Your Favorite Mat And Yoga Mat Cleaner
During yoga certification, an instructor will lead you through an extensive amount of yoga classes and poses during instruction. This is no big shock, but its something to seriously consider when you are taking stock of your yoga mats! The natural instinct is to bring a brand new mat to start your new journey as a yoga teacher.
This is not necessarily for the best! You want a yoga mat you trust, and that is comfortable to work on for hours on end. If you have a particular yoga mat that you know is always easy to move and lotus pose on, that is your best bet. Since extensive yoga classes can also mean extensive sweat, dont forget your personal yoga mat cleaner to give it a wipe down when done!
Dont: Bring Your Own Alcohol
Many cruise lines will confiscate any alcohol they find in your luggage, says Sloan. They want you to pay for their own, overpriced on-board alcohol. That said, some cruise lines do let you bring on limited amounts of your own wine and alcohol check the rules before embarking. Find out the top 10 best all-inclusive cruises.
Do: Bring Your Own Hot Sauce
Cruise lines do a lot of things right on ships, but for the most part, stocking condiments is not one of them, says Sloan. Youll find the occasional bottle of Tabasco on the buffet line of many ships, but little else with a punch. Of course, the biggest exception is the ships of Carnival Cruise Line, which boast deck-top burrito bars stocked with more than a dozen hot sauces.
Don’t Miss: How Many Calories Burned During Bikram Yoga
Can I Use A Camping Mat For Yoga
According to Di Hickman who is teaching yoga since 2019, In situations where you dont have anything like a carpet or thin towel or rug and youre stuck with the camping mattress , you can do yoga on a camping mattress.
The statement is further elaborated by Ginnani Lombardi who is the yoga instructor at Versilia, Tuscany, Your camping mat will work well if you mainly do static, restorative yoga, and relaxing poses. But never use a camping mat for things like Bikram yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hot yoga, or anything that asks for dynamic and strenuous poses.
Why? The main reason is the camping mats are not slip-resistant however there are ways to stop your sleeping bag from sliding from the pad for yoga, youll do above it where its surface is really slippery in comparison to yoga mats which can even cause injuries.
Other reasons are: they are very thick, soft, too comfortable, and often too small to do yoga. If youre doing such advance poses of yoga that require a stable and a hard surface then instead of doing it on camping do it on the ground either on a clean rug or without it, both ways are fine.
Four: Other Buying Considerations
While the information above roughly covers everything you should know before buying a mat for yoga, there are still a few things that we have to get out of the way:
- If youre short on space, you want to look for a mat thats easy to roll up and store. Naturally, if your mat is super thick, you might have trouble doing so. However, there are mats with secure straps that can hold the mat rolled up in storage.
- Speaking of straps, theyre something you want to have if you want a mat you can take with you to a yoga class or on your travels. You should be able to find yoga mat models that come with adjustable Velcro straps that allow you to throw it on your shoulder and be on your way.
- Establish and budget and try to stick to it, because a mat can cost anything between $10 to hundreds of dollars. Naturally, a $10 mat is probably made of plastic, has no cushioning, and emits a strange chemical-like smell. Rubber mats are more expensive, but theyre also eco-friendly and safe for you to use.
Recommended Reading: How To Carry Yoga Mat Without Strap
Does A Yoga Mat Count As A Carry
Absolutely, you can carry your mat on a plane unless the mat is not too bulky and thick to fit in the carry-on overhead compartment.
You can buy yoga bags instead of torturing your suitcase to carry the yoga mat, the current version of yoga bags features several pockets to carry important things like your travel documents, a towel, a strap, keys, wallets, and a cell phone.
With this, we answer the last question about using yoga mats during camping. Maybe this question is of no value for local campers or the one who dont need to travel through the plane to reach their camping location but some people may be wondering this if you want to camp in another country, campground, or any location which is far from your home and you prefer to go there in the plane.
Travelling With A Yoga Mat: My Full Guide
Can I start by saying that on every single one of my trips for the last 15 years I have travelled with a yoga mat.
No question.
In fact, I cant believe its actually taken me this long to write an article about how and why I do this, as well as my tips about the best sorts of yoga mats for travel and my top 5 recommended ones.
But thats life.
Its a weird and wonderful thing, because somehow its taken me until 2020, the year when, ironically I cant travel that much, to get around to writing an article about travelling with a yoga mat.
Go figure!
And the even weirder thing is that I have no pictures of me travelling with a yoga mat despite the fact that its permanently clipped to my backpack!
I guess when Im showcasing destinations and concentrating on pictures of landscapes and locals, tI just dont think to stop and take photos of my actual luggage and bag.
