HEALTHY TRAVEL ARTICLES

By Barbara Howard

Educational travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, the learning aspect of travel is important – with about 30.2 million adults having taken an educational trip in 2003.

Interestingly, educational travel is also a growing segment of the burgeoning natural health and wellness industry. In his best selling book, The Next Trillion, noted economist, Paul Zane Pilzer, states, “By the year 2010, an additional $1 Trillion annually of the US economy will be devoted to the wellness industry.” As more and more people take responsibility for their health and wellness, there is more demand for healthy educational travel programs.

Not to be confused with conferences, healthy travel is educational/experiential travel which focuses on wellness – a true mind, body, spirit experience from the beginning to the end of the travel program. From visiting sacred sites around the world, to discovering your true purpose in life, to learning how to get healthy and stay well, healthy educational travel programs abound. Programs usually include transportation, lodging, meals, excursions – plus opportunities for meaningful, transformational experiences that aren’t included in a typical travel scenario.

One recent program which I attended was a trip to the Southwest U.S.A. sponsored by Clayton College of Natural Health. The educational component was studying the healing ways of Native Americans - herbal healing and spiritual beliefs and practices – Navajo, Zuni and Hopi Peoples. Along with sightseeing in Sedona, we visited sacred sites. We went on plant identification walks – all fun and included great information. We learned the ways of praying with tobacco or corn pollen. The spiritual aspect of the program was the opportunity to participate in ceremonies as a Sweat Lodge and a Medicine Wheel Ceremony.

I have many special memories of that trip. One that stands out was the sacred ceremony we had in the home of a Hopi family where we prayed with corn pollen. We all stood in a circle, and as it was my turn to kneel and offer my pollen, I felt a rush of gratitude rise within me that deepened my connection to the universe in a way that I can’t explain, but that I indeed understand. In our host’s humble abode, we learned that Hopi life is filled with ceremony. We imagined living in ceremony every day. All who traveled on this unique program experienced a connection and had an adventure they will never forget.

Educational travel is more than sightseeing, education, and touring. I find that when like-minded people gather to go on a true educational travel journey, the journey may not just be over space and time. The journey is also usually within each participant. People depart transformed in mind, body and spirit.

Fulfill your most passionate healthy travel desires and educational quests today with a meaningful, learning vacation!

Next time: The Healing Garden Island of Kauai

Learn more:
www.mindbodytravel.com

Or call 1-800-504-3557 to develop your own program.

Barbara Howard can be reached at writermarketer1@yahoo.com

© 2004 Barbara Howard. All rights reserved.