A mindful guide to taking your practice with you.
Whether you're off to a sunlit retreat, exploring a new city, or simply commuting across town, your yoga mat is more than gear—it’s your grounding space. But traveling with it shouldn’t feel like an extra task.
Here’s how to pack your mat with ease, intention, and everything you need—nothing more.
Step 1: Choose the Right Mat
Not all mats are built to travel. The key is finding one that supports your flow and fits seamlessly into your life, whether you’re folding it into your suitcase or rolling it under your arm. Luckily, we have FOUR travel mats
Options to consider:
- PRO® Travel: A compact version of our iconic PRO®, offering stability and durability in a smaller, portable profile (with our renowned lifetime guarantee).
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eKO® Superlite: A grippy, textured surface perfect to use alone or layered on top of a rental mat. Ideal for minimalist travel.
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Shala Yoga Rug: Soft and easy to roll, this traditional handwoven option moves beautifully between spaces.
- GRP® Travel: Built for sweat, grippy from the start, perfect for hot yoga on the go.
Step 2: Clean Before You Pack
Before your mat joins you on the journey (and after), take a moment to reset. Wipe it down with a gentle cleanser or cloth, especially after class. For a post-sweaty practice, ensure you're letting it dry out before packing into your bag. It helps extend its life, keeps your luggage fresh, and ensures you’re rolling out something that feels clean and clear when you arrive.
Step 3: Fold or Roll with Intention
How you pack your mat depends on your packing needs. All Manduka travel mats fold OR roll, so you choose your ideal layout. Whichever you choose, aim for simplicity.:
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FOLD into squares and slipped into a carry-on or backpack: flat, compact, and easy.
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ROLL tightly from top to bottom. Keep the practice side facing out to help the mat lay flatter when you unroll it later.
Step 4: Consider the Essentials
If space allows, toss in a towel or strap. These small accessories go a long way:
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Towels (like eQua® or yogitoes®) add grip, absorb sweat, or serve as layering for studio rentals or unfamiliar surfaces. They're also highly versatile and double as a beach or face towel, so you're not packing more than you need.
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Straps double as a carry solution and a support tool for deepening poses on the go. Or, you can even use it to bundle like-kind items in your bag or keep an ideal outfit together.
Think of them as small comforts that support a steady rhythm, no matter where you’re moving.
P.S. don't sleep on the mini block. it's a true hidden gem.
Step 5: Flatten and Reset
When you arrive, unroll or unfold your mat and let it settle. Give it a few minutes to release any folds or creases. Just like your body, it needs a moment to acclimate.
Then, breathe deep. You’ve arrived. And so has your practice.
Conclusion
Wherever you’re headed, your mat is more than something you carry, it’s something you return to. With a little intention and the right setup, your practice can move freely with you...ready when you are!
