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Jet Plane Parenting for Modern Yogis

Jun. 29, 2014

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There is an Arabic saying that the soul travels at the pace of a camel. While most of our self is led by the strict demands of timetables and diaries, our soul, the seat of the heart, trails nostalgically behind, burdened by the weight of memory.
– Alain De Botton

 

You could say that the paradox of modern travel is that while the soul travels at the pace of a camel, our bodies travel at the speed of a jet plane. Since March of this year, I have flown to Bali, Indonesia; from Bali to Sydney, then to Perth and Margaret River in Australia; to Singapore; back to Bali, then Hong Kong, then Vancouver and finally our coastal paradise of Ucluelet / Tofino; which is currently home.

I know I’m exhausted just writing this. But, the trip lasted 3 months and we traveled with our 3 year old son. And if you want your soul to linger longer in one spot, hang out with a child who demands your full presence.

In fact, one of the constant discussions (read arguments) that I have with my husband, is: “isn’t it so much easier to travel solo without family in tow, especially on yoga teaching trips?”

He argues that while it is more “complicated” with us there, it is also, for him, more enjoyable.

One of the few "family" pictures we got on these travels!
One of the few “family” pictures we got on these travels!

On my part, the jury is still out.  I find that parenting on the road is rife with minefields, from navigating my son’s relationship to digital media – especially on flights longer than 5 hours – to having healthy, organic foods available; and being able to create a sense of rhythm and stability on the move.

We are/ I am still figuring out systems that make this jumble of life and work smooth, because let me tell you it is not always easy.  Yet, I am grateful for so much.  For the fact that our son knows how to say thank you in hindi (from spending time in India in january of this year), in bahasa and “aussie;” that he understands that when the sun sets in Canada it is already a new day in Bali and Australia; that amongst his favourite foods he counts Nasi Goreng, Dal Chawal and Salmon tacos; and that he understands that plastic on the beach is as they say in Bahasa “tidak bagus” (not good). I am also grateful that with what we do, i.e. teach yoga; we’re surrounded by happy, positive people who shape his idea of the “adult” world.

our favourite australian breakfast, avocado with lime and olive oil on toast!
Our favourite australian breakfast, avocado with lime and olive oil on toast!

Since our return to Canada, we have been following the rhythm of the long days here on the west coast doing the simple things that ground us, before we set off for yet more adventures. For me, that means my yoga practice and cooking in my own kitchen, catching up on work and returning to writing and blogging. For our son it means reconnecting with his toys: “Mama, are these mine?” is a happy refrain, seeing his “local” friends and wandering to the beach for hours to collect shells and rocks and throw them back into the ocean. For my husband it meant yet another teaching trip that he is momentarily back from.

In the spirit of summer and the travel probably coming up for you, here are some choice lessons I learned this last trip:

1. Life reflects your state of mind:

I knoooow…. it’s so simple, but we forget.  If you are calm, life even when frenzied is somehow miraculously drama free.  If you want to test this, try arriving late at the airport because you were a friend’s engagement party at a secluded beach house in Bali.  Then make it, breathing easily to the airport.  Remind yourself that this is why you do yoga.

Bali sunset
Bali sunset

2. Your child’s behaviour is also a mirror (most often) of your state of mind:
If you are a parent, know that when you are most likely on the verge of losing it, your child will spill his glass of milk in the airplane, or decide that he needs to unpack all his toys that you just packed for the next trip, or say “No” very loudly for seemingly no reason at all.

3. Adapt or stay at home:
This is the lesson I try to drill into myself every time we rent a new airbnb place – which has become our preferred way of travelling with a child.  Navigating someone else’s kitchen or bedroom is an evolving experiment in human psychology. Why would you place the tea towels here and not there? Why would they choose those lamps for reading lights? If you have sensitive (read specific) design ideas as I do, travel with all its continued surprises is very good for you. In the yogic world, it’s like switching from your daily, primary series ashtanga practice to a free flow vinyasa – shocking and yet so disconcertingly good. It’s about embracing shifts, and responding straight faced to the “how you going?” of peppy Australians; “great, just great” even while secretly giggling inside.

Little A loves face painting and I took along some face paints on the trip. Every day he was a new animal, ocean or land.  This was a wombat after the Oz tour.
Little A loves face painting and I took along some face paints on the trip. Every day he was a new animal, ocean or land. This was a wombat after the Oz tour.

