A yoga travel mat is essentially the same thing is a standard yoga mat with the added bonus of being lightweight enough that you can roll it up and easily carry it wherever you decide to go for your next yoga session, whether it be a yoga studio or a retreat. While generally not recommended for everyday yoga practice, a travel yoga mat can provide an effective surface when laid over a rug or towel to allow you to follow your standard exercise routine while on vacation.
Basic Construction of a Yoga Travel Mat
Yoga travel mats are designed specifically for yogis on the go and tend to weigh anywhere from 1 ½ pounds to about 5 pounds. The mats are also generally notably thinner than the mats suggested for everyday use but can still be found in more than just one or two colors. More often than not, these yoga travel mats will be of a synthetic material and likely not quite as durable as your standard exercise mat. However, one definite benefit is that you can fold them up to easily be stored in your suitcase or bag without adding a whole lot of weight to your luggage.
Another nifty feature of a yoga travel mat is they are typically easy to clean. Most of them are capable of being hand washed in your hotel room's bathtub or sink, and since they're so thin they don't take very long to dry at all. Depending on what your yoga exercise mat is made out of it might require different washing procedures, so you should probably check the care instructions that should have come with it. If all else fails there are usually cleansing wipes sold at the same places that sell travel yoga mats, so you can buy a few of those to save for when you're out and need to use your travel mat.
If your local sporting goods or yoga specialty store doesn't carry something you like, or worse, doesn't exist in your neighborhood at all, don't fret. There are plenty of places online you can go to find just about any size, color and type of yoga exercise mat you might be interested in. With all the web sites and information floating about, you're bound to find a yoga travel mat you'll love to use during those chances you get a vacation, or even just a quick weekend away.
