Traveling to places is always an exciting experience but the long hours on the plane and layovers can take a toll on the body. A lot of travelers refresh their mind and body by incorporating yoga into their routine and make yoga part of their travels. If you don’t want to miss out on your yoga practice wherever you may be, traveling with a yoga mat is the best solution.
Yoga mats may be available in gyms or studios in areas where you travel to, but nothing beats bringing one that you own. When you have your yoga mat with you, there’s no need to think about whether or not it has been cleaned. And of course, you’re using a trusty one that fits your unique needs.
Have you already invested in a portable yoga mat ? If not, this article will guide you in making an informed decision when looking for the best travel yoga mat.
Yoga Anywhere, Anytime
A yoga mat can be your ultimate travel buddy that lets you carry on with your practice wherever you may end up in. Got a long layover from your flight? It doesn’t have to be that bad. You can make the most out of the long layovers by finding a quiet spot at the airport and doing some yoga.
Do you feel the need to stretch out and relax with breathwork without going to a nearby studio? You can simply take out your mat, plop it on the floor of your hotel room and you can start right away.
Yoga doesn’t always need to be performed in groups or in a class. Even just 15 minutes a day on your own, anywhere, can be beneficial. You can be your own teacher who listens best to the needs of your body. You can also be realistic when it comes to setting and achieving your yoga goals. And you’re taking the time to improve your practice while making it fully yours!
Online yoga classes are awesome, but the best way to do yoga while traveling is to learn to do yoga on your own and craft your own sequences. Download my free guide on how to do this here .
Why Travel With A Yoga Mat?
Yoga can easily be that physical activity to stick to when traveling. And when you have the best yoga mat, you can do it anywhere. But the benefits don’t stop there. Below are just some of the reasons why you should travel with a yoga mat.
Hygiene
You may visit your hotel’s gym or the yoga center nearest to your Airbnb for your practice. Sure, they have mats that you can use but think about other people who have probably done yoga on that mat.
Laying on your mat means you only get to deal with your own germs – and that is more acceptable than getting sweaty and doing different poses on a common mat. Another plus is you can use your mat, should you want to lie down on a floor of a public place – an airport or at the beach, for example.
Practice Anywhere
I know I have mentioned this a couple of times above, but I can’t reiterate it enough – bringing your own yoga mat means you get to practice anywhere. Imagine finding yourself in a park you haven’t visited. You see it offers a tranquil environment perfect for some meditation. When you have a travel yoga mat, you can simply take it out and start with your practice.
If you enjoy practicing yoga, you probably like traveling to places where yoga is a big part of the culture . Having your own mat will help you discover everything these yoga hotspots have to offer while avoiding renting a mat each time or being forced to practice on the floor.
It doesn’t matter where – on the beach, at a train station, in the forest. Have a traveling yoga mat so you can be ready at all times.
Last-Minute Yoga Participant
Need to join a class nearby? You don’t have to worry about arriving at the last minute or being the extra participant who cannot use the mat in the studio. You have your own – roll it out and just join in.
Extra Cushion
Some cafes have wrought-iron chairs that you might find too hard on your skin. But that doesn’t have to be the case when you have a portable cushion in the form of your travel mat. Use your mat as a seating pad as you enjoy a relaxing time in a cafe.
Mats are also perfect for sitting around on the grass at a park or even sleeping on on that airport or bus station ground during desperate times.
Connect and Make Friends
I’m certain that you will meet a lot of people during your travels. And you will make friends with fellow yogis as well as having a yoga mat with you is a great conversation starter. When you meet up with others who also brought their yoga mat with them, it’s going to be an instant yoga session with new people.