Which means that unfortunately, in this article, I cant show you any pictures of my actual travel mat yoga style, because I dont have any!
And because I cant travel to grab some snaps, I havent been able to take any as the idea for this article formulated my head either!
So sorry for the lack of personal images folks!
But regardless of the fact I havent done much this year, the point still remains that whenever I do travel, I travel with a yoga mat and I wanted to share all my top tips around this with you.
So here goes
Also Check: How To Increase Sex Power With Yoga
American Airlines Yoga Mat
American Airlines allows you to bring your yoga mat as carry-on luggage. They allow a standard bag of 55 x 40 inches in the cabin and so as a rolled-up yoga mat is an average 26 x 6.5 inches, this means that on American Airlines you will have no problem traveling with your yoga mat as carry-on luggage.
The Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat Is A Compact And Grippy Option With An Under
Pros: Affordable, very lightweight, meant to be folded
Cons: PVC material
If you only travel a couple of times a year, you don’t want to drop too much on a mat. Infrequent travelers will love the Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat.
This one-pound mat is even more lightweight than Manduka’s eKO Superlite but it’s slightly thicker at 2mm thick. The whole mat folds down to a 10-inch-wide and 12-inch-long rectangle for easy transportation in a carry-on or overnight duffel bag. It’s one of the most affordable options available, too.
I have a full-sized Gaiam yoga mat that’s lasted me for several years with regular use, so I can attest to the quality of the brand’s goods.
Recommended Reading: How Are Leggings Supposed To Fit
Can I Bring A Yoga Mat On A Plane
Yes, you can bring your Yoga travel Mat on a plane, in either carry on baggage or checked baggage.
Most airlines allow two carry on bags, if your Yoga mat is small enough to be placed inside your carry on bag that will give you an advantage to bring another personal bag.
Regarding TSA, Traveling with a Yoga mat either in carry on baggage or checked baggage is allowed, on almost all routes end destinations So going through security checkpoint with a yoga mat will be like a breeze in your next flight.
Ultimate Yoga Certification Packing Checklist
When packing for your yoga certification, its important to strike a balance between yoga centric and self-centering items. We wont sugar coat it: Yoga teacher training can be an emotional journey as much as a physical one. This packing list makes sure to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing, as well as help you further your yoga journey.
Read Also: Diy Yoga Mat Carrier
Taking Care When Travelling With A Yoga Mat
Weve talked about how to clean your travel yoga mat and making sure you do this regularly is key to extending the life of your mat as well as keeping things hygienic.
Its also important you air out and dry your mat properly to avoid any unpleasant odours or stickiness on the mat.
I would also advise rolling out your mat, or unfolding it, as much as possible.
Its not great to keep even travel yoga mats compressed into the same shape a lot, without rolling them out and when travelling this can happen all too easily.
Ensuring you unfurl your mat therefore, as this will also help you prolong its life and ensure it doesnt start curling at the edges or wearing out along any fold lines.
Keeping yoga mats out of the sun will also stop them fading and wearing thin, particularly if they are cork or rubber, which are materials that can dry out in harsh direct sunlight.
So there you have it, my full guide to travelling with a yoga mat.
I hope Ive covered everything you need to know about adventuring with this health and exercise item and hopefully Ive convinced you that even if youre packing light, this is an item, I wouldnt leave at home.
Any questions about how travelling with a yoga mat I havent covered?
Please pop them into the comments below and Ill get back to you
Should I Pack My Yoga Mat In My Suitcase
You can, but I highly recommend that you dont. I packed my yoga mat in my suitcase when I moved to Thailand. It was very heavy. Bringing your yoga mat as a carry-on is a much better option. If you want to pack a yoga mat in your suitcase, I recommend the Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat. It only weighs 2.2 pounds!
You May Like: Calories Burned During Power Yoga
Is A Yoga Mat Same As A Camping Mat
In short, a yoga mats functionality is best for doing yoga while a camping mat is made to provide insulation and comfort for sleeping. A camping mat has nothing to do about yoga.
To give a clear answer, allow me to break it into parts to give you an idea about where a camping mat and sleeping mat are similar and where it is different.
Invest In A Travel Yoga Mat
The best travel yoga mat is ultimately the one thats easy to pack and carry with you. If your regular yoga mat is bulky or doesnt travel well, then you may want to purchase one specifically designed for on-the-go.
Look for ones that are lightweight and come with a strap or bag to make it easy to take with you.
Also Check: Exercise After Botox And Fillers
Consider Buying From Ethical Companies And Supporting Small Business
Yoga is as much about building a healthy body and mind as it is about building community. And during this time of pandemic when weve been told to stay indoors many businesses have shut their doors. COVID-19, unfortunately, will affect many small businesses.
