HOW TO MEDITATE SKY HIGH

Start to unwind the moment you’re in the air

Apacked, noisy plane seems an unlikely place to find your Zen but meditation can be the key to beating jet lag and feeling rested when arriving at a new destination after a long-haul flight.

Nicole King, a meditation teacher and founder of the Momi Method, suggests meditating for 20 minutes on take-off and landing. For long-haul flights, she recommends meditating every two hours.

“Sitting in a pressurised tin can at 38,000 feet, travelling though different time zones and breathing in stale air, can zap your energy, dry your skin and create extreme fatigue in our systems,” she tells WHO. “If you want to arrive energised and fresh for your holiday, or clear and focused and ready to nail your business meeting, the deep rest of meditation is a powerful antidote.

“If you’re feeling frustrated or antsy, though, it is not working for you, so take a break, then try again.

“A plane is a great place for new students to practise,” she explains. “There’s zero wi-fi, minimal distractions and nowhere else you could physically be, and you have all the time in the world.”

While it can be tempting to slip into holiday mode and enjoy a tipple – or two – on the plane, Nicole suggests avoiding alcohol and sugar-filled soft drinks to prevent dehydration.

“Hydration is key,” she says. “Your body is said to be deprived of up to 1.5 litres of water on a three-hour flight. For any flight over two hours, avoid gas-producing foods, carbonated beverages and alcohol completely.”

To get the most out of your well-earned holiday, she also recommends stretching and moving around the cabin, and consuming warm water and herbal teas to beat fatigue and the dreaded jet lag.