Have Yoga Mat, Will Travel

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One of the great things about yoga is that you can do it anytime, anywhere, provided you have your yoga mat. Technically, you can do it without a yoga mat, but when you’re contorting yourself on your knees, trust me, you’ll want the support of a mat. Fortunately, mats are very portable and last for years. They can be a bit pricey, but unless you’re saving up for a computer, matching initial necklaces, or are being hounded by your student loan creditors, you can probably afford one. A yoga mat is a sound investment, with immeasurable benefits for your mind and body.

Even if you’re on a road trip, far from a gym or a treadmill, roll out your yoga mat on the shoulder of the freeway and get in some backbends, releasing all those pent-up toxins from your spine—and, some say, cleansing your chakras. In the middle of the night, if you’re having trouble sleeping, bust out a half-tortoise pose and balance out your sleep-wake cycles. This pose is also good in the middle of the workday, when the stress is getting to you. A fresh surge of oxygenated blood to the brain gives you a nice perspective on the rest of the day.

Yoga is an ancient form of physical meditation with thousands of forms. There are some core postures, like Eagle, Camel, and Warrior that various practitioners have spun off and added their own interpretations to. This is another great aspect to yoga: creativity. Not only do many yoga postures release emotional powers that inspire creativity, the exercise itself promotes creativity in terms of physically enhancing the movements.
Then there’s the physical aspect. Some forms of yoga, like Hatha, Vinyasa, and Bikram, are unrivaled as far as getting a great workout. And not only do they keep your joints safe, unlike running, which thrashes your body, yoga actually repairs damage to your body. It also helps to rid your body of scar tissue, cellulite, abdominal fat, high blood pressure, headaches, and a wide variety of other physical ailments that traditional forms exercise can’t touch.

I recommend taking a bunch of different yoga classes until you find the style that’s right for you. Consider how it makes you feel. A good yoga practice should inspire and empower. Once you find the right one for you, take several months worth of classes until you know the postures by heart. Then you have your own mobile exercise regiment that replenishes your body and mind. And you can do it anywhere, provided you have your yoga mat!