Yoga and Travel: 11 Tips to Help You Practice Around the World!

Yogis, do you want to learn new ways to keep on top of your practice, even when traveling around the world? Then read this guide on yoga and travel where I included numerous tips to help you!

I’ve been practicing yoga on my travels for so long now, that I’ve learned so many things which I’m eager to share with you!

So take a deep breath and let’s start!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Want to quickly learn some tips that will help you practice while traveling? Here are some of my favorites:

• Find a yoga studio in the city
• Try restorative yoga before bed
• Bring a travel mat with you

1. Practice yoga online

This is probably the easiest way to stay on top of your yoga practice while on vacation. There are plenty of options where you don’t even have to pay (like YouTube or Instagram). You can even check in with your teacher and see if they’ll do online yoga sessions with you (this is what I do when I travel!).

There are lots of tutorials on Youtube with easy or more hard classes that you can do without having to leave your accommodation. One of the most popular channels is AdrienneYoga, she has many videos that you can try whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced practitioner.

There are also plenty of yoga apps where you pay a subscription for access to all the content and you can choose from a variety of styles (I’ve heard great things about Down Dog).

All you need is a spot in the room, some comfy clothes (or your yoga clothes if you have them) and your phone/tablet/laptop and you’re ready to go! My favorite way to practice is to hook it up to my smart Tv.

2. Find a yoga studio in the city

Although it can be a bit scary, practicing in a studio in the city you’re traveling to can be so fun and such an expansive experience!

I’ve gone to yoga studios in lots of different countries like Barcelona, Manchester, Ireland, Lisbon and South Africa! Each place was super interesting and although I was nervous it was such a great experience where I got to meet many cool, like-minded people!

That being said, I’ve also learned many things that helped me improve the experience, each time I went to a new yoga studio, during my travels. So here are some tips that I hope will help you as well:

• Research the studios (see what type of yoga classes they offer)
• Arrive early
• Book your class in advance
• Find out what language they teach in (I’ve done classes in Spanish and it’s tough to follow along. But you do get better over time. My top tip would be to search some simple words before you go like “right”, “left”, “look up”, “down”, “toes”, “hand”, etc
• Be open-minded
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions
• Listen to your body (just because you’re in a new space with a new teacher doesn’t mean you have to do everything)

Another option is to use an app like Meetup to find local yoga classes you can join.

Subscribe here to get up to 35% off your accommodation for your next trip!

3. Bring a travel mat with you

I know you’re thinking “where am I gonna fit a yoga mat in my suitcase” but luckily yoga travel mats are super thin and light. This means you don’t have to worry about adding too much weight to your luggage or that it’ll occupy too much space, because it won’t.

TIP: I also use mine when I go to the park and need something to sit on other than the grass!

I really like the Liforme travel mats. If I could bring my Liforme mat with me everywhere I would, but the travel mat is a great substitute since they are lighter, thinner and easier to carry. Plus, they come with a bag, so if you prefer to carry your mat and not put it inside the luggage, you can do so.

The only downside of a travel mat is that it is super thin. So those low lunges can be a bit brutal on the knee. You can always bypass this issue by folding the mat or getting a Yoga pad.

Having a yoga mat while traveling is super helpful because it’ll help you stick to your practice and if you choose to go to a studio, then you won’t have to use someone else’s mat (some places may not even have spare mats to offer so it’s good to be prepared). But the biggest perk is you can take them to the beach or the park!

4. Practice early in the morning

Okay, if you’re not an early bird, then this might be harder!

But I found that whenever I’m on holiday and I stick to practicing in the morning, I feel much better as I go about my day, plus I know for sure that I’ve done my practice and do whatever I want during that day.

Usually, my mind is also calmer in the morning so I can practice with more ease, rather than if I’d practice at night when a whole day filled with events passed by!

You can start your morning with some ceremonial cacao, matcha, coffee, or black tea that can give you some energy, and then off you go!

Trust me, you’ll feel as if you’re flying the whole day!

5. Be gentle with yourself

Yoga is all about listening to our body and its needs and wants. But sometimes we can get pretty stuck in our heads and forget all about that and push ourselves unnecessarily!

That’s why I’d recommend, before starting your practice, to take a minute to ground into your body, be present and just see how you feel.

