DEFINE MINDFUL HOW TO

When you are open, aware, and connecting with the local people and culture, you are practising what I call mindful travel. But the magic moment has nothing to do with money, luxury, or consumerism and this is why, for me, it’s an essential element of mindful travel.

It may however be influenced by the amount of effort you put into the journey, or the openness of your heart. The magic moment can happen at anytime, and luckily it is in no way affected or influenced by how much money you spend. It could be the soaring sight of the mighty Himalayas in Kumaon or rituals at dusk in mystical Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh. Or you’re grieving an irreplaceable loss and you find solace in a sacred river.

Maybe you’re feeling hungry and alone on a long train ride in India, and a family dressed in their shiny best clothes shares their elaborate lunch with you. Or the way the early morning sun filters through the trees of Kanha National Park, lighting up a veritable garden of eden. It could be when a child hands you a candy on board a bus travelling through rural Rajasthan. This is the essence of transformative travel, letting a situation or place affect and change you. It’s like a whole new universe opens up within you, and with dawning realization you understand more about the place - and about yourself. It’s a moment of transcendence, when the beauty or truth of a situation or place suddenly hits you. Or waking up in a remote Himalayan village. Or going on a spiritual journey to Tiruvannamalai. This is a perfect example, My first bus ride in India. What is the magic moment? Hard to explain, except through story. A magic moment: Releasing diyas into the Narmada River, Maheshwar The Magic Moment by Mariellen In this collaborative post, I’ve asked 10 travellers to share their take on mindful travel, what it means to them, and tips. But of course I am always learning and growing and my definition of mindful, or responsible travel, keeps changing too. I wrote about My journey to mindful travel here, for my speech at the Himalayan Travel Mart. And as a blogger and travel writer, I have always tried to learn as much as I can about India, and show respect for the culture in my writing. I never wanted to be “merely a tourist,” I wanted a more immersive experience of travel. Mindful travel has always been important to me, since I first started travelling in India in 2005. And join me on Instagram where I tell mindful travel stories.Subscribe to The Mindful Traveller newsletter.Please join the Mindful Travel group on Facebook.

DEFINE MINDFUL HOW TO

Learn how to make a positive impact when you travel and increase your chances of having magic moments. With a mindful approach, travel becomes a meditation … an experience of being alive in the world … instead of a consumer-oriented, commodified activity designed to maximize your pleasure and keep you distracted. When you take a mindful approach to travel, you notice things. To me, being mindful means being aware and encompasses the spiritual aspect of life. There is an entire section devoted to Responsible Travel on this site, but for me, the phrase mindful travel has an added connotation to it.

Are we respecting local people and animals, and not using them simply as props for our selfies and Instagram feed?.

Do we carry a reusable water bottle and refrain from adding more plastic pollution to the planet?.

Are we carefully choosing destinations and accommodations that practise sustainability?.

Are we having a positive impact on the local environment and community?.

Is the money we’re spending on our trip benefiting the local community?.

Also called responsible travel, sustainable tourism, and ecotourism, mindful travel asks us to consider our travel decisions more carefully and ask ourselves some tough questions that can be uncomfortable, such as: It’s used to describe an approach to travel - and to life - that is more aware of the impact our travels and our decisions have on the environment and on local communities. Mindful travel is a phrase that is becoming increasingly common. TRAVEL NEEDS TO CHANGE … and become more responsible, sustainable and mindful. What is Mindful Travel? Ten Travellers and bloggers offer their take on the evolution of travel

5 tips to start your mindful travel journey by Jazzmine.

A thoughtful approach to nature by Lauren.

Mindfulness and animal welfare by Bret and Mary.

Choose a homestay and make friends for life by Shubham.

Everything starts with awareness by Ansoo.

Opening up to new cultures … and new ideas by Gaurav.

A journey with the Raika community by Philippa.

Making a commitment to mindful travel by Shivya.

What is Mindful Travel? Ten Travellers and bloggers offer their take on the evolution of travel.

Define mindful