Travelling, sitting in the car, driving

[zanshin]

Came to mind as reading taoiseasy's excellent advice about sitting in chairs. I like to travel and go places, but it seems like it just drains me anymore. No good way to sit in car, get terribly stiff, I know I keep my shoulders up too much when I drive and try to keep them relaxed. Weekend trips hardly seem enjoyable, by the time I relax and loosen up it's time to go back. Perhaps the metal element of the car is not good for me. Any advice for travelling and driving/car rides?

[thelerner]

I think the element of watching for danger is a slow drain on us. The need to be vigilant burns up mental energy.

 

I find a good audio CD or podcast makes the time go by faster. As I've gotten older I'll take stop more frequently every 2 or 3 hours to get some fresh air and stretch. Plus as I ride I'll flex my back, lift out of my seat a bit, shake one arm, then the other, stuff like that.

[hydrogen]

I always try to blend in when the environment is pleasant, i.e. make my body vibrate at the same frequency as my surroundings.

 

From my experience, the noise inside a moving car is very comforting.

[i am]

I used to get such a stiff neck and shoulders from driving that it almost ruined trips. Between the way I've learned to hold my head neck & shoulders from internal martial arts and yoga (which sometimes contradict each other), its now 95% gone.

 

If you focus enough on how to keep loose and keep from getting tense and stressing things, there will be a big difference. It crosses over from everyday life into how your posture is while you drive.

 

But driving is still draining...

Edited April 30, 2013 by i am

[thelerner]

In August I've got a 1,586.3 mile road trip to Black Rock Utah, if I leave now and didn't stop gmaps said I'd be there in 23 hours 4 minutes. I've gotta a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and I'm wearing sunglasses.. eh, I'll wait.

Edited May 1, 2013 by thelerner

[i am]

Yep.

 

There were days when that would have sounded great to me! No more...I prefer the slower path now! To a point...

 

Is that down south? I went to school in Utah, and spent a lot of time in the desert. I still make mostly yearly trips down there. It's very rejuvenating for me.

 

August, though...no so much.