4. Rhythm is possible + essential even on the road:
This is what I try to practice every trip. To beat jet lag, we try to eat meals as we “should” according to local time, even if we may not be super hungry. We follow Ayurvedic principles, eating our main meal in the daytime and lighter foods at night, especially before and after a plane journey. We try to wake up and sleep at the same times, (give or take a little), no matter where we are; and we try to create a rhythm of playtime, outdoor time, reading time, quiet time for our son, whether we’re in a too small Hong Kong hotel room, or an expansive villa in Bali. As long as we have a sense of rhythm, our son is happy, which means we’re happy too.

5. A Travel First Aid kit is nice to have around:
I keep the following with me: some arnica for cuts and hurts and general “I don’t feel good” symptoms, some belladonna for fevers, traumeel a homeopathic cream for aches and some Thomas the Train bandaids. These do the trick, even for us. Also, some lavender oil for a soothing bath and bedtime; tea tree oil – a great antiseptic; and citronella – mosquito repellent.

One of little A's favourite Bali meals: oodles of noodles: noodles, veggies and tofu in a tahini sauce. delicious and healthy!
One of little A’s favourite Bali meals: oodles of noodles: noodles, veggies and tofu in a tahini sauce. delicious and healthy!

6. Daily Ayurvedic Oil Massage counters the chaotic effects of travel:
This is essential. We want our nervous system to remain calm to counter the stressful impact of fast-paced modern travel. I travel with a small bottle of almond oil that fits into my carry on. In the winter, it’s sesame and when in the tropics, I use extra virgin coconut oil.  Start by taking a tablespoon of the oil, warm it in your palms and then start applying it in light strokes from your extremities to your core. This should take you about ten minutes and your mind and body will thank you. Do this even when you don’t travel.

photo 12
ginger tea: my grounding ritual

7. Practice a familiar ritual no matter where you are:
When everything is swirling into the unknown, it is so nice to have one familiar something to turn back to.  It can be anything.  Perhaps you love a certain kind of tea – if you do, travel with it and brew it and drink it in the most unlikely places.  It will ground you and allow you to appreciate all the newness around you.  Your “familiar” ritual might be your yoga practice, a run, a swim, or it may be your daily time to journal.  Try to let this one thing be a non-negotiable.

 

 

photo 6
smiles

8. Laughter solves everything:
It even lightens the weight of your bags :-).  We arrived at the Hongkong Airport this June for the Asia Yoga Conference, at the end of our Asia/ Australia travels with 5 suitcases, 3 surfboards a stroller and a rolled up hammock that was a separate carry on. As we waited for a van to pick us up along with other yoga teachers who would also be teaching that weekend,  I wanted to hide (from our bags). When the organisers put us in a van with 3 other teachers who flew in just for the wknd from the US – whose overnight, rolly bags easily fit in the trunk with room to spare, i cringed.  And then when i learned that they transported our luggage in a separate van, I cracked up when I thought about the luxe ride our luggage enjoyed to the hotel. 🙂

Sunrise over rice fields, Bali
Sunrise over rice fields, Bali

 

9. Traveling together cements collective memories:
You will remember time captured and the memories will spurt forth at unlikely moments for months to come.  For us, in no particular order, these include: early morning beach walks in Bali by a glassy, surf ready ocean; a late night encounter with a kangaroo on a windy road in western australia; eating sublime, delicious avocado toast for breakfast in Sydney, hugs from my parents when they arrived in Bali to see their grandchild, trying to imitate the graceful silver-haired tai chi practitioners in a Hong Kong park; attending a protest against a spate of recent violence against women in Bali with our son; taking him up to the Hong kong Peak because he wanted to ride the steep railway on a muggy, hot, crowded Sunday; and even the being squished into our row of airplane seats for yet another flight, because this meant we were together, undistracted and present, making our way across the world.

photo 7

NAMASTE. Thank you for reading.  More posts coming this week, including my favourite new green smoothie recipe and some v. interesting interviews.  I am happy to be back. I hope you are as happy to hear from me.  🙂

Insiya

ps. To get a visual feed of all our amazing adventures, follow me on instagram here: instagram.com/yogue8

 

 

 

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Category: Blog, Parenting Tags: Travel, Australia, ayurveda, bali, children, eoin finn, memories, parenting, toddlers, whole foods, yoga

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About Insiya Rasiwala-Finn

Yogini + Ayurvedic Coach, Writer and Conscious Mama. Believes in regenerative, slow living, holistic design and living mindfully every day.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tyler says

    June 30, 2014 at 5:17 am

    Beautifully written Insiya!
    We look forward to the reunion!
    Xo
    Tyler, Olya, Zya and Lula.

