Shownotes
Travel can be a powerful catalyst for transformation, and in this lively episode, Zoa Conner spills the tea on how to unlock that magic. Forget about the mundane tourist traps; Zoa emphasizes that for travel to be truly transformational, we must first address our basic wellness needs. What does that mean? It means ensuring that our biological and physiological needs are taken care of before we embark on any grand adventure. Think about it: if you can’t sleep because your hotel bed feels like a slab of concrete or if your breakfast options consist of stale pastries and lukewarm coffee, it’s going to be tough to soak in the beauty of a new city. Zoa uses her own experiences and those of her daughter to illustrate the concept of the 'microclimate problem'—the idea that the immediate environment can significantly influence your travel experience.
With humor and relatable anecdotes, Zoa discusses how the view from your hotel room or the ambiance of the lobby can impact your mood and overall wellness. Imagine waking up to a breathtaking skyline versus staring at a brick wall—it’s a no-brainer which one will inspire you to explore more! Zoa invites listeners to reflect on their own travel experiences, encouraging us to think critically about what makes us feel good while on the road. By prioritizing self-care and wellness in our travel plans, we can unlock the full potential of our adventures. Zoa also introduces her Wellness+Travel profile quiz, a fun resource for tailoring future trips to our unique needs, ensuring that our next getaway is not just another vacation, but a transformative journey toward a healthier and happier self!
Take The Wellness+Travel Profile Quiz: intentional-vitality.com/quiz
Share this episode : https://sustain-your-vitality.captivate.fm/listen
Find Zoa:
Zen and Vitality with Zoa (zenandvitality.com)
Intentional Vitality Retreats (intentional-vitality.com)
Music Credit goes to Lemon Music Studio at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XWZhZ32YrVV5lvpF7cr1E?si=tnbSklR7SJyPNKiHP4MbHA
Transcripts
Welcome to Sustain youn Vitality, the podcast that gives you a nurturing kick in the ass so you can take action every day to feel better, not older.
Speaker A:Your lifestyle holds the power to change how you feel and no matter your age or health issues, you are in the driver's seat.
Speaker A:I'm your host, Zoa Connor and I am a PhD level physicist, a well being lifestyle alchemist, a travel strategist and a retreat leader.
Speaker A:Zenin Vitality with Zoa is my functional wellness studio.
Speaker A:Join me for an intentional Vitality retreat for a whole new way to use travel to support your well being.
Speaker A:I'm here to help you figure out how to lower your stress, increase your energy, put yourself into a healing state, boost your drive and pleasure in life, prevent disease, and feel the best you ever have in your whole life with no regrets later.
Speaker A:Let's go.
Speaker B:This episode of Sustain your Vitality is about my first requirement of transformational travel.
Speaker B:There is a lot of talk about the concept of travel offering transformational experiences.
Speaker B:Travel can indeed change your entire outlook on yourself and how you approach life.
Speaker B:Travel can reinforce what you already know about yourself, especially if other things have covered up the real you.
Speaker B:Travel can strengthen your body, character, desires, viewpoints, creativity and more.
Speaker B:Travel can inspire you to reinvent yourself.
Speaker B:Travel can create opportunities that do not exist in your normal life.
Speaker B:Travel can be so amazing that you never want to return home, but there's an elephant on the airplane with you.
Speaker B:These wonderful transformations will not happen if your basic wellness needs are not being met with ease.
Speaker B:What do I mean by basic needs?
Speaker B:Well, basic needs are easily described by good old Maslow using his pyramid structure called Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
Speaker B:I'm talking about the bottom of the pyramid.
Speaker B:Biological needs, physiological needs, safety of all types.
Speaker B:These are at your base and these needs must be met.
Speaker B:They must be in place before you can climb the pyramid to the things we desire.
Speaker B:You won't want to go explore the world if your digestion is off and you're bloated for two days out of every three, you won't be able to devise your ideal career shift.
Speaker B:When you can't sleep because the bed is so damn hard or the bar downstairs is still banging out dance music at 2am, you won't be able to walk around the lake or hike up the mountain.
Speaker B:If you need a nap after the hotel breakfast or are struggling to put your hands on the high quality foods that your body demands, you won't be able to meet the love of your life or your future best friend when your nervous system sees everyone as a potential danger because you are just a bit toxic from showering where there's mold on the ceiling.
Speaker B:I saw this with my daughter as she navigated traveling as a young adult after recently recovered from a chronic illness.
Speaker B:We referred to it as the microclimate problem.
Speaker B:The city or the small town might be great, but your local microclimate turns out to be the key to your trip, supporting your well being.
Speaker B:The view out of your hotel room window matters.
