From Asana to Adventure: 5 Tips to Keep Your Yoga Practice Thriving While Travelling
Do you keep up your yoga practice whilst travelling? After several years of regular work and holiday travel, I have come up with 5 tips that keep my yoga practice going when I’m away from home and out of my routine.
Travelling, whether interstate or internationally, is wonderful for broadening my horizons, experiencing new cultures and breaking out of my old routines. Travelling for me is all about adventure and exploring new things and it’s also a great opportunity to bring some fresh ideas to my yoga practice.
But despite all the excitement and inspiration, a heavy travel schedule can take its toll on my body and mind if I don’t look after myself. Long flights, changes in routines and sleeping in strange beds (or airplanes!) can leave me feeling tired and stressed so yoga becomes even more important for my wellbeing when I’m away from home. I’ve learnt that keeping up my yoga practice helps me stay grounded, sleep better and stay energised while I’m on the road.
Here are my 5 top tips to keep up your yoga practice while travelling:
Pack a travel friendly yoga mat
One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to bring your yoga mat with you. There are some fantastic lightweight travel yoga mats that you can purchase now that fit easily in your luggage. My personal favourite travel yoga mat is from Sugarmat (not sponsored, I paid full price and it’s what I use) - their mats have some of the most beautiful patterns and they fold down and fit in my carry-on suitcase easily. Jade, Manduka, Lululemon and lots of other brands also make travel yoga mats so choose one that suits you - if you travel frequently, they are definitely worth the investment. If you don’t want to bring a mat, you can also use a towel. If I visit a local yoga studio, I will place my travel mat on top of a studio mat to give me some extra cushioning - you can also put your yoga towel over a studio mat too.
Try out a local yoga studio
Speaking of visiting a local yoga studio, this is my favourite thing to do when travelling. When I’m planning my trip, I’m also checking out which yoga studios are close to my hotel. I get so inspired by experiencing new teachers, seeing new studios and meeting new yogi friends and I’ve often brought back a new pose or transition that I can incorporate into my classes as a souvenir. I’ve even been to non-English speaking yoga classes where the teacher has used the Sanskrit pose names so I can participate and it was one of the most humbling experiences - like being a new yogi all over again.
Take advantage of technology
There are so many apps and online yoga classes available now, that it is easy to access a class wherever you are. Even if you are normally a studio yogi, try it out - travel is the time to experience new things.
Practice yoga outdoors
I know it is tempting to do your yoga practice int he comfort and privacy of your hotel room but if the weather is accomodating, I love to take my yoga practice outdoors. As I’m walking around the city, I’m always on the lookout for a local park or beach where I can roll out my yoga mat. Practicing outdoors helps me to connect with a new place, to breathe in the air and the energy. And I love to finish my practice by sitting on my mat and people watching for a little while - it’s almost meditative.
Your practice does not need to be the same as it is at home
Often my practice when travelling is more grounding and gentle than my regular practice. I might go for a walk to explore the city and then have a shorter asana practice at the hotel or local park. I don’t use my travel practice to work on perfecting my poses or getting a strong workout in, I use it as an opportunity to calm my nervous system and renew for the day ahead. I also do a lot more yin-style practices when I’m travelling - I find them more calming for my nervous system. And remember, yoga has eight limbs and asana is only one of them - pranayama (breathwork) and dhyana (meditation) are also ways to practice yoga.
And my favourite all time yoga practice when travelling is without doubt a 20 minute in flight yoga nidra session. This helps me arrive at my destination alert and focussed and ready to enjoy my travel experience.
Tell me your top tips to keep up a consistent yoga practice whilst travelling?