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Beat the Jet Lag

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A dancer’s life is filled with lots of travel. We have to be on a constant move for shows, events, appearances, shoots and even meeting. A travel by air is definitely very convenient and quick but at the same time long hours and constant travelling can be very stressful and bad for our body as a dance. Due to my shows and shoots, I travel constantly and especially international travel made me realize that it is very hard to reach your destination and perform immediately, as for a dancer body rest is as important as practice.

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I remember my trip to Bali from Africa, after flying for 22 hours when I landed, I resembled a human balloon with the ankles of an elephant, and I knew there had to be a better way to combat the evitable travel elements. It is extremely important for a dancer to remain and feel fit all the time. Since a dancer is recognized from far because of his posture and poise, it is important that when you fly you need to feel the same. A few precautions before and after the flight and also a few stretch during your flight can help you feel good and land happy. After miles and hours of traveling constantly, I created a successful recipe; here are a few of my favourite ways to bring peace to my cabin and circulation to even the most chronic complainer.

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Before you leave for your flight:

  • Avoid heavy and hard to digest food for 24 hours even some healthy foods can cause gas trouble for you, so consume those with care
  • Slip the caffeine and avoid over consumption of drinks, they will dehydrate you and make recovering lot more difficult
  • Try to get in some exercise before you board, even a 10 minute walk will help your inflight circulation. Take the stairs instead of the escalator
  • Wear your glass as appose to your contact lenses. The dry air and altitude can irritate your eyes, as can reading and staring at a movie screen for several hours

A little inflight yoga/ exercise:

  • Shift a bit towards the front edge of your seat while holding the arm rest, twist cautiously to one side for about five breadths and then to the other. Enjoy the release in your spin, and the fact that you and your neighbours are getting along as well as you turn to their direction. For spinal extension, keep holding your arm rest and with a slight arch, to your upper back, try to bring your elbows towards each other behind your back, as if they are going to touch together.
  • Interlace your hands under your thigh, and ease your knee and forehead towards each other.
  • Lean forward in your seat enough to place your right arm bent at the elbow behind your back. If you are very flexible, you can reach your right hand up between your shoulder blades (as if scratching an itch) for a deeper stretch, or even reach for the left side for your vertical seat pillow and hold on, carefully lean back on to your arm and enjoy an deltoids stretch of your shoulder and upper back. Gently drop your head back to go deeper into the stretch. Repeat on the left side.
  • Do this one while your neighbours are in the wash room and you have got the room. Holding your armrest, place the bottom of your right foot on your left ankle and let your right knee fall to the side a bit for a hip stretch more flexible people can move the bottom of the right foot up the calf, or even cross the right ankle on top of the left knee. Hold each side for about 30 seconds (if there is queue for the washroom, you might be able to hold it longer or do a second round)
  • Wonder about the cabin to assist your circulation, even just standing upright will help. Stand in the gallery or attentively in the aisle with your left hand supporting the back seat or the wall. Bend your right knee with your heel towards your buttocks. Hold your right foot with your right hand and encourage your heel closer to your back body for more intensity. Feel the front of your thigh stretch.
  • If your flight has a connection layover check whether shower and massage facilities are available at the airport. If they offer these services then definitely opt for them. Do not under estimate how much better these can make you feel.

If you recollect the business magnet Sir Richard Branson who owns Virgin Atlantic airlines was dancing away with his staff and fellow in the midst of the air on one of his flights. Let us learn from this dynamic man and if not showcasing our choreographies to the fellow passengers the least we can do is get up and move our body a bit while we are in the flight, flying off to a dance festival to perform our new creation.

When you arrive at your destination

  • Take a one minute walk at a pretty good clip to get the blood moving in your lower limbs
  • Lying on your back, elevate your legs up the wall for 10 minutes. If you are unable to find a wall space, stack pillow underneath your legs to elevate them above your heart for the same amount of time.
  • Drink a cup of green, nettle or dandelion tea. They act as natural diuretics and will help decrease water retention and swelling
  • Take a warm bath with scented bath salt or sprinkle some of your lavender and sandalwood oil in your bath. Your hotel will begin to feel more like a spa.

Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure purposes these tips will help you transcend time zones, sore through your dance performance or shoot and sweeten your sabbatical. Infusing your travel plan with mind full movements, a friendly spirit, good sense and good scents can make a world of difference as you travel the world with your art. You will look fresh and fit to all the fans and audience who will them keep asking you the raaz of your energetic body even after hours of travel.

 

Sandip Soparrkar

Artscape

(Sandip Soparrkar is a well known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honoured with National Achievement and National Excellence Award by the Govt of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com.)

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