ever. This is a good thing to consider whatever we do and wherever we do it.
• Have a plan for eating. Know your airline's current food and drink regulations – especially for longer flights – and still bring some of your own so you aren't as prone to last-minute changes.
• Have a plan for your mind. That plan could be meditation, it could read a book, it could write. My plan is generally meditation and sleep and maybe reading or watching a movie depending on how long the flight is. It doesn't matter what your plan is, it's important that you have a focus on your mind that keeps you away from the fact that you are in close proximity to strangers as it has been believably suspected that it is that close proximity to strangers is who feeds most of our fear of flying.
• Smile – Anyone can see a smile, even through face masks. It relieves our own tensions, it helps ease the tension of others. Everything we do has a ripple effect. What will your ripple effect be?

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Niraj is known for his scientifically guided, practical, and personal approach to meditation. People around the world are helping to incorporate this strong habit of mental wellbeing into their modern, unique life. He combines an interest in brain health, emotional wellbeing, and technology with a love of travel and snowboarding. You can connect to him via Instagram or Spirit: unlocked.