Take the Trip of a Lifetime Without Leaving Your Home: Travel Shows Sure to Soothe Your Wanderlust

So, it appears we’re not going anywhere for a while. Spring break plans, summer plans, quite honestly, plans for next week, are slowly becoming obsolete as the reality of this global pandemic sets in. So it is.

Though we’re physically bound to our homes, our hearts and imaginations are free to soar to the highest heights.

Slowly I’m making peace with the fact that this summer will most likely be spent in quarantine. Instead, with a little help from some amazing television travel shows, I’m using this time to dream up the perfect getaway for whenever time allows.

Before this Coronavirus pandemic hit, my husband and I were planning to spend part of the summer in Mozambique and South Africa. It was to be a dream vacation, now that the kids are old enough and hearty enough for serious travel.

We were about a week away from purchasing our tickets when the travel industry began to grind to a halt.

We still intend to go. We have placed our vacation on temporary hold. In the meantime however, my soul and imagination have embarked on a myriad of sanity maintaining adventures, as I live vicariously through the travels of Samantha Brown, Samin Nosrat, Marcus Samuelsson, and Anthony Bourdain. In short, I have found my wings by watching travel shows.

I don’t have cable tv, instead, I use streaming services, so this list is reflective of shows available beyond cable television.

Take the Trip of a Lifetime Without Leaving Your Home: Travel Shows to Soothe Your Soul:

1) Journy Channel

I was playing around with my television a week or so ago when I came upon the Journy Chanel (no spelling error, there’s no “e” in this journey). The Journy channel appears as a downloadable channel on my Smart TV. I had never heard of it, but decided to explore nonetheless and was pleasantly surprised to find an entire lineup of engaging travel shows.

My Favorites:

• The classic Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. I was obsessed with this show in the early 2000’s. It probably needs no introduction, but just in case, in this 9 season series, the late chef, Anthony Bourdain took his viewers on a cultural and culinary journey through locations far and wide. Full of insight, beauty and equal part snark, this is a must see series if you haven’t already and if you’re already a fan, the series is just as riveting the second time around!

• Amazing Hotels, hosted by Giles Coren and Monica Galetti will make you want to grab a notebook and pen and add to your bucket list. Each episode centers around a destination hotel. My favorite episode is their visit to the Giraffe Manor in Kenya- definitely up there on my bucket list!

2) PBS

I am a shameless and unabashed PBS junkie. I love Great Performances, Nova, Masterpiece Theatre, PBS News Hour and I am so motivated and inspired by their travel content. I’m a PBS passport member, which allows me to access their content past and present via the app on my Smart TV or phone. Your local PBS station may not air all of the shows I’m about to reference, but they are all available via the PBS app.

My Favorites:

• Globe Trekker, was the first travel show that I can remember becoming obsessed with, in the late 90’s. This epic, 17 season series, follows a rotating cast of hosts as they traverse the globe, exploring the food, culture and customs that make this world such a beautiful and diverse place. The cinematography is stunning and the emphasis is on slow, culturally immersive travel.

• No Passport Required, is a newer show hosted by the quirky genius chef, Marcus Samuelsson. In this show, Samuelsson explores various cities restaurant by restaurant, uncovering the cultural nuances of each city through its food.

• Curious Traveler, hosted by Christine van Blokland examines the art, architecture and food that define cities throughout the world. This is an excellent show to watch if you’re planning a trip, as you’ll leave full of ideas.

• Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, hosted by the one and only Samantha Brown is a fantastic show if you’re interested in places to visit with your family. I’ve been a big Samantha Brown fan since her days on the Travel Channel with Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America. In Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, Brown expertly guides viewers through her favorite cities, highlighting where to go, what to do and what to eat.

3) Netflix

Netflix has no shortage of engaging and awe inspiring travel related content. Netflix is a streaming service that you will have to sign up for if you’d like to access the various shows. It’s relatively inexpensive, and can be viewed via your phone, computer or Smart TV.

