What is a healing journey?

Traveling is not just about broadening horizons; it is also a way to get to know oneself and relieve stress. Healing travel goes beyond leisure and vacation; it allows the body and mind to rest and experience deep healing.

Here are a few simple traveling tips that can help you find balance and peace of mind.

It's time to plan a healing journey!

Make Moderate Travel Plans

"To get the best of our vacation, we tend to tightly grasp every minute of our travels, filling our itineraries with desired attractions and recommended must-try foods. We might even feel like we've wasted our precious vacation if we didn't meticulously research and create a perfect and fulfilling schedule.

However, take a moment to observe and you may gradually realize that while jam-packed itineraries can be fulfilling, they don't necessarily allow for relaxation and rest - we might end up feeling more exhausted than before.

Try adjusting the arrangement of your itinerary and leave some grace periods for surprises during your journey! Loosen up the schedule a bit and plan only a few favorite spots. This way, you can invest your precious energy and attention in the most worthwhile places and truly savor the present moment.

In addition, leave some room for unexpected encounters and experiences along the way. It could be a café around the corner, breathtaking scenery during a drive, or hidden gems recommended by locals. These spontaneous surprises during travel often become the most unforgettable memories for me. By allowing some free time, you won't miss out on these beautiful encounters due to a rushed schedule.

Embrace Nature

You can incorporate opportunities to embrace nature into your travels: scuba diving, hiking, walks on the beach, or even hugging trees in the forest are all wonderful ways to do so.

Psychological and scientific research has discovered that immersing oneself in nature can alleviate stress, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, enhance happiness, and even boost the immune system. Immersion in nature has been promoted in recent years in Japan and South Korea and it involves walking, playing, and engaging with nature in the forest, allowing us to expand our senses and experience the tranquility and movements of the forest, fostering healing of the mind, body, and spirit.

I personally enjoy allocating some time away from the city during my trips, whether it is by the mountains or the seaside, I can open my senses, and deeply experience nature's embrace. Witnessing the grandeur of nature humbles me, and my worries gently fade away. Retreats at Soul Barn often take place in places close to nature, allowing everyone to collectively experience the tranquility of these surroundings.

If your itinerary mainly consists of city visits, you can opt for accommodations near nature that differs from the hustle and bustle of the city or the constant flow of people. You can fall asleep in the silent nights for better sleep quality and alleviate stress from the mind and body. If you're lucky, you might even catch a breathtaking view of the starry sky!

Slow Down and Enjoy the Experience

Try slowing down your pace; it may allow you to fully experience the depth of your journey and give you a break from the fast-paced rhythm of everyday life. I personally prefer to adjust the pace of my travels by only scheduling one main activity per day. For me, traveling is a great way to immerse myself in different environments with a unique rhythm of life. Through these immersive experiences, deeper and more meaningful memories are created.

When choosing activities, consider incorporating experiences that you wouldn't normally have the opportunity to try or activities that may be limited by time and space. Focus on the experience itself and then expand upon it, adding your own preferences to make the activity even more enjoyable.

For example, if you're interested in experiencing tea ceremonies and have an affinity for Japanese culture, you can arrange to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a tea house. If you're curious about singing bowls and also feel like taking a stroll by the seaside, see if there are any singing bowl workshops near the beach. If you're unsure about ideas, you can also check out the upcoming events for inspiration!

Maintaining a Daily Routine

You can try maintaining some aspects of your daily routine while traveling, keeping some of your favorite habits that help us easily connect the shifts in our daily lives.

I don't purposely stay up late or sleep in when I'm on a trip. Instead, I enjoy maintaining my usual daily routine, experiencing what it's like to live in different places at the same time.

During my travels, I like to maintain my morning routine. I stretch a bit in bed, then slowly freshen up. After taking care of myself, I brew a cup of coffee. From boiling water and grinding beans to the satisfying aroma when the coffee is ready, each step is a moment for my daily mindfulness practice.

By maintaining this small habit, I can adjust my mood to a calm and joyful state every morning. Whether it's in my everyday life or during a trip, I can greet the day with a positive mindset.

Spend Time With Yourself

Spending time alone is a way to understand oneself and the beginning of self-healing. Through solitude, we can savor the nuances of our inner feelings more attentively.

What do you like? What do you dislike? Where do your worries come from? What kind of life do you envision?

If it's difficult to find moments of solitude in your daily life, why not try setting aside some alone time during your travels? Whether you're traveling solo or incorporating activities into your itinerary that are meant for individual experiences (such as soaking in a hot spring, trying meditation, or finding a tranquil spot), or even simply doing nothing and finding a comfortable place to relax and empty your mind.

Solitude is also a form of deep relaxation and healing. It allows you to fully focus on yourself and replenish the social battery that may have been depleted in your everyday interactions.

Record Your Journey

Recording your journey is also a way of having a conversation with yourself.

Set aside a small portion of time each day to reflect on the profound and interesting moments.

Some people prefer to write travel journals, but apart from words, there are various sensory ways to document your travel experiences. Our senses such as scents, sounds, music, visuals, and more can evoke specific memories.

For example, I am particularly sensitive to sounds, so I enjoy recording sounds during my travels and keeping track of the playlists I listened to while on the journey. Every time I play them back, I can recall the sense of relaxation and healing I experienced at that time.

During times of overwhelming stress in our daily lives, revisiting past travel records can bring back vivid images and emotions, making it easier for us to alleviate stress.

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