Mindful travel is everything that fits in the here and now of a journey. And also those aspects of yourself that stay in and out of it, you decide where you want to direct your attention. You decide where you want to direct your attention: will that inner voice that keeps you from enjoying the present one hundred percent because it always drags you somewhere else win, or will you embrace the moment with all your being to live it in body and soul during your holiday? Mindfulness will help you become a happy traveller, transmitting that energy of wholeness to the people you meet, the experiences you have and the destinations you visit. Because good vibes feed on good vibes. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Iberostar hotels are designed for you to reconnect with the essential. Throughout this article, we will guide you along a path of self-discovery and personal growth that you can follow during your stay anywhere in the world. We'll explain what this revolutionary philosophy is all about, talk about its benefits and also share some mindfulness exercises for children, as well as some tips to put into practice while you're enjoying your home away from home: your (better) travelling self.
What is mindful travel?
Mindful travel proposes applying mindfulness to travel. The result is a more sustainable, more respectful and more authentic holiday. Mindful travel puts wellbeing at the centre. It offers a holistic (part of a whole) and environmentally responsible approach (it opens you to take an interest in other cultures and care for the environment). It could be said that this approach can accommodate many journeys at the same time, including those aimed at a greater understanding of oneself and others. In this sense, community-based tourism, also known as CT, which allows travellers to engage with local communities on a deeper level, has much to contribute. Ecotourism, gastro-tourism, active and adventure tourism or cultural tourism are shaping this vision through the different manifestations of the same vacational spirit.
The art of being present
Mindfulness exercises will help you master the beautiful art of being present. And no, it's not about sitting for long periods of time with your legs crossed, and your eyes closed while your mind goes blank. Rather, it is about doing every activity, no matter how simple, with full awareness; about enjoying each moment of your holiday with all your senses, including the one that keeps you connected to your heart. A feeling of total joy will expand before you. You will savour and better understand the local food and interact with nature from a different perspective. Focusing on breath and remaining calm helps, although you don't have to become a Buddhist monk overnight to access the power of your own presence. Just concentrate on what you are doing at any given moment, paying as much attention as you can to your physical sensations. As a support, notice the sounds, colours, aromas, textures and tastes of your surroundings. Observe. Feel. And then be grateful.
Appreciating the little things in life
Have you ever gazed at a sunset that left you speechless, taken your first bite of a fruit so aromatic and delicious that, for a few seconds, you forgot all your problems, felt the warmth of the sun and the power of the seawater on your skin on a dreamy beach and thought of nothing else? Appreciating the little things in life (the most fundamental things) is also a form of mindful travel. In these short periods of time, the mind and its incessant activity take a back seat. Travel gives you a unique opportunity to focus on the simplest things, celebrating the gift of being alive and the wonder of existence.
Opening up to possibility
Sometimes we focus so much on the way we think things should be that we find it hard to enjoy the way things really are. In conscious travel, unforeseen events and changes of plans are not a problem to be solved, but an almost mystical occasion to collect inspiring experiences. The mental movement of replacing rigidity with a festive adaptability, and fear of the unknown with an attentive openness to adventure, will take you to incredible places; not only geographically speaking but also within your being. It is about embracing all that life makes available to you.
For example, you may have never been scuba diving before, and during one of your next escapades, you may be presented with the possibility of swimming among coral reefs on a Caribbean island paradise. At first, you may be reluctant: "What if this plan is not for me?" Even if you have the option of starting from scratch with certified instructors at your hotel's diving school, those intrusive thoughts will still be nagging at you - just because it's out of the ordinary. Mindful travel says that if you dare to try something different, if you dare to honour the opportunity, you are one step closer to true enlightenment. Again, you don't have to become a Buddha to reach it.
Why apply mindfulness during your holidays?
More awareness
The benefits of mindful travel are endless. If you follow the above tips, you will begin to notice a primal clarity and lucidity within yourself, stripped of any conditioning that prevents you from evolving and experiencing. You will be able to observe the world, observe others and observe yourself without judgement. You will enter what is called a state of consciousness. This is why, when we speak of conscious travel, we are referring to a type of holiday where both what you experience and what you feel (and consequently also what you learn) is intensified. Travelling in this way means making the most of each and every moment of your stay - surely this is one of your goals when you travel!
Respect for the Earth and all beings that inhabit it.
You will never perceive your symbiotic relationship with nature in a purer and more real way than when, by distancing yourself from your rational brain and coming closer to your core, you also come closer to your place on this planet as part of a universal web. That web is made up of all the animals and plants on Earth. Mindfulness supports all existence, promoting environmental protection by breaking down the fictitious barriers between species and creating bonds by showing them. So, if natural forests or marine ecosystems such as coral reefs already seemed amazing to you before practising mindfulness, wait until you see what it feels like to internalise all that magnificence from a state of absolute union.