My Favorites:

• Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat hosted by chef Samrin Nosrat, explores the culinary traditions of countries around the world as they use salt, fat, acid and heat in their cooking. This show not only makes me want to cook, but with each episode, I am compelled to visit the places she’s been if only for one glorious meal, to experience first hand the food of the region. The vivid cinematography in this series is candy for the eyes.

• Tales by Light is perhaps one of the most visually stunning shows out there. The series follows National Geographic photographers as they travel the world to share the stories behind some of the most iconic NatGeo photographs.

• The Kindness Diaries follows host Leon Logothetis as he travels around the world via motorbike, existing solely off of the kindness of strangers he encounters along the way. Deeply affirming and full of humanity, this series will make you want to connect with your neighbors and even strangers in ways you may not have thought to before.

So there it is, my list of favorites. This is how I’m keeping my wanderlust at bay, until I’m able to take that dream vacation, we so lovingly planned.

Mozambique, I’ll see you again soon!

What travel shows have you been watching lately? Have you had to put travel plans on hold?

5 Yoga Practices to Ease Anxiety and Fear

We are navigating unprecedented and surreal times.  It is both humbling and terrifying to see our nation, the cities that we love, and countries around the world literally grind to a halt.

We are being asked to act for the collective good, to think not only of ourselves and loved ones, but of our neighbor’s and of strangers we may never see. We’re being asked to give up the most prized American virtue, our “freedom” in lieu of staying indoors. 

It’s striking us in different ways depending upon who we are, but everyone is affected. 

Stay indoors!

Whether you are sick or don’t feel sick.

Stay indoors!

Flatten a curve that you can’t see but are being asked to believe in. 

Stay indoors!

Don’t bother wearing masks.

Okay, now everyone must wear a mask. 

For many, at the core of their identity, is this perception of freedom, this perception that we are free to control our destinies and that we are in control. When this veil of illusion is shattered, as in the case of a global pandemic that is becoming more tangible by the hour, the result can be extreme gut-wrenching anxiety.

This is where our yoga practice can come in handy. 

Yoga teaches us that the only reality, is the reality that exists in the present moment. 

Yoga teaches us that we can’t control the whole, but we can control our inner, our internal environment, our breath, our thoughts and in that way, surrender willingly to the unknown because despite the storm that may be raging on the outside, we can cultivate peace and centeredness on the inside. 

In a present environment where there is so much uncertainty, where nothing feels familiar, yoga can light the way. 

In a culture where we value movement over stillness, productivity over quality and are fueled by the constant urge to compete and achieve, this moment that we’ve arrived at, is a much-needed pause, an invitation to turn inwards and truly examine ourselves, our choices and determine what is truly important. 

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious.”

-       Sri S. Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

Five Yoga Practices to Ease Anxiety and Fear:

1)    Breath of Fire: Breath of fire is a purifying and energizing breath that takes us out of our own heads, out of the anxieties and stresses of the moment, allowing us to find a sense of calm and equanimity.

To practice Breath of Fire, sit comfortably with an erect spine. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth, and then let your lips come together. 

The subsequent breaths will come in and out through your nose. As you exhale, your stomach muscles contract and your navel pulses back towards your spine. Practice for a minute, then take a break for a few seconds, taking in all sensations. Continue for as many rounds as needed to feel clear of anxiety and fully present. 

2)    Supine Twists: Supine twists are poses that cleanse the body, relax the nervous system and induce calm. 

To practice a supine twist, lay on your back. Draw one leg in towards your chest and then cross your leg over your torso in the direction of your elongated leg. Try to keep your shoulder blades on the mat. As you inhale, imagine creating length through the spine and as you exhale, imagine deepening your twist. This can be practiced with your top leg extended or with both legs bent for variation. 

3)    Forward Folding Poses: Forward folding poses are deeply nourishing and calming as they invite us to turn inwards and reflect. When you’re folding forward, you’re opening up the back body, to release tension in the neck, jaws, lumbar spine and shoulders. A gentle forward fold, held for three to five minutes, is a great way to decompress from stress and anxiety. 

To practice a forward folding pose, sit comfortably, with legs extended, crossed or straddled wide. Take a deep breath in to lengthen the spine, and when you’re ready to exhale, hinge at the hips, keeping your back as straight as you can for as long as you can, before rounding in towards yourself by releasing your shoulders and head. 

