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Thinking of heading off on a post-lockdown yoga retreat when we can travel more freely again? Here’s what to look out for when shopping for yoga mats for travel.
It’s been almost a year since I first discovered yoga while on a Spanish wine and yoga retreat at Suryalila in Andalusia. It’s bizarre to think that only 11 months or so ago, I was ‘finding myself’ while eating a vegetarian diet for a whole week at this remote, tranquil Spanish yoga retreat. There I was, reflecting on life and making plans and commitments for the year ahead, totally unaware that I wouldn’t get the chance to see those dreams through in 2020.
As disappointing as it can be when we’re unable to achieve our goals for reasons beyond our control, however, if there’s one positive thing I’ve taken from this year, it’s the time I’ve taken to slow down. Allowing myself the space in which to reflect upon how I’m feeling from time-to-time, rather than just mindlessly ploughing on with my to-do list as though I’m on auto-pilot, has been tremendously beneficial to my mental wellbeing. In ways, I can relate this to my time at Suryalila, as it forced me to put my busy lifestyle on hold and focus on myself for a whole week.
With this in mind, although travelling abroad is the last thing on our minds right now, when we’re able to travel more freely again, I’m going to treat myself to a yoga retreat every now and then. I was attending classes at Cardiff Yoga Studio before lockdown and I still do the occasional class online, so this would be a great way to practice the positions I’ve learnt over the last year or so.
My yoga mat is a little tatty and I’ve been thinking of getting a new one that I could travel with, so I thought I’d take a look to see what’s out there. It’s surprising just how many different features you need to look out for when you’re shopping for yoga mats for travel, so I thought it might be handy to share a few tips on what you need to be aware of.
5 things to look for when shopping for yoga mats for travel
A thin, lightweight yoga mat
If you’ll be buying a yoga mat with travel in mind, then you’ll no doubt want to opt for a thin, lightweight design so you don’t waste too much space or take up too much of your luggage allowance. Opting for a lighter mat will come in handy when you’re at home, too; after all, no one wants to lug around a heavy yoga mat!
Just bear in mind that if you have any problems with your knees or your elbows, for example, you might need a little more padding in certain areas and so you may need to opt for a slightly thicker mat in this case.
The texture of the mat
One of the most important things to look out for when you’re buying a yoga mat for travel – or for any other purpose, for that matter – is the texture of the mat.
Have a think about what kind of yoga you’ll be most likely to be using your mat for. As The Independent have pointed out, smoother yoga mats have better grip and so are best suited to hot yoga, ashtanga or vigorous vinyasa, while textured yoga mats are better for gentler forms of yoga like restorative yoga or yin yoga.
The colour of the mat
This might sound a bit simple, but bare with me. If you’re going to choose a yoga mat to travel with, you should probably aim to pick a mat in a bright colour or perhaps featuring a vibrant pattern or design that’s going to stand out. You don’t want it to lose it among your luggage or misplace it while unpacking when you reach your destination.
The size of the mat
If you’ll be travelling with your yoga mat, you’ll need to have a think about the maximum length you could fit in your backpack or suitcase and bear this in mind when shopping around.
Another thing to be wary of here is whether or not you can fold the mat up. Some yoga mats, like the YOGO yoga mat – can be folded up to the size of a newspaper. No doubt this would come in handy while travelling!
Yoga mats for travel should be washable
If you’ll be travelling for a while with your yoga mat, aim to pick a washable mat that you’ll be able to clean with ease while on the road. Ideally, you want something you can just throw into the washing machine and then hang over the shower rail to dry.
Hopefully, you’re now feeling much more clued up on what to look out for if you’re thinking of buying a yoga mat to travel with post-lockdown. Now, all that’s left to do is whittle it down to a few choices and treat yourself to your ideal yoga mat. Fingers crossed we’ll be able to travel and escape to our favourite yoga retreats next year!
Do you have any tips for buying a yoga mat for travel that I haven’t shared? Let me know by leaving a comment 🙂
This is a sponsored post.