In terms of mental and physical health, practising yoga has been a life-changing experience for me, and, since my first yoga class ever, over a decade ago, I’ve shown up on my mat more often than not. For this reason, when we decided to leave London to slow travel, even though I didn’t know what kind of clothes I’d pack, I already had a special spot reserved in the suitcase for my best travel yoga mat. Find out why I did that and why you should get your own travel yoga mat.
Pros and cons
In my opinion, there are many more advantages to taking your yoga mat on the road than there are drawbacks:
Pros
- It helps you maintain your regular exercise routine even during a holiday.
- It’s convenient because you’ll take your own private yoga studio wherever you go like I did in Italy.
- It’s a good excuse to keep active anywhere at any time and for however long you want.
- It helps you ground and find much-needed relaxation after a long day spent either at your desk or sightseeing.
- It gives you stability when you have a nomadic life and things are changing constantly.
- It allows a free practice so you can invest your money towards other meaningful things.
- It’s a conversation starter and a good way of meeting potential like-minded people when you carry it around.
- It’s hygienic, as you are the only one responsible for keeping it clean.
Cons
- Its weight might put off those who are very strict about the size of their luggage, even though travel yoga mats are usually fairly light.
- It’s thinner than a standard yoga mat, so you’ll need to roll it up partially or practise over a soft surface, such as a carpet when in certain postures, avoiding discomfort on the knees and other joints.
Where should I carry my yoga mat?
When travelling, I often choose to pack my yoga mat in the hold luggage, because my rucksack gets quite heavy with all the electronics I carry such as my laptop, kindle, chargers as well as some other travel essentials.
These items alone already take up most of the storage space available and weigh quite a lot, so I rather protect my back by not having to carry around one more item that I won’t be using until reaching my next destination.
My Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Mat fits perfectly in my Osprey Sojourn 80 Wheeled Travel Pack that I always travel with, and, although the mat is foldable, I prefer to roll it up and secure it in place underneath the rest of my things with a Yogamatters Mat Strap. As I said above, most travelling mats should be light and convenient to transport but if you choose to pack yours in a suitcase, remember to check the weight of your bag to avoid unexpected charges.
Instead, if your cabin bag is packed lightly and you would prefer to take your yoga mat on board with you, this shouldn’t be a problem either. However, always make sure to visit the official website of the airline you’re travelling with for the most up-to-date information on the amount of carry-on luggage allowed to be taken into the aircraft.
Usually, you’re allowed to carry one small-sized bag and an extra item, even when flying with budget airlines such as EasyJet or Ryanair. I’d recommend that you use a yoga mat bag or a good yoga strap so it’s easier for you to take it around and to keep it protected when hopping from airport to airport in between yoga sessions.
What to look out for when buying a travel yoga mat?
When buying a travel yoga mat, there are a few things to consider such as weight, thickness, flexibility and grip.
Weight is possibly the most important factor because you want your yoga mat to be convenient and comfortable to travel with, otherwise, you’ll end up leaving it behind.
Besides weight, thickness is important when considering how you’ll carry it around. Yes, a standard foam yoga mat might be light, but because it’s thicker and bulkier, it takes considerably more space in your bag as it can only be rolled up. That’s why flexibility is also a handy feature you should be looking out for.
Travel yoga mats are thinner than the ones you find at your yoga studio and, because of that, a strong grip is essential for practising comfortably on the go.
Make sure you read reviews carefully before getting yours, so you can buy a travel yoga mat that will suit your needs.
Types of travel yoga mats
There are lots of brands on the market and most of them, such as Manduka, Lulu Lemon and Gaiam, will offer at least one type of travel mat in their product range. Weighing approximately 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) or less, travel yoga mats are thin and foldable, making them extremely easy to lug around. Additionally, you’ll find that some of these renowned brands care about sustainability, so their eco-friendly travel yoga mats are made of natural materials that are durable, extending their lifespan.
These are the top three highest-rated travel yoga mats from some of the most reputable yoga brands in the market:
Perfect for weekend getaways, extended retreats or trips across town, in the park or on the beach, this foldable yoga mat saves space by easily fitting in your carry-on or overnight bag. Additionally, it features a sticky texture for stable footing on the go and a pretty cool design.
With a tightly woven scrim that resists tearing or stretching, this Manduka travel mat is foldable and fits in any travel bag or purse. Its surface texture offers superior grip, even with light perspiration. Made of natural rubber, it’s a great non-toxic and eco-friendly option.
This Jade Yoga Mat is super light and it folds up to about the size of a yoga block to fit into your suitcase or backpack. It has everything you’re looking for in a yoga mat: cool colours, incredible grip, great comfort and it’s also eco-friendly.
Now all you need to do is to find your favourite yoga channel on Youtube, roll out your mat and press play wherever you are.
I hope my experience has given you enough information and confidence to get your travel yoga mat and take it with you on your next adventure.
I’d love to hear whether you’ll pack your mat in your suitcase from now on, so please share your experience with us below and happy travels!
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