CHECK IN AND chill
Discover how the ancient therapies and practices of Southeast Asia can bring us inner calm, writes Holly Purchase
AWILDLIFE paradise, a botanical Eden and an area rich in enthralling culture and food: Southeast Asia really is the promised land for travellers. But while an adventure there may not be on the cards immediately, that doesn’t mean we can’t still get a taste for the relaxing Asian way of life. From the thousands of islands of Indonesia to the magic of Vietnam, here’s how to experience some Southeastern Asian bliss in your own home. CLEAR YOUR MIND Meditation is synonymous with Southeast Asia, where getting in touch with your spiritual side is an ingrained part of daily life, and has been for thousands of years.
The practice itself is easy to replicate at home. You may not have time-honoured temples or rice paddies to gaze out across while you’re doing it, but the benefits to be had from finding inner peace and relieving your body of stress are easily achieved.
Find a quiet place and sit cross-legged to try some Buddhist meditation, practised by many people in Vietnam. If this is uncomfortable for you, sitting on a chair with your feet flat on the floor is good, too. Place your hands palms-down on your thighs, and sit upright, creating distance between your shoulders and your ears. Let your gaze rest comfortably on something in the middle distance.
Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, as you take note of the thoughts that dart across your mind. The key is not to think about them; focus on your breath and simply label these occurrences for what they are without judging them. Just be.
It’s as simple as that. Doing this every day can help you gain perspective during stressful periods in your life, while giving your body the break it needs.
You can also incorporate some simple Thai massage into your meditation to alleviate tension in your body. While sitting, place your fingertips at the base
of your neck and pull them upwards in a vertical motion. Do this all around your neck, then slowly massage your head in small circles. Finish by gently manipulating your shoulder muscles with your hands to help ease away any pain.
It doesn’t seem like much, but this routine of light pressure, also known as passive yoga, can help improve your circulation and muscle flexibility while clearing your mind, too.
To get the body moving and feeling strong, you can easily transition from meditation into yoga, another discipline that plays a key part of day-to-day life across Asia.
For beginners, try the Child’s Pose. Start on all fours, then rock back to sit on your feet with your head on the floor and your arms stretched forwards touching the floor. This stretches out the back and shoulders.
From here, return to all fours for some Cat-Cows. When you breathe in, tuck in your tummy and arch your back, bringing your head towards your navel, and when you breathe out, raise your head to the sky and make a dip in your back so it curves towards the floor to improve flexibility in your spine.
Once you’ve got the hang of these, try the Warrior 2 stance – a strengthening position, which helps open up hips that have become tight from sitting down all day. Stand with your feet wide apart, then turn your right foot out 90 degrees. Bend the knee on this same leg, raise your arms out straight so they’re level with your shoulders and hold for a few breaths. Repeat on the other side to feel completely rejuvenated.