Speaker B:A view of the skyline or a big tree inspire you to want to see what else the world has to offer you.
Speaker B:A view of the trash bins or directly into someone else's window encourages you to get the hell out of there.
Speaker B:But will you enjoy the excursion?
Speaker B:The trip through the lobby matters.
Speaker B:Does it feel like an obstacle course or a delightful path into the world?
Speaker B:Are your senses assaulted and you rush through to get to your room as fast as possible?
Speaker B:Or do you linger in the lobby cafe and strike up a conversation with the barista or another customer?
Speaker B:The distance to a breakfast that makes you feel great matters.
Speaker B:Yes, that snack bar makes you less hungry, but it also saps your energy and gives you a headache strong enough that you struggle to navigate the bus map.
Speaker B:You need to feel safe enough to go to sleep.
Speaker B:Well, it's not always about the comfort of the bed, but that's part of your sleep equation too.
Speaker B:What kind of noises help you feel safe enough to sleep?
Speaker B:If you're used to city noises, then complete quiet is unsettling to your nervous system.
Speaker B:Maybe you have watched a movie where someone is walking in the woods and all of a sudden it gets incredibly quiet.
Speaker B:Most of us know that the bad thing is about to happen.
Speaker B:If you're used to quiet, maybe because you live in a more rural area, new noises are a danger sign and you will not be able to fall asleep after the 3am siren that passed by or the 5am garbage truck at the back of the help Metal noises travel really far.
Speaker B:My first step when I create a transformational experience for you at a group retreat or during your private well being Metamorphic intensive is to ensure that your basic wellness wellness needs are met by the destination.
Speaker B:So this includes the details of where you stay and what you'll be doing on the retreat.
Speaker B:And that's why I have a curated collection of destinations that we choose from based on your Wellness plus Travel profile.
Speaker B:Your basic needs are unique to you and they can change.
Speaker B:So the Wellness plus Travel profile takes away the guesswork out of figuring out where to go and what your retreat needs to include to optimize your well being.
Speaker B:If you don't know your profile type yet, go ahead and use the link in the Show Notes to take my quiz and you'll receive some parameters that you can use based on your profile for making your next trip just a little bit more wellness positive.
Speaker B:If you have trouble implementing your profile suggestions and want a little bit more help, then please schedule a Wellness plus Travel Strategy session with me and you can then leave that session with 10 action steps for your next trip that we have figured out the details for you.
Speaker B:Let me know how you like your profile tips.
Speaker B:Feel free to message me either using my Intentional Vitality Retreats website or you can find me on LinkedIn and send me a message there.
Speaker B:Happy Travels if you liked what you just heard and want more, you can check out my book Wellness in Motion.
Speaker A:Sustainable Travel and Embodied Practices for the Midlife Earth Conscious Woman or you can check out one of my two websites using the links in the Show Notes.
Speaker A:I have two great ways for you to start working with me.
Speaker A:I would love for you to take my Wellness Travel Profile quiz and discover which Greek Goddess travels like you do.
Speaker A:You will get tips for planning your next trip sent directly to your email.
Speaker A:I would love to meet you with a free new client Wellness Consultation where we can discuss wellness what working with me might look like for you.
Speaker A:The Show Notes have the links for both the quiz and my calendar to make an appointment.
Speaker A:If the Sustain youn Vitality Podcast is helping you understand what you need to feel fabulous in every way with the least amount of effort, please share the show with someone who also needs it.
Speaker A:Sharing is easy, just use the sharing link in the Show Notes.
Speaker A:The Sustain youn Vitality Podcast is a gift from Zen and Vitality with Zoa LLC and Intentional Vitality Retreats based in the State of Maryland, usa.
Speaker A:All the podcast things planning, recording, editing and producing have all been done by me, Zoa Connor, Ph.D. even though you can call me doctor, I'm not a medical professional and your safety is your responsibility.
Speaker A:By listening to this podcast and understanding any movement, nutrition, lifestyle or health protocols discussed, you understand and agree to take full responsibility for your actions.
Speaker A:Zen and Vitality with Zoa are not responsible for any injuries or issues that may occur.
Speaker A:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical, wellness, nutrition, lifestyle or movement and fitness advice.
Speaker A:Always practice any fitness or movement related activities in a safe environment.
Speaker A:I make no claims about the effectiveness of the techniques or protocols discussed or any specific results you may achieve.
Speaker A:I recommend you consult with your health care professional before changing your diet, exercise routine or health care plan.
Speaker A:Zenin Vitality with Zoa and the guests of this podcast are not liable for any injuries or health problems that may arise from following the information presented.
