Yoga While Traveling

Most of my YouTube videos exist because of travel. I started filming classes in hostel common rooms, on jungle trails, on the rooftop of a guesthouse in Chiang Mai — partly to share, but mostly to stay accountable.

Traveling disrupts everything: sleep schedules, eating habits, exercise routines. But it also offers something a home practice can't — novelty. New surroundings make you more present. You notice things you take for granted on your familiar mat at home.

Here are my ground rules for a travel yoga practice:

Pack light but always pack a mat. I use a foldable travel mat that fits in a carry-on. It's not as cushy as my studio mat, but it's mine, and it signals to my body that it's time to practice.

Lower the bar. At home I might want a 60-minute flow. On travel days, