Let’s look at problems people face during air travel and how to counter them.
Recycled oxygen and unclean air
The only two times I’ve ever had “the flu” was after air travel. I guess it’s related to sharing recycled air with all the passengers. Turning off the air vent above your head, reduces the issue of unclean air. Booking a seat away from smelly toilets is also a good idea.
I sometimes do a 8-4-8-4 series of breathes before and after flight to replenish my the oxygen-level. That’s breathing in on a count to 8, holding on a count to 4, breathing out on a count to 8, holding on a count to 4. I usually do about three repetitions of the series.
Time-Zone differences
When traveling east-west and west-east you might struggle with time-zone differences and start comparing the time at home with the time in new place. Avoid comparing and checking – this way the body gets used to the current time zone more quickly instead of having the mind re-create “what time” it supposedly is. Let go of these thoughts as they arise.
On one of my last flights, from the U.S. East Coast to Italy, I had no jet-lag because I used a trick:
I took a late flight and therefore slept through most of the 10 hour flight. By the time I woke up we had arrived and it was 11 a.m. Choosing a flight-time based on your natural sleep rhythm reduces jet lag from time-zone difference.
Inner Ear disturbances
Your sense of balance is determined by your eyes and inner ear. When you stand on the ground, your eyes and inner ear send the same data to the brain. But in a plane, this balance is thrown off. The eye perceives relative stillness while the ear perceives turbulence and numerous micro-movements. This issue is not well known but plays a greater role in jet-lag than all the other factors. The inner ear easily notices the planes constant movements upward, sideways and downward. The brain is stressed by the disharmony between what the eyes see and the ears hear. To counter-balance this problem, I take headphones with me and listen to soothing or positive music at a fairly loud volume for several hours on each flight.
Close Forced Proximity to Strangers
In old airplanes of the 30s, 40s and 1950s you were given more individual space. Today people are packed like sardines in a can.
The issue is underestimated because people don’t acknowledge that a human is not only a body or a piece of meat but an electromagnetic field that ranges several feet beyond the body. Thus, one can “feel crowded” even without physically touching others.
If you don’t wish to use Business Class (which is only a little better) or book a private jet, then it helps to sit beside people you resonate with – those you find pleasant. But since you can’t always choose who you sit beside, it’s helpful to have a little small-talk with the person at the start of the flight, if they are open to it, so that you don’t build inner resistance during the flight. Building rapport reduces subconscious resistance created by forced proximity.
Another trick I sometimes use is to book late and choose a seat where the one beside me appears to be empty. If I book economy, I choose the seats at the front with the most legroom and at the window. Unless you’re prone to frequent restroom visits it’s not wise to book an aisle seat because then you’re subject to the aura of every person walking by.
EMF Fields
Body Scanners, Bag Scanners, people’s phones, wifi-boxes and electrostatic discharges from the plane all emit EMF. A plane passenger is showered in EMF for the duration of the flight. Even people who are not “electro-sensitive” are affected by long-term unnatural surroundings. Have you ever gotten off a plane and just spent a few minutes walking in nature or the woods, to restore yourself? That’s a great idea. Fortunately, the body restores fairly quickly. While this is not a big problem for me personally, I sometimes wear a faraday-cap. That’s a faraday-mesh disguised as a baseball cap, to protect from some of this.
Noise
A common stressor at airports and in airplanes is noise. Some airports use old loudspeakers with the volume turned up too high. Some airports are full of shrill alarm sounds and beeping. In airplanes people babies cry, people talk loudly or play loud music from their phones. I protect from most of this my wearing wire-headphones with pleasant music much of the time. This way I’m having a good time in a world of my own creation.
Physical Vibrations
Some people experience stress or nausea from the physical vibrations and movements of the plane. The plane is constantly vibrating, pumping, hopping, going back and forth, etc. The mental trick here is to enjoy it, not resist it. Inner resistance only increases the problem.
Leaving Familiar Life
Some people consider it stressful to leave familiar people and surroundings, even if they are traveling somewhere nice. Know that getting out of your usual rut, habit, routine is a good thing and expands consciousness. Being safe and comfortable all the time is not good for you, you don’t grow. Seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling and doing new things makes you smarter, more compassionate and stronger. Reminding yourself of this, eases the stress of separation.
Bad Food
Food on airplanes is usually low quality because it’s processed and pre-packaged over long periods of time. I personally don’t mind the temporary down in quality, but if this is something that bothers you, you can prepare your own snacks and take them with you.
And with these things, jet-lag is significantly reduced.
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