Q. I travel a lot as a part of my job, and the travel creates a lot of stress for me. As a result, I am often less productive than I know I can be. What can I do to boost my resistance to all the hassles associated with traveling?

A. In ayurveda, movement is associated with Vata dosha. When you travel a lot, Vata dosha can get out of balance, and that can cause you to feel overwhelmed and less "grounded." Therefore, to boost your resistance to the stress created by frequent travel, the best thing to do is to establish a regular routine and follow a Vata-calming diet.

Here are some tips to help keep Vata dosha in balance:

1. Before and after your trip, keep your routine as regular as you can--eat, sleep and wake up at the same times everyday, and set aside some time every morning and evening for quiet activities such as meditation or sitting with eyes closed and listening to soothing music.

2. Do an ayurvedic massage--abhyanga--every morning, with a calming massage oil.

3. Eat three good meals a day, choosing warm nourishing foods.

4. Drink a cup of warm milk before bed. Boil the milk; then cool it to comfortably warm for better digestibility.

5. Try and get plenty of rest when you are not traveling. This will help strengthen your physical and mental immunity on the occasions that you are on the road.

6. During your trips, drink lots of warm water and stay away from ice-cold drinks, especially caffeinated and carbonated beverages.

7. Taking Amalaki Rasayana on a regular basis can help strengthen natural immunity.