Reflection From the Road

2015 was a year of great changes for me: in the span of just a few short months, I lost a family member as well as my long-term relationship, amongst other things.

Travelling became something I both dreaded to do by myself and needed to do at the same time. Fortunately, I came to the simple realization that what I needed above all was to change how I travelled. So I swapped my backpack for a bicycle and everything suddenly clicked into place.

In many, if not all aspects of my life, I’ve always aimed to live as sustainably as possible. But air and bus travel does leave a massive footprint behind, so it’s always been hard for me to make the best decision in regards to my means transportation.

That is, until now: the only print I leave behind is the trail of my wheels and the laughter of the kids who can’t quite comprehend why my bicycle looks like a donkey. I’m now both energy and money efficient and I am exercising while I travel – it’s the best of all worlds! But sustainability has taken on a new meaning since I started pedalling all on my own: in order for this to be a successful lifestyle change, I have to sustain my own health and wellbeing, first and foremost. And I’ve found meditation to be a great tool to achieve that.

Adopting a plant-based diet is one way I’ve used to sustain my health and mind naturally for years. And meditation, just like eating a vegan diet and doing yoga, is a self-sustaining activity that creates ease within my body and my mind. I do believe that health starts from the inside out and the combination of eating healthy and taking a few minutes (usually twenty) to gather myself every morning before I hit the road is both empowering and healing: it’s a stress reliever, it helps me be at peace with myself, quiets my inner chatterbox, makes me feel more balanced and more connected to nature and to others.

I’ve found that the combination of Vipassana meditation, yoga and bikepacking have helped me reach a more meaningful and mindful travel experience. One that goes above and beyond materiality and one that I know will stay with me long after (and if…) this is all over.

Meditation is a powerful tool that can help us all live a simpler and more natural lifestyle, eliminating the need for modern sought-after external means for acquiring temporary peace and happiness – such as an expensive day at the spa. And you don’t need to be travelling on a bicycle to reap all of the benefits from meditation 😉

One thing I have found really helpful to get me started meditating is Headspace, a guided meditation app that walks you through meditation techniques in a fun and helpful way, starting with 10 free 10 minute lessons and increasing the time up to 15, then 20 minutes if you so decide to subscribe, which I promptly did even before my 10-day trial was over. It’s good. And now I can’t start my day without spending 20 minutes alone with Andy! The app is well designed and super interactive. It’s had a huge international success and is really changing the way people are seeing meditation. It’s like the new cool kid around the block, a little. And the videos are just adorable.

Do you meditate already? Would you give it a try?

Amélie

Amélie is a health and wellness junky. Certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance in the Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles, she has a Yoga Instructor Certification – Level I (300 hours) and Yoga Instructor Certification – Level II (200 hours) under her belt. She also has a certified Open Water Diver certification with PADI and SSI Scuba Schools International Freediving Level I certification with SSI Scuba Schools International. She’s been vegan for over 15 years and is obsessed with anything wellness-related.