If you’re interested in topics like holistic health and natural healing, then you’ve probably wondered:
Can travel be a form of natural healing?
And if so, how?
How does travel heal, and what does this look like in practice?
That’s exactly what Colleen is covering in this blog post, which she contributed to The Travel Coach Network for publishing.
If you like this, then you’ll really love our interview on the Travel Coach Network Podcast (included below!).
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Where Travel Meets Natural Healing
As a certified health, nutrition, and travel coach, I bring a unique perspective to the table.
Having coached women towards improved holistic health and well-being for many years, I can confidently say that women need travel experiences.
The question isn’t so much why a travel experience would benefit overall well-being, as we’ve all experienced the desire to get away for a while.
Rest and relaxation are good for all of us.
Natural Healing and Recovery From a Health Condition
The better question is how can a travel experience enhance healing if a woman is recovering from a health condition?
Travel is far from routine when it comes to a “prescription” for better health outcomes.
Although “prescribing” travel may seem far outside the traditional recovery plan, certified health, wellness, and travel coaches like me are here to change that.
We don’t just recommend travel; we help our clients design these experiences, from selecting the right destination to planning the activities and empowering women to explore new paths to healing.
Recovery Trips Are a Growing Trend
Over the years, I’ve discovered a common thread when helping women change their lifestyles and habits post-health crisis.
Time and time again, the common denominator seems to be identical: their home environment.
Understanding this, we can work together to make meaningful changes. What’s more, those changes can often begin while experiencing a curated wellness travel experience, which might include guided meditation lessons, healthy cooking classes, or outdoor activities in a serene yet nurturing environment.
Case Study for Travel As Natural Healing: Life After Lupus
Take my client, Regina*, for example.
Regina had been recently diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that manifests in multiple body systems. Lupus can become debilitating, and learning to manage it is often challenging.
Because I understand that Regina is more than a single diagnosis, I went to work helping her to heal her immune system naturally through a whole-body, holistic approach.
After a few weeks of working with her to improve her immune health, it became clear that Regina still struggled with creating new habits around healthy eating because she had never learned to cook.
Although she understood the benefits of eating a whole-food, plant-based diet instead of daily fast-food meals to reduce her systemic inflammation, she was stuck.
She needed to overcome her fear of cooking food at home and learn how to navigate her kitchen.
Through several coaching sessions, Regina began to uncover long-hidden desires to embrace cultural experiences she had never had the opportunity to explore as a younger woman.
When I suggested she consider a vegetarian cooking retreat in Peru, I saw the sparkle in her eyes return.
This week-long travel experience allowed Regina to immerse herself in Peruvian culture while also learning the basics of cooking healthy meals.
The empowerment she felt from learning new skills and embracing new experiences was truly inspiring.
The Connection Between Natural Healing and Food While Traveling
Strolling through Peruvian farmer’s markets with her host, Regina learned to spot the freshest vegetables through sight, smell, and touch.
This immersive experience taught her practical skills she could bring home with her and allowed her to fully engross herself in the culture, nourishing her soul and providing a much-needed break from her daily routine.
Learning how to shop for and prepare healthy meals was a game-changer for Regina.
Taking time for herself in such a profound way helped her manage her autoimmune condition and filled her with a profound sense of accomplishment and wanderlust.
She returned home to tell me that this wellness travel experience opened a whole new world for her, giving her a sense of empowerment and control over her health that she had never experienced before.
This sense of control and accomplishment is something we can all strive for in our wellness journey.
How to Experience the Natural Healing Benefits of Travel Without Going Abroad
But suppose a wellness trip to another country isn’t possible for you.
No worries!
Travel coaches can help you curate an experience closer to home that aligns with your desired lifestyle changes.
From immersive sleep retreats to mindfulness and digital detox destinations, there’s a wellness travel experience for almost everyone.
Depending on your interests and needs, coaches can help you consider a first-time yoga retreat, a spa weekend, a nature hike, or even a wellness cruise if it aligns with your health goals.
The possibilities are endless.
Other options could include self-guided experiences.
Traveling to a lakeside town where you can stroll along paved walking paths or sit and relax as the lake waters sparkle in the sun can be incredibly healing to the mind, body, and soul.
I’ve helped several clients curate these types of experiences closer to home.
These are what we call ‘immersive experiences,’ where you fully engage with your surroundings and activities, allowing you to experience the healing benefits of your chosen destination.
Not only is the change of environment helpful in creating new habits that will support healing, but so is opening your mind to new experiences.
Often, we become unconsciously stuck in our ways, unable to see alternatives to live a more wellness-focused life.
Travel lets us experience how other towns, cultures, and countries prioritize health and wellness.
How I Discovered Natural Healing Through Travel
It was during a trip to Cozumel, Mexico, where I learned about the healing powers of a temazcal.
The word “temazcal” comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning house of heat or sweat lodge.
This ancient ritual was to cleanse the body, purify the soul, and restore balance.
Benefits can range from relieving stress and healing physical injuries to easing respiratory disease.
Temazcal is also known to improve blood circulation and stimulate the immune system, perfect for anyone striving to rebuild healthy immunity.
An ancestral shamanic ritual practiced by ancient civilizations, including the Maya, it is still prevalent throughout Mexico.
I wouldn’t have discovered ancient healing practices without immersing myself in different cultures.
When we allow our bodies to experience alternative therapies, they are often the catalysts for embracing a whole-body wellness approach upon returning home.
Conclusion: Travel is a Form of Natural Healing
Travel as a stepping stone along one’s healing path is a notion whose time has come.
If the thought of traveling as you heal seems overwhelming, remember that you’re not alone.
Hiring a travel coach who can act as an ally and thought leader while you consider wellness travel options may be the best medicine of all.
It’s important to consider all your options and find the best path for your healing journey.
*Regina’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Listen to Colleen O’Neill Mulvihill on the Travel Coach Network Podcast
If you’re interested in learning more about natural healing, or if you want to hear Colleen’s whole story, click here to listen to my interview with Colleen on the Travel Coach Network Podcast.
About the Author
Colleen O’Neill Mulvihill is a certified travel coach, holistic nutritionist, and health coach.
She’s a published travel writer with over 60 articles published to date, and has written for Brainz Magazine, Go World Travel, The Wellness Universe, and Maryland Road Trips, to name a few.
With her passion for health and wellbeing driving her endeavors, she’s created a Holistic Health and Wellness website aimed at women over 40 who want to reclaim their health and vitality through travel.
Having tackled significant health issues herself, she now helps guide other women toward their own paths of holistic healing through her coaching, writing, and social media inspiration.
Follow Colleen At Her Links Below
Click Here to Go to Her Website
Read Colleen’s Article in Brainz Magazine
Follow Colleen on Instagram and Threads
Follow Colleen on Facebook
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