My essential MS tool kit to make travel easier and more accessible
My husband, Craig, and I just got back from a big trip to Italy. It would have been easy to be stressed or nervous about whether it was going to be too much for me, whether I would get tired or fatigued from too much walking. Instead, I planned the trip with as much ease in mind as possible and we were so excited to travel abroad.
By using the mindset I teach at my MS online program, The MS Stage, along with my tools, I was able to walk further and faster than I have in a long time. I used walking tools, affirmations, visualizations, mindset, and gratitude, and it all worked to make the trip joyful for both of us.
I did tons of research ahead of time on gluten free restaurants and menus. I worked with a travel agent to book guides and drivers to make tours and travel between destinations simpler. I had never worked with a travel agent before, but they were super helpful in terms of making an itinerary and planning easier access to certain places.
Products to make traveling with MS easier
Cionic Neural Sleeve
My Cionic Neural Sleeve came in perfect timing before we left for the trip. I used it daily to aid in walking. I had been training on it the weeks leading up to our trip in preparation and getting used to it. If you are interested in getting a Cionic Neural Sleeve to help improve your own walking, you can get a $50 off discount with my code - ZCCE - when you purchase at https://cionic.com/
Michael Graves Design Cane
I ordered a new cane from Michael Graves Design, which I had been eyeing for quite a while. It is not only sleek and stylish, but super functional and easy to use which I am ALL about. I got the Quick-fold cane which folds at the push of a button, making it easy to throw in my backpack for travel and even hang on a table at a restaurant or stand up straight with a different cane tip. It is AWESOME, and I love every color. The black and green are my favorite. Check out the Q&A I did with them here.
By Acre Rollator
I ordered a By Acre rollator just in case I needed it. I had never owned or used a rollator before, but Craig and I decided it would be a good thing to have with us just in case I need it for long walks or taking a break to sit down. It makes situations less stressful. So I changed my mindset around it and now see it as a tool that can help me. I’m not going to lie. It took some meditation and breathing around making that decision, but at the end of the day, anything that reduces my stress response with travel is worth it. We planned a very active trip with a lot of moving parts, and having a mobility aid helped me to spend more time in museums and take it all in with presence. Rather than going into victim mode or thinking “woe is me” for “needing” a tool, I choose to see it as just that - a tool! It’s there to help me.
When we pulled up to St. Peter’s Basilica, I noticed it was a very long walk to the other side of the piazza to get to the entrance. There was a long line, but I grabbed “Little Bug,” (the name I have given my dear racing green rollator) and we were off with the Cionic Neural Sleeve on my leg too and my Michael Graves Design foldable cane in my purse in case I needed it. Through steps and cobblestones, I was able to get all the way across the piazza, and our guide took us straight to the front of the line where Little Bug came in handy and allowed us to proceed without waiting. Little did I know that we would be stepping into the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my life. It was such a special moment. And as I stepped back in time, my tears flowed from the beauty. Even more special was when I was able to go into a prayer room where you are allowed to sit and say a prayer. Honestly, if I hadn’t had all of my tools that day, I never would have been able to make it on our 10 hour excursion through some of the most epic sites and views of Rome and experience all of the amazing things I was able to do. What a true gift I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Meditation and Visualization
The last but certainly not least tool I use of course is meditation and visualization. I visualize myself daily doing all the things I love to do or want to be able to do again with perfectly healthy and happy cells and NO limitations. In case you missed it, my brand new guided meditation album is out now! This album contains 11 of the 12 core MS healing meditations of The MS Stage program, my women’s MS support group. You can grab it here, and when you do I recommend doing all 11 meditations in a row whether if it’s daily or weekly, and then picking your faves and doing them as many times as you want.
iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1706562683?ls=1&app=itunes
Apple Music - http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1706562683
Shifting attitudes to travel better with MS
I had been meditating and visualizing for months all of the walking I would do in Italy. And I tell you what, it all came to life and even better than I imagined. There were a few moments that were challenging, but when things got hard, I either shifted my attitude or my plans or both and it all worked out! I was able to be present in every moment.
And honestly I found that even though Craig was with me, it is easier for me to walk independently when I am not holding onto him.
When we don’t let ourselves be the victim anymore, our bodies begin to feel confident on their own and take their power back. It was something I noticed time and time again. I wanted to hold his hand while we walked together like “normal couples,” I found that doing so in a relaxed state versus grabbing his tense arm allowed me the ease and flow of my body and soul knowing that we, my body and I, could do it on our own with our tools whenever we wanted to. And while I could hold Craig’s hand whenever I wanted to, it wasn’t going to be when we were walking. I was flowing with my tools, because that is what my body said she needed.
Check out The MS Stage Resource page!
If you’re interested in other heath and wellness tools to support multiple sclerosis, check out my resource page. You’ll find my favorite products from toothpaste and meditation accessories to cookbooks and beauty products. I also have a list of my favorite books and some food and drink go-tos.
Here is a meditation I led in a class recently that guides you into a practice of feeling unconditional love all around you and within you. This is a special one, so bookmark it, and return to it whenever you feel like you need a boost.