Maybe you’ve walked the whole day, exploring, or it’s right after your flight and you feel so stiff. Just take a few minutes to ask your body what it needs today. Maybe it wants you to be more gentle and not force yourself, or maybe you feel super energized and want to really work your body. Either way, try not to push yourself to do something just so that it’s done by the book!

I’m a huge advocate for going into child’s pose when my body needs it.

6. Pack some yoga clothes

Luckily yoga clothes are super small and don’t occupy too much space!

I always pack some leggings, a sports bra or some sports shirts. I think having your yoga clothes will definitely help you get into the mood to practice and you’ll also feel more comfortable!

7. Do yoga in the outdoors

Sure, practicing yoga in a fancy studio or even a normal one is nice, but there’s definitely something special about being out in nature and breathing in fresh air while practicing!

Depending on where you’re headed, whether it’s a road trip around the mountains, the beach or even in the city where there are some nice big parks, definitely bring your mat with you and practice outside!

Just make sure that you feel safe wherever you put your mat and start practicing!

8. Improvise props

Props can be super helpful but of course, we can’t carry them around in our luggage when traveling!

No worries, you can always improvise and transform whatever is around you into a yoga prop! Here are some things that you can use as props for your practice:

• Roll out towels – to ground your seating poses
• Stack of books – improvised blocks help you with standing poses
• Necktie, bathrobe tie, belt, or scarf – improvised yoga strap
• Pillow – to use as a bolster

9. Try restorative yoga before bed to relax

Although travel and exploring is super fun after a few days of walking and walking and doing all sorts of activities you’ll probably start feeling pretty stiff and like you need a massage!

While the massage can also be a great idea, I’d recommend trying some restorative yoga which will help you unwind, stretch those muscles a bit and also it will bring a sense of calm. Bonus, you’ll fall asleep immediately!

Honestly, you can do this even while sitting on the bed or just roll out your mattress. If you haven’t tried it before, there are lots of free videos online that you can try.

Here’s a video that I found, which will help you connect to your breath and calm your busy mind!

10. Listen to your body

Can’t stress enough how important this is!

While we’re traveling, we’re always on the go, from walking to doing lots of activities! This is why when you get to your accommodation you just want to crash in your bed.

If you want to practice when you’re traveling, try to listen to your body as much as you can and always check to see if it feels good when you’re doing a certain asana. Or if it’s too much for your body right now, in the present moment! Even just lying in childs pose is super beneficial.

Being gentle, slow and mindful of our breathing can help us have a much more enjoyable practice rather than rushing through it, and feeling exhausted when we finish.

11. Go on Yoga retreats

What better way to combine yoga and travel than going on a yoga retreat?

That way you can go explore a new place while also having some designated time only to practice and be with other people who are doing the same thing!

Yulia, founder of MissTourist, has been to many yoga retreats over the years, so I asked her for some tips!  

Here are the most important things to consider before signing up:

• If spending time with yourself and relaxing is a must then the schedule should not be crammed
• If you want to meet new people then pick a retreat with lots of activities
• Check what kind of yoga classes they offer on the retreat
• Location of the retreat (maybe you prefer something out in nature)
• Look into activities you can do besides the yoga classes (massages, hikes, special treatments, etc)
• Would you like one with a digital detox? (no phone, or other devices)

Yulia said she likes choosing retreats where she can combine yoga with other activities like hiking, skiing or some sort of body treatments! She also went on silent retreat where she practiced yoga twice a day (and the teachers would talk only there) which she loved and highly recommends!

I guess the important thing is to find what works for you! So definitely do a lot of research before and I’m sure you’ll love it!

Benefits of yoga while traveling

We know that any type of yoga can really help us on all levels! Mentally, emotionally, psychologically, somatically, spiritually, you name it!

And when it comes to practicing while traveling, let’s just say, there’s a lot that we can gain from it!

Here are some of the main benefits that I’ve noticed in myself when practicing yoga while I’m traveling:

• Unwind the body
• Breathing properly while exploring around
• Reduced anxiety
• Better digestion
• Feeling more relaxed
• I can face challenges with more ease
• Improved sleep
• Increased confidence

Final thoughts on yoga and travel

Now that we’ve finished this post on yoga and travel, let’s all take a deep breath!

Better, right? Hope everyone enjoyed these tips and that you got inspired to stay on top of your practice even as you’re taking over the world and traveling around!

If you’ve got any tips that you want to share with us, just drop me a comment below and I’ll make sure to reply!

Namaste,

Kathryn

---