    Reply
    • admin says

      June 30, 2014 at 7:29 pm

      Hey Tyler, so nice to hear from you. Would love to see you guys soon, maybe august, we will be in van! xoxo love to you all.

      Reply
  2. Joanne says

    June 30, 2014 at 5:23 am

    Thank you Insiya. Beautifully written and some very sound advice. Xxx

    Reply
    • admin says

      June 30, 2014 at 7:29 pm

      Thanks Joanne!!! 🙂 peace.

      Reply
  3. Sonia jaafar says

    July 1, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    This is awesome. Thanks so much for writing it. It couldn’t have come at a better time. We have just returned from our first trip with our 5 month old baby girl. We travelled with 4 surfboards, 2 suitcases, carseast/stroller etc etc etc!! Her lovely routine was turned upside down and inside out. We’ve been back a week now and I’m still feeling slightly beat up! However, I’m thankful for the memories, thankful to be back in the waves and mostly thankful for our beautiful daughter that has graced our world. Namaste xo

    Reply
    • admin says

      July 2, 2014 at 12:24 am

      oh, so nice to hear. i know, there were many many times, when i asked myself if we were nuts, but somehow it is all so worth it and they do remember things, even when so young.. love + light + happy settling back in at home.

      Reply
  4. Sara says

    July 2, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    I always wonder how you manage so beautifully all the travels with the little one since he was 1 month old. Now I know after reading your blog . Amazing dear . Keep smiling .

    Reply
  5. admin says

    July 2, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    Thanks dear Mom!!! love you xo ins

    Reply
  6. yoga sessions says

    August 28, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Hmm it seems like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so
    I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly
    enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer
    but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any helpful hints for beginner blog writers?
    I’d certainly appreciate it.

    Reply
  7. yogue says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Hi yoga sessions, I would say, write from your heart, write about your experience – know that it is unique to you, respond to comments (even if you are late); and stay consistent, something i’m still working on. thank you and good luck. insiya

    Reply

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ABOUT YOGUE  Hi, I'm Insiya. Journey with me as we live slow, scatter beauty and tread lightly on the planet.

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insiyafinn

Yesterday was so life affirming and heart filling! Yesterday was so life affirming and heart filling!!! 

We got out on a hike in sooke and I’m so proud of my mama for traversing some steep climbs and even more steep and rocky downhill paths. I felt energized and so happy to be outside in a forest that smelled cool and fresh and pine-resin-y… @theblissologist and lion even got into the icy cold glacial streams and then we picked up grandma @carolefinnartist and enjoyed some delicious pizza on the deck @stokedpizzeria near sombrio…

My family kept cautioning me to not push myself - but honestly and truly I think I was just high on feeling alive and being amidst the waterfalls and green of what has turned into a very hot spring (climate change is real friends…)…

Yesterday was such an affirmation of how much we all need to be outside to reconnect within to what really matters…

Thanks ananda lion for making me a mama 12 years ago and thanks to my mom @sararasiwala for your love always… also it made me so happy that eoin got to see his mama too! Life is short. Keep those you love close and fill it with beauty and kindness.

Ps. I did wear a dress hiking (just because) and I am very tired today but was it worth it? YES ❤️

#yogue #mothersday #family #familymatters #healing #healinsiya #healcancer #cancerthriver
Photo sprinkles… Stepping out into spring. L- Photo sprinkles… 

Stepping out into spring.

L-R: A Saturday picnic w @yogalink + Carole + dingo the bali dog and my mom. Thanks for the chai @sararasiwala 😁 and the pic @theblissologist ✨
Blossoms on the hill.
Blossoms inside :)
Homemade spinach and mushroom quiche.. so good 💫
Pakoras by mom… aka delish chickpea fritters 
Daisies :)
And
Apricot nectar and strawberries yesterday… 
/ shadows and sunshine :) 
Heart shaped flowers…

Feeling all this golden light and springtime goodness. :) 

🌺💕☀️

#healingjourney #wholefoods #growth #changes #shift #insiyafinn #healinsiya #healcancer
So I decided to share this picture here because fi So I decided to share this picture here because firstly today was so special. I got to see a dear dear friend who I haven’t seen since before the pandemic and we got to finally connect a few steps away from home. Yes this is currently Victoria (or it was this morning when the sun was bright and warm)…

And yet this morning was hard won. Yesterday after weeks of things going relatively well I had what is called a partical blockage with my ileostomy. I think it was caused by my not chewing my lunch as slowly as I normally do…(I will blame this on both being v hungry and that my dear mom’s cooking is dangerously delicious) 😁 when my girlfriend came to see me yesterday, I had low energy and a strange cramping sensation in the stomach and lower rib area. This progressively got worse and worse until my body with all its wisdom tried to push my lunch out of me. In other words I threw up. Consistently and continuously.

