Ninie Ahmad: Off her yoga mat.

Quoting LA arm-balancing rockstar, Kathryn Budig

“You could call me a bit of a frequent flyer.”

Eka Pada Koundiyasana I

Being a ‘frequent flyer’ myself (when we say fly, we really mean flying like ‘look ma, no feet!’) and recently married to an expat in Malaysia, I am really fortunate to get to follow my dearest husband to and forth Toronto – Kuala Lumpur once in every couple of months.

Although getting the best of Canada’s summer and winter is beyond fun, long-haul flights can drain me and ’cause misery to many.

Flights from KL to Toronto can take up to 36 HOURS door-to-door trip and I fully credit yoga stretches, twists and breathing technique for making me not loathe flying as much.

To other frequent flyers, I’m delighted to share how these simple stretches and twists (they take less than 10 minutes!) help me stay fresh onboard.

Pretty simple right?
Do it within 30 minutes of take-off and 30 minutes before landing.
Feel free to repeat as many times as you wish or hold poses for 10 or 15 breaths instead for longer flights.

Footnotes (since I can’t be really verbal on flight):

• stretches and twists help circulate blood flow to avoid (or to the least – reduce) cramps
• deep breathing helps send oxygen to numbing parts of the body and brain to avoid fatigue (and bonus point, you’d look fresh as ever as you touch down – ready to take over the world!)

Isn’t yoga simply amazing..

Also remember to

• drink gallons of water before and during the flight. Avoid coffee and alcohol at all cost as they dehydrate you and make you frequent going to the washroom (which is not the most enjoyable experience and space 10,000 feet above the ground)
• wear comfy clothes (I find yoga outfits especially anything with Lululemon’s Luon® fabric with has four-way stretch freedom makes the most comfortable flight staple). Oh, and nothing’s more comfortable than sportsbra when I am traveling..

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Have fun stretching while you are flying
(can anyone let me know if this sequence would work on Air Asia seats as well?)
and safe flight to your next destination.

Up(ward ) In The Air!

Turning another year wiser early October, I have long stopped making birthday wishlist for things that (may) come in a box.

Although if my body can understand that I really want to be able to do this

Arm-balancing rockstar Kathryn Budig in Bakasana (Crow) to Handstand

.. by my birthday.

I have err, about ONLY two weeks to marry these..

Let’s get on our mat and practice AGAIN, my strong Body – we can do this!

Do you ever wonder what your yoga teachers do when your eyes are closed, your body is completely relaxed (if not drained), soothing water drop in the music background when you are in Dead Body Pose (Savasana) ?

Do they enlightened beings really meditate, OR levitate for that matter – when no one’s looking?

Here is an idea (from Bite Size Yoga) -

Come on, we yoga teachers fall asleep are humans too – sometimes!

P.S. I heard that China not only bans Facebook but YouTube too! How does it feel living without Internet freedom? But they say yoga in fancier parts of China of is as big as it is in NY & LA.

Hmm, no Internet but free to do yoga.

I TAKE THAT!