Physical, mental and spiritual health
You may have already guessed that healthy holiday living goes beyond staying active through sport or nourishing your body with healthy food and drink, although these aspects are also important for mindful travel. If your purpose encompasses not only physical health, but also mental and spiritual health (it's all linked), mindfulness and meditation will certainly contribute to feeling healthy from the inside out. By meditating, you will be laying the foundation for your happiness. Other dynamic outdoor activities, such as cooking and craft workshops, hiking and cycling excursions and seaside massages and treatments, will emphasise the conviction that wherever you are, there is nothing better than you being here and now. At these Iberostar hotels with spa and relaxation, all you have to do is let yourself be pampered by expert hands.
Connecting with others
Conscious travel strengthens existing bonds and creates new ones. Even if at some vital moment you decide to go off on your own to explore the world, that determination will push you out of your comfort zone to get to know yourself better. In company, getaways with friends will bring you and your beasts closer together. You will live experiences together, and by being fully present in these group experiences, you will also inhabit each other's inner selves. The same will be true for romantic holidays as a couple or family trips, where young and old will have fun and learn to exercise mindfulness by sharing it.
Lower stress levels and greater concentration
You come back from your holidays seemingly calm and relaxed but, when you have to face the routine again, you feel more stressed than when you left, and you find it hard to pick up the pace and maintain your focus. You also find it hard to get back into the swing of things and maintain your focus. Does this feeling sound familiar? Well, mindful getaways will help make the return less of a struggle. If, during the trip, you have worked on your mental capacity to focus on a single activity, harmonise your breathing, perceive the sensations of your body and appreciate and be grateful for everything around you, when you return you will have lower levels and greater concentration. In addition, conscious, quality rest promotes creativity, resilience and the brain's ability to be productive.
Mindfulness in children: exercises to practice during your trip
Playful meditation
Mindfulness with children can be approached as an exciting game. Focusing on a single mindful leisure activity, rather than scattering attention to everything and nothing at once, will help them have a great time on holiday too. Help them by eliminating distractions and encouraging entertaining and educational plans. Spending quality time as a family will benefit you all. Want more? At Iberostar's Star Camp spaces they will make friends while awakening their talents and creativity. The programme is based on the theory of multiple intelligences, which holds that intelligence is built through cooperation and interrelation. In addition, all the games are designed to encourage environmental awareness. While they stay in the now, you will rest and relax in your own quiet break.
Observing and naming: the power of silence
One of the mindfulness exercises that works best for young children is to observe and name. First, at a given moment, ask them to be quiet and identify something that they can perceive with their senses and that is within their range of action. For example, the sound of the waves in the sea, the taste of an ingredient when it comes into contact with the palate, or the colours of the decor in your hotel room. Then, encourage them to describe what they notice about that element, but without going into analysis or value judgements. Simply name it as it is. For example: do the waves sound strong or soft, does it taste sweet, salty or rather sour, what tones stand out around it? In more advanced training, children will also learn to recognise the emotions that different situations on the journey provoke in them, and therefore be able to express them instead of repressing or ignoring them. As an adult, your job is to create a safe space for them to feel free to communicate.
Mindful breathing
Silence, together with the observation of breathing, predisposes people of all ages to be present. And therefore also to welcome relaxation and enjoyment. With children, it is advisable to start with short meditations. In the morning, when you wake up, prioritise physical awareness and avoid screens (even if you are on holiday). Instead of picking up a smartphone or tablet, sit with them and ask them to close their eyes. Then, placing a hand on your own chest or stomach to better understand the flow of inhalation and exhalation, you can count each breath you take until you reach three or five. A few series will be enough. With this gesture, they will get into the habit of being with themselves and the rest of the family to start the day.
Mindful walks
Feeling one's own body is also a way of mindfulness. Exercise helps to activate physical sensations and to understand mental and emotional ones. With mindful walks, you will explore new places, enter extraordinary ecosystems to see their fauna and flora and become closer as a family. Walking routes in natural parks are suitable for all ages. To walk attentively, try to remain silent as much as possible to listen to the sounds of nature, leading your own movement with slow, steady steps to better appreciate the moment. At some point along the route, you can stop to rest and exchange impressions about what you have felt while walking in this way. It is also a good opportunity to do breathing exercises or play at observing and naming before continuing with the walk.
Saying thank you before going to sleep
Mindful travel has a lot to do with gratitude, and gratitude can also be trained. An ideal practice for teaching children and laying the foundation for adult awareness is to share with others three things for which you are grateful at the end of the day. They don't have to be big milestones. You don't even have to think about it too much. A brief pause of appreciation before going to bed is enough for young and old alike to understand that, with enough attention, beauty and abundance can be found in every corner of the human experience. Giving thanks in the present tense prevents the mind from wandering into the past or the future - check out these tips for kids on holiday for more mindful travel ideas!