Meanwhile life at home continued on. My son arrived home after a canoeing weekend. I needed back rubs w tiger balm or whatever would help in the moment; and tried to help organize dinner. And my friend later that evening shared how she felt the privilege of being here to help and to witness the rough stuff. Which just felt so dear and real and loving.

And this is why I want to share this story today. It feels scary to put all of this out into the world but I have been thinking that when we hide the hard things behind walls of fear or worry about what others will think, I think we curtail our capacity to be loving, compassionate humans. After all at our core we want the same things. To live and love well. I feel like I share a lot here but I have found it hard to write about the really gnarly moments. There have been so many. What I will say I am so thankful for however is that because I have experienced so much with the ileostomy, I knew I had to ride the waves of pain out until they stopped. And they did and I finally slept last night and stayed out of emerg at the hospital.

And awoke to a new day. And a new opportunity to make the most of this precious moment.

Thanks for being here!

#healcancer #healinsiya #viclife #oakbay #friendship
It’s three weeks post my big surgery. The last f It’s three weeks post my big surgery. The last fortnight has been a wave of highs and lows. It felt like every time I felt a little better something new would happen again that I needed to understand and navigate. 

Meanwhile my inner mind has been a whirling w so so much. I have so many thoughts and so many ideas every day. And having to still be quite still has forced me to pay attention to them. 

The word that keeps coming up is reclamation - reclaiming who I am and how I want to live my life moving forward… life seems a little less like I’m on the edge of a precipice - except in the middle of the night - but things still feel urgent - like I will run out of time before I get to do all the things I would like to. And I have been trying to stay true and listen to the emotions that come up as I continue to navigate the journey beyond - which as yet is a big unknown! 

Today was an easy day to reclaim how much living in harmony with our seasons means to me. How much I love being outside. This afternoon mom and I went for a glorious walk in the sunshine and then lion, our pup and I had some weeding fun in the garden. 

A friend asked me how I am feeling earlier today. I guess the answer today is so happy and grateful to be here and to live in such a beautiful place to call home close to the ocean and sea lions and the meadows and flowers and forests. I am cherishing these little moments. They feel big these days.

Thanks for being here. Xo 

#healing #gratitude #gardening #healinsiya #healcancer #coloncancercanada

📷 @sararasiwala 💖
Today is a reminder for myself and possibly you as Today is a reminder for myself and possibly you as well to not get discouraged… 

Recovery takes time.

there are moments of feeling on top of the world and there are others where I feel flat and tired. 

There is my mind trying to propel me forward beyond the constraints of my body; and my body then signaling with a sharp outcry - you cannot do X, please rest. 

There is life with all its chaos and wants and needs coming at you, because you don’t live in a bubble, the ones you are in relationship with also have needs… 

And so you remind yourself that all you can do is keep showing up now, in this moment, in the best way possible… don’t do more, it’s not necessary- especially right now…

Be gentle today. Happy Sunday.

🙏🏼❤️✨

#journal #healing #recovery #cancer #healcancer #healinsiya #slowlife #yogalife #mentalhealth
Home again. Short - very short and slow - walks do Home again.
Short - very short and slow - walks down our street.
Strawberries at breakfast.
So many Hugs from my son.
Back rubs from my husband
My mom’s continuous kindnesses that keep the day humming.
Friends saying hello and bringing food and tinctures.
And flowers that I cut from our wild garden tonight which is coming alive with all sorts of surprises.

I had tulips in my hospital room the entire 11 days and I can tell you how much they inspired me. As their petals opened up slowly I grew stronger and more able every day after surgery. I saw the colors shining against the dull hues of the room when I awoke each morning and in the sunshine they glistened.

Flowers have healing powers say researchers, apparently patients who can see trees and flowers from their hospital windows vs those who cannot, take less pain medication and have shorter hospital stays… and yes they both relax and uplift us. 

I’ve always loved flowers. Only now I understand why.

Happy weekend!
#grateful #flowers #healingpowerofflowers #healcancer #healinsiya #natureheals #holisticwellness
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