Traveling With a Yoga Mat: Full Guide

You can use this article as a resource to help you choose the best travel yoga mat.

There might be yoga mats in the gyms or studios where you go, but nothing compares to using your own mat. There is no need to question whether your yoga mat has been cleaned when you have it with you.

I would strongly advise bringing your own yoga mat if you enjoy long-term travel as I do.

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Why Travel With a Yoga Mat?

Yoga is a simple physical activity that can be continued while traveling. And if you have the best yoga mat, you can practice wherever. However, the advantages continue. Here are a few good reasons to bring your yoga mat on trips.

Hygiene

For your practice, you can head to the fitness center at your hotel or the closest yoga studio to your Airbnb. They do have mats available for use but consider the other individuals who may have practiced yoga on that mat.

Instead of getting sweaty and performing various poses on a shared mat, lying on your mat means you only have to deal with your own germs. Another benefit is that you can use your mat if you want to lie down in a public area, like an airport or the beach.

Practice Anywhere

I know I’ve mentioned this a few times already, but I can’t stress it enough: if you bring your own yoga mat, you can practice wherever you want. Think about finding yourself in a park you’ve never been to. You see, it provides a serene setting ideal for some meditation. You can immediately begin practicing yoga when you have a travel mat.

If you enjoy doing yoga, you probably like visiting locations where yoga plays a significant role in the local culture. You can experience all that these yoga hotspots have to offer by bringing your own mat instead of having to constantly rent one or practice on the floor.

No matter where—on a beach, at a train station, or in a forest—it doesn’t matter. Have a portable yoga mat so you can be prepared at all times.

Last-Minute Yoga Participant

A nearby class needs to be joined. You don’t have to stress about being the extra participant who can’t use the studio mat or showing up at the last minute. You can roll out your own and simply join in if you have one.

Extra Cushion

You might find the wrought-iron chairs in some cafes to be too rough on your skin. However, since your travel mat serves as a portable cushion, this needn’t be the case. As you unwind in a cafe, use your mat as a seat.

Mats are also ideal for lounging on park grass or, in emergency situations, for sleeping on the ground at an airport or bus stop.

Connect and Make Friends

You will definitely meet a lot of people on your travels, I’m sure of it. Having a yoga mat with you is a great conversation starter, and you will make friends with other yogis as well. It will be an immediate yoga session with new people when you run into other people who have also brought their yoga mats with them.

How to Carry a Yoga Mat When Travelling?

Having established the benefits of bringing a yoga mat on vacation (!) and hopefully Now that I’ve persuaded you to do it, let’s talk about how to take your yoga mat on the road.

I advise looking for a backpack with straps on the outside that are typically made to carry walking poles or a tent if you plan to adventure around the world for an extended period of time, as I frequently do.

These stretchable or compressible straps typically hold items vertically along the height of your backpack, from top to bottom. By using these fastenings, you can simply roll up your yoga mat and keep it outside of your backpack, saving valuable space inside while still keeping it close to your other belongings.

However, it can be challenging to keep your yoga mat clean while traveling if it’s hanging outside of your backpack. This is especially important if you’re checking this luggage into the hold of a bus or flight. In this situation, I strongly suggest acquiring a yoga mat bag or case to safeguard your mat outside of your backpack.

To fit inside the walking pole or tent straps on the outside of your backpack, choose a lightweight, thin bag that can accommodate your mat rolled up tightly. Additionally, try to reduce the number of grips, clips, or fastenings on the yoga mat case or bag that could catch on something while your bag is being transported.

Otherwise, if you’re traveling with a suitcase or a small carry-on, I’d suggest purchasing a thin yoga mat that can be folded up into a tidy square and placed on top of your belongings.

I’d advise you to buy a particular travel yoga mat for this use only, and that brings me to the subject I’ll discuss next. Many yoga travel mats include a carry bag or pouch, which is perfect for folding your mat and storing it inside your luggage.

Things to Look for in Travel Yoga Mats

Yoga mats made specifically for travel can be rolled or folded. A rolled yoga mat shouldn’t be folded in order to prevent kinks and fold marks, but a folding yoga mat can be packed however you like. So what is the proper method for storing and packing them?

Foldable mats are simple to fold flat and can be thrown into a tote bag or a backpack like a towel. You also don’t need to check it in because it doesn’t take up any room; you can carry them without any problems.

On the other hand, because they are thinner, rolled travel mats may take up less space than a regular yoga mat even though they may take up more space than a folding mat. Even though it’s not as flexible as foldable mats, some brands do mention in their packaging that the mat can also be folded, giving it two functions in one!

Depending on your preference, you can choose between folded and rolled. A foldable yoga mat that you can pack in your backpack with your clothes will be your best bet if you don’t want to carry around a separate bag just for a yoga mat. Alternatively, if you don’t mind a rolled travel mat being put in its own bag, pick one of the many options available.

Best Yoga Mats for Travel

For your benefit, I’ve already researched some of the most well-liked travel yoga mats. There’s not necessarily a “perfect” mat because each one has its own pros and cons. This list should assist you in selecting the option that best suits your requirements.

Yogamatters

The excellent travel yoga mats from Yogamatters are a fantastic choice if you live in the UK and prefer to support local businesses. This independent business sells a wide variety of yoga mats and accessories, many of which have excellent eco-credentials, such as their eco-travel yoga mats.

These mats are recyclable and biodegradable and free of toxic chemicals and dyes because they are made from eco-friendly materials, including naturally harvested natural rubber.

This travel yoga mat is actually the one I use, and I couldn’t be happier with how easy it is to maintain even when traveling thanks to its excellent gripping qualities. It is also incredibly light and thin. It is a great choice for those looking for a lightweight, easily portable, eco-friendly mat because it is available in a wide variety of colors and only costs £35.00.

Uong

However, the Uong travel yoga mat is tough to beat if you’re looking for a thicker yoga mat because you need a little bit more padding and comfort. Its 6mm thickness provides excellent double knee padding protection, and its 183cm length is perfect for us tallies.

Its marked line design greatly aids in alignment; this is especially helpful if you are new to yoga. This mat receives high marks for being non-slip and simple to clean thanks to its high-grade TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) construction, which is a type of soft rubber.

This yoga travel mat is portable thanks to the carry case, and the fact that it’s made of anti-tear material qualifies it for a year’s warranty. For those looking for a little more comfort, this is a great yoga mat to take on the road.

Gaiam

One of the best travel yoga mats on the market is one from Gaiam if you want to stand out with your mat or want a pretty designed mat to inspire your practice. These mats are actually reversible and provide excellent non-slip protection. They come in a huge variety of colors and over 15 exquisite designs.

They weigh a little bit more, at just under 1.5 kg, due to their 6mm thickness and increased thickness, but they are also free of many harmful toxins that many other pattern mats contain. This a great yoga mat for those who want to brighten their practice while traveling.

Conclusion

A foldable, lightweight mat is a tool that makes it simple to add a quick practice each day rather than lugging around a cumbersome mat.

Buying a travel yoga mat is a smart move if you want to keep up with your regular yoga practice. If you travel frequently, it is also essential. You’ll save money on luggage if you bring a small, light travel mat with you, and you should bring a personal item anyway.

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