Why would I want a concierge?

We can locate/source:

Environmentally friendly dry cleaners

Bike rentals

Public transportation

Vegetarian restaurants

Exercise opportunities

Picnic supplies

Locally-owned businesses

Food co-ops

and much more...

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If you are interested in concierge services for a trip you are already planning or want to plan a new trip with Green Concierge Travel, send us an email to get started at info@greenconciergetravel.com  Or just give us a call
++1 877.200.2840 toll free or ++1 608.204.2717

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General Travel/first-Time Client Information (92 KB)

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Our Concierge Services

We know that when you go somewhere that you want to support the same types of businesses and services that you do at home – the green cleaner who gave up toxic dry cleaning chemicals, the restaurant supporting local farmers or serving sustainable fish choices. Or you might want to ride a bike, drop in on a yoga class or take a picnic to take in an areas natural beauty. Whether you are setting up a business meeting over lunch or getting ideas for your leisure time, we are here to help.

Forest Floor Service
In our Forest Floor service, we provide basic information on the services that you specify. Fee $35

Canopy Service
In our Canopy service, we help complete the itinerary, make reservations and fill in the gaps for you to enjoy your visit and the local community in a seamless way. Fee $50+ (depending upon the length of stay)

Taking Care of Yourself While Traveling
Self Care & Yoga Poses to Prevent Jet Lag

from Nancy C. Pullen, Madison, WI

One simple activity is to bend over with a straight back and stretch for 5 seconds. This will work in flight and between flights.

Travel is usually coupled with stress as we rush to get ready, deal with delays, in addition to the general lack of normalcy of our basic physical needs. Airline travel often throws off our biorhythms, specifically our circadian rhythm—especially if traveling west to east. Traveling by air is stressful for our bodies from inadequate sleep and liquid intake, as well, as our eating and exercise patterns are thrown off. Any of these factors can result in feeling tired, dehydrated, tense and irritable. The more stressed before and during travel, the more one is prone to jet lag.

One way to prevent jet lag and promote a better sense of ease with airline travel is to plan ahead. Plan to drink more fluids/water before, during, and after travel (you can bring an empty water bottle thru the check system – then fill it up with water before boarding the plane), bring healthy snacks (such as fruit, carrots, nuts, yogurt, etc.), and do some simple exercises on the plane. Overall when traveling, eat less than usual and avoid alcoholic beverages. Also, try not to carry too much weight with you to prevent muscle strain or injury.

Some simple activities on a plane can help prevent sluggishness and the more dangerous blood clots (thrombosis) in your legs. Try several simple activities below on the plane:

• Get up several times during the flight and walk up and down the halls;
• While standing, at the end of an aisle (or maybe try in your seat), roll your ankles several times in each direction, point your toes and then pull them back, and lift each knee up a few inches using your abdominal muscles;
• In the bathroom, over a chair or at the end of the aisle, bend forward with a straight back at the hips and hold this stretch 5 seconds and repeat;
• Roll your shoulders several times each direction,
• Roll your neck slowly by first dropping your head slowly forward and hold one Breath then roll it to one side (as if emptying your ears of water) hold one complete breath, then slowly roll your head to the other side and do the same;
• Lay a few blankets or a pillow over your front table, fold your arms and lay your head onto your arms and rest there for 3-5 minutes.

Simple relaxations exercises such as three to five minutes of slow abdominal breathing can be useful once in your seat on the plane. Try a relaxation breath pattern that consists of breathing down into your lower lungs at the bottom of the ribs for a count of 5 - 6 seconds in, hold without closing off your throat 3-4 counts, and then, breathe out slowly 6-7. After you have done this for 6-10 breaths stay laid back in the seat and enjoy your relaxation for a few minutes. For the relaxation pattern, be sure the breath out is longer than the breath in. [i.e, breath IN 4-6, HOLD 3-4, OUT 5-8.]

In addition, once you arrive at your destination a few simple yoga poses can help refresh you and will help prevent jet lag.

• Try lying on your bed with knees up and feet near your rump then lower legs to one side and move into a wonderful full body twist with hands out to the side, hold this for a few breaths then try the other side.
• Try putting a pillow or small a blanket folded lengthwise for your spine and allow your head to gently hang down backwards. This opens up the chest, stretches the spinal muscles and is a wonderful resting stretch. Try it for 2-4 minutes.
• Finally, the most important pose to reduce jet lag. Lying on the floor with "Legs up the wall" (body in an L shape) is a wonderful way to rejuvenate yourself after plane travel and is know to prevent jet lag by allowing the blood in your legs to drain out and bring fresh blood in. To do this, find a suitable wall or door (not to be used for five minutes). Sit sideways next to a wall with one hip up next to the wall, then as you lower your body rise up your legs up along the wall with your hips and rump up as close as comfortable for you with your legs straight, so your torso is perpendicular to the wall. Place your hands out to your side or lay them along your body. You can use a towel for your head but do not use a pillow so to keep your neck in alignment. While laying there, practice abdominal /relaxation breathing for 5 minutes. This will reduce fatigue, renew your energy, and get your circulation back on track.

Legs up the wall: Nancy has modified this stretch to show using a folded blanket for slight neck support and hands in a relaxed contemplative position.

Legs up the wall: Nancy shows this stretch without any neck support and legs and rump a little away from the wall and arms extended. More flexible travelers will be able to get right next to the wall.

For a more in depth description of how to deal with jet lag and general relaxation, look for Judith Lasater’s chapter on Disturbed Rhythms in her book RELAX AND RENEW, published in 1995. She is a physical therapist and master yoga teacher; this book covers many other great restful and renewing yoga poses for a general stressful life. It is remarkable how much intended rest poses can help us bring ease to our busy days.

Also, practicing in regular hatha yoga into your week can also bring more ease, strength, flexibility, deep relaxation and an overall sense of balance of your body and spirit by quieting your mind. HAPPY TRAVELS

Nancy Pullen is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor in Madison Wisconsin at the Quarry Arts Building, at 715 Hill St. near University Ave. She is also a psychologist in private practice at Isthmus Psychotherapy (isthmuspsychotherapy.com) and teaches nursing at Edgewood College. Contact her at nccp@tds.net.