Travel Fit Tip: Airplane Stretches

At some point in your travels, you've probably wondered how you can be so tired; when all you've done is sit on an airplane for three hours. The simple fact is that our bodies are made for movement.

Your lymphatic system is responsible for moving nutrients to various cells, as well as collecting waste products from those same cells. Movement powers the lymphatic system, so if you aren't moving (1) your cells aren't getting the nutrients they need, and (2) the toxic waste they produce is building up.

Counteract the effects of sitting by practicing some inflight stretching. If you can get up and walk around, do so. Unfortunately, we know that frequently this isn't possible, so here are some stretches that you can do right from your seat:

• Shrug your shoulders. When lowering your shoulders, concentrate on pulling your shoulder blades down and back. Repeat five times.
• Place one hand on the seat beside you, palm down. Reach up and over with your other hand. Repeat on other side.
• Extend your arms out in front of you, interlacing your fingers. Tuck your chin to your chest and round out your back, reaching as far ahead with your hands as possible.
• Open your chest by clasping your hands behind your back.
• Rotate your trunk first to one side, then the other. When rotating to the right, I find it helpful to place my right hand up on the top of the seat, and my left hand on the outside of my right thigh.
• Get a good torso stretch by reaching as high overhead as you can with both hands.