Finding Calm at High Altitude: A Travel Wellness Tip from the Land of Enchantment

There's something magical about stepping into a landscape that feels entirely new to your senses. The earthy tones, the quality of light, the expansive skies—this was my experience visiting New Mexico for the first time recently. As I explored the artistic streets of Santa Fe and soaked in the vibrant culture of Albuquerque, I was captivated not just as a traveler but as an event planner constantly on the lookout for extraordinary retreat destinations.
But today, I'm not here to tell you about the turquoise jewelry or the red chile ristras (though trust me, we'll get to those soon enough)! Instead, I want to share a personal wellness challenge I encountered—and the natural solution that saved my sleep.

When Elevation Meets Heart Rate: My Nighttime Challenge
Picture this: Days filled with exploration, adobe architecture, and green chile everything. I felt fantastic wandering through galleries and markets, seemingly adapting well to the high elevation of Santa Fe (7,000 feet above sea level!) and Albuquerque. But when nighttime arrived and I settled into my hotel room by 9pm, my body had different plans.
Despite feeling physically tired, my heart had apparently joined a drumming circle of its own! As someone who carefully monitors my higher heart rate and blood pressure, I could immediately feel the difference—my heart was working overtime, beating harder and faster than usual as I tried to rest. Hour after hour passed (hotel room by 9pm, sleep nowhere in sight until around 1am), leaving me staring at the ceiling, all too aware of each pronounced heartbeat.

My Natural Travel Companion to the Rescue
This is where I'm eternally grateful for my travel wellness kit. As I've been a doTERRA wellness advocate for several years, I started packing mini travel bottles of doTERRA essential oils for various situations.
One small bottle became my nighttime hero: Ylang Ylang essential oil.

For several years, I've relied on this floral wonder to help naturally reduce my heart rate when needed. That first restless night in New Mexico, I remembered my trusted ally. With gentle, intentional movements, I applied a few drops in a circular motion over my chest area for about a minute, while taking slow deep breaths.

The effect wasn't instantaneous magic—but it was something better: gentle, natural support. Within about 10-15 minutes, I could feel my heart rate decrease by approximately 10 BPM. Just enough to quiet that internal drumbeat and allow sleep to finally find me.

A Wellness Reminder for Elevation Travelers
Whether you're planning a personal trip or organizing a group wellness retreat to beautiful high-elevation destinations like New Mexico, Colorado, or Utah, remember that our bodies sometimes need extra support to adjust. The decreased oxygen levels at higher altitudes cause our hearts to work harder to deliver oxygen throughout the body—a perfectly normal physiological response, but one that can disrupt sleep and comfort.

Some natural approaches that might help:

• Hydrate significantly more than usual (I aimed for twice my normal water intake)
• Arrive a day early before activities begin, giving your body adjustment time
• Pack natural support tools like essential oils that work for your body
• Consider gentle movement like stretching before bed rather than vigorous exercise
• Take deeper, more intentional breaths throughout the day

Looking Ahead: Wellness Retreats in the Land of Enchantment
This personal experience has only deepened my excitement about planning group and wellness retreats in New Mexico. Imagine yoga sessions against the backdrop of those painted desert skies, meditation walks through high desert landscapes, and wellness workshops in spaces filled with natural light and adobe warmth.
The culturally rich environments of Santa Fe and Albuquerque offer the perfect settings for groups seeking both adventure and restoration. From the healing traditions of indigenous cultures to the artistic inspiration around every corner, these destinations align beautifully with holistic approaches to events and travel.

I'll be sharing more about specific retreat locations, cultural experiences, and natural design elements in upcoming posts. But for now, I'll leave you with this: Sometimes our travel challenges become our most valuable teachers—and the solutions we discover become essential additions to our wellness toolkits.

Have you experienced elevation adjustments in your travels? Or do you have a natural remedy that's saved your journey? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
Until next time, happy (and well) travels!