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It’s so unfortunate getting to your mid-20s or 30s and finding that you still get travel sick.
Those of us who live with motion sickness feel ill when our bodies cannot process information sent from our eyes, ears and body, making us feel queasy, clammy and sick to the stomach.
But now an expert has revealed a number of different methods, including yoga exercises and breathing techniques which adults can ‘rebalance’ when feeling unwell in the car.
Jennifer Harvey, who is co-owner of Oceanflow Yoga Studio in Newquay, Cornwall told FEMAIL yoga can offer long and short-term techniques for those who suffer from travel sickness both as a preparation for the journey and also in the moment once a wave of dizziness or nausea takes over.
Travel sickness can be as real for adults as it is for children, with many affected. This happens with our bodies cannot process information sent from our senses
She said: ‘We lose our view on the horizon and start to feel uncentered and unbalanced even as we sit or stand still in the vehicle.’
‘When we are centred and know where we are in space, even when in motion, the body no longer feels the need to protect ourselves from danger, becoming more relaxed and calmer.’
Here, she reveals the four techniques which can help control, and cure, travel sickness…
BREATHE THROUGH ALTERNATE NOSTRILS
Speaking to FEMAIL, Jen explained: ‘Five minutes alternative nostril breath can help align the left and right side of the brain to centre you in the moment.
‘To do this you should sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on the left knee.
‘Then bring your right hand up towards your nose and exhale completely then use the right thumb to close the right nostril.’
She continued: ‘Inhale through the left nostril then close the left nostril with your fingers.
‘Next open the right nostril and exhale through this side. Then inhale through the right nostril and close it before opening the left nostril and exhaling through the left side.’
‘This is one cycle, which you should continue for up to five minutes, and always complete the practice by finishing with an exhale on the left side.
‘This can be useful during travel as it doesn’t require a huge amount of space.’
ADOPT A YOGA POSE
Jen advised choosing a routine of poses that keep you low to the ground in order to treat your travel sickness.
She pointed to exercises including low wide lizard lunges, squats, childs pose and cat cows.
She said to practice these poses for around five to 10 minutes before opting for balance poses like tree, eagle and standing pigeon.
The yoga expert suggested: ‘Try each pose for five deep breaths on each side and see how they can get you up on your feet and ready to go whilst maintaining the feeling of staying grounded.
‘Other flows that could be helpful to follow would be Earth Salutations and Moon Salutations, both of which are calming and grounding.
‘These flows are great as they connect you to your breath as you move, another way to help you stay centred.’
FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC OBJECT
Jen revealed that visualisation techniques are ‘brilliant at keeping you centred and grounded.’
She explained that could include focusing on one object whilst taking slow breaths in for a four count and out for a six count.
Jen added: ‘They can be very helpful if you suddenly heat up, as breathing through the mouth over the tongue can be very soothing because it cools the system like a peppermint tea.’
She advised listening to guided relaxations, in particular ones that focus on the body because this can help to ease symptoms of motion sickness as you resettle the body.
STRETCH OUT AFTER THE JOURNEY
Unfortunately once the journey is over the nauseous sensations linger on.
Jen explained that poses that stretch out the hips, legs and spine can feel wonderful for the body after a long journey and can help you feel much more connected to your body again.
She said that a combination of pigeon, camel, seated forward folds and finishing with a couple of minutes on your back or legs up the wall pose should alleviate the sickness.
The yoga expert suggested this would work because the stretches enhance blood circulation meaning that more oxygen is circulated through your body, which in turn refreshes and rejuvenates the body.