4)    Ujjayi Breath: Ujjayi breath, also known as Ocean Breath is a truly grounding and pacifying breath. In this breath, the central nervous system is given a massage and our relaxation response is initiated. 

To practice Ujjayi breath, sit comfortably with an erect spine. Tuck your chin towards your chest so that there is length in the back of your neck. Draw your lips together to touch and then breathe in through your nose and out through your nose. As you breathe, let the breath audibly brush against the back of your throat. It will make a gentle roaring sound like the ocean. Practice for 2-3 minutes, take a break and repeat as needed.

5)    Progressive Relaxation Meditation: Progressive Relaxations Meditations are an excellent way to create a sense of peace and ease in the physical body as well as in the mind and spirit. 

To practice a progressive relaxation, lay on your back then send your energy and focus to a single or group of body parts. Tense the muscles in that body part or body parts, squeeze tight, and then release, taking in the sensation of your body relaxing. Typically, we work from our feet to the crown of our head. 

If you find yourself dealing with increased anxiety and fear, give one or all of these techniques a try.
Introduce one at a time, embrace the present moment and above all else, breathe. You can and will make it through this. Summer is right around the corner.

Herbal Hair Water

This post goes out to my curly and wavy haired folks.

Curls, ringlets, coils and waves, we love them, but they can be sooooo much work! This herbal hair water, makes styling and maintenance between washes so much more delightful.

My herbal hair water recipe can be made in a water bottle and used in lieu of regular tap water for styling.

Herbal hair water packs a powerful punch and provides hair with a dose of micronutrients and moisture designed to keep hair soft, frizz free and fragrant.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 8 ounce spray bottle

• Purified water

• Chamomile essential oil (15 drops)

• Lavender essential oil (10 drops)

• 1 teaspoon spinach seed oil

• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

Here’s what to do:

1. Fill your spray water bottle 3/4 of a way full with your purified water.

2. Add a teaspoon of spinach seed oil and a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin. Screw on the top to your spray water bottle and shake gently until blended.

3. Unscrew the top of the spray bottle and add the lavender and chamomile essential oil. Screw on the top of your spray water bottle and shake gently again until blended.

4. YOU’RE READY, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

Herbal hair water, is a fantastic way to nourish your hair because:

• Chamomile essential oil is known to soften hair and provide great shine.

• Lavender essential oil is fragrant, antibacterial and antimicrobial, providing gentle cleaning between washes. Lavender also promotes hair growth and clarifies the scalp.

• Spinach seed oil promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. Loaded with iron, essential fatty acids, potassium, vitamins (C, A, B1, B2, B6, E, and K), magnesium, antioxidants and chlorophyll, spinach seed oil revives and strengthens dull and lackluster hair.

• Vegetable glycerin provides moisture and reduces frizz.

With Spring in the air, this herbal hair water blend will help transition your hair from winter dull to warm weather fabulousness- even if, you’re not leaving your house.

For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.

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Liquid Hand Sanitizer DIY

Needless to say, these are interesting times. Two weeks ago, who would have thought that you’d need to hoard hand sanitizer? Or that it would sell (in some instances) for $20.00 on eBay?

Luckily, when it comes to keeping your hands clean, soap, warm water and 20 seconds of washing is still your best defense.

But there are times, when soap and water aren’t an option. In these instances, this easy to tote, liquid hand sanitizer can definitely come to the rescue!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

1.5 ounces of rubbing alcohol (at least 70 proof)

.5 ounces of witch hazel

20 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

Here’s What to Do:

You can mix your ingredients directly into your 2 ounce spray bottle.

Measure out your rubbing alcohol, add your witch hazel and then the vegetable glycerin. Shake vigorously to blend.

Drop in the essential oil. Shake a second time and you’re ready for use.

I keep a bottle in the car and in my purse these days, just in case. Despite the high alcohol content (which is needed to kill the virus), this formula is not overly drying because of the witch hazel and vegetable glycerin, which makes back to back applications easy to endure.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Chin up.

For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.