As a small business, it pains us to say these words. Times are inevitably tough right now, and the best thing we can all do is support each other. That means buying local. It means working with companies who develop ethical products that are good for the world. It means keeping people employed.
Were not here to preach that you should buy exclusively from us. You must do as you choose. What we are here to say, though, is this: When it comes to purchasing a yoga mat, we recommend finding an ethical small business to buy from. Not only are you helping them stay in business, but youll likely receive a higher level of service, a better-quality product, and you might even become part of a community along the way.
Dont Miss: Vinyasa Yoga Calories Per Hour
What Is A Yoga Mat Carry Strap
A carry strap or yoga sling is a handy carrying strap that keeps your yoga mat together when rolled up. You can carry your yoga mat with it, but you can also use it to keep your mat neatly rolled up in the corner at home.
The Manduka slings that we sell at Yogashop are made from a mix of 50% recycled polyester and 50% new polyester, or from Eco-certified polyester.
Do you not want a yoga bag, but do you actually want to take some small things with you and be able to store them? The Go Play yoga mat sling from Manduka has a large storage compartment, so you don’t have to take an extra bag with you for your small items.
Carry straps are suitable for any type of yoga mat, regardless of the length or thickness. Thanks to the handy closing system, they easily fit around any extra thick or extra long yoga mat.
Don’t Miss: Does Hot Yoga Burn A Lot Of Calories
Other Tips For Cleaning Yoga Mats
Meanwhile, you might find the need for a deep clean especially if your yoga mat smells a lot or has been stained. But before you use a stronger cleaning solution, you might want to check out the recommendations from the manufacturer.
If you want a much more convenient way, you can just have it washed at the laundromat. Be sure that your travel yoga mat is designed to be machine washable. What you want to be sure to avoid is to let it spin and wash it with harsh detergents. More importantly, your yoga mat should not be put in the dryer.
Another tip from many yogis, which can be useful for avid travelers, is to soak your yoga mat in the bathtub for a few minutes. This method can be used when your mat is heavily soiled or stained. By soaking, oils and other buildups that are causing your mat to smell will be removed slowly. If you have to use cleaning agents, always go for mild or hypoallergenic detergents or dish soap.
Investing in a travel mat is a great idea when you want to remain consistent with your yoga practice. It is also necessary if you travel a lot. A compact, lightweight travel mat will help you save money on baggage, and of course youre bringing a personal item along during your travels.
Regardless of what you choose, always remember to have fun with your yoga practice, anytime, anywhere.
Pin for Later
What To Look For In A Travel Yoga Mat
Head to any travel store, wander the aisles at Target, or let your fingers do the walking as you search the endless digital pages of Amazon and youll find them. There is no shortage of yoga mats on the market. What should you look for to help find the best travel yoga mats for you, your practice, and the locations to which you journey?
Don’t Miss: Bikram Yoga Benefits Weight Loss
Plane Tickets Boarding Pass And Travel Insurance
You can get most plane tickets electronically these days. Just to be safe, print out your plane tickets and boarding pass. Download the digital versions on your phone as well, in case theres no wi-fi wherever youre going.
If the retreat is somewhere abroad, make sure to have travel insurance as your current insurance may not cover trips overseas.
Yoga Mat Carry On Options
You can roll up your mat and bring it as your carry-on . This is the easiest way to travel with a mat and means you can even stop into airport yoga rooms while waiting for your flight. If you go this route, I recommend paying for a mat strap or sling. Its a cheap solution that keeps the mat neatly rolled up throughout your journey.
The problem with bringing a mat as your carry-on is it means you cant bring a suitcase onboardjust a small personal item for underneath the seat and the yoga mat in the overhead bin. That may or may not work for you.
You May Like: How Many Calories Burned During Bikram Yoga
Connect And Make Friends
Im 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, its going to be an instant yoga session with new people.
Checking An Even Smaller Bag
In the second segment, we worked on how to check a smaller bag and showed you how to get that 1 large suitcase down to a more manageable piece of luggage. To do this we:
- Got an even smaller bag, aiming to travel with two carry on sized pieces of luggage
- Packed our one personal item in our bags while traveling
- Used packing lists to help narrow down what to pack
- Packed for fewer days than were traveling
- Organized our bags and converted to travel size items whenever possible
So, if youve already followed all of these steps, then, young padawan, you are ready for the next and final step. Youre ready to step down to carry on, and let it go :
Don’t Miss: How To Use Yoga Ball To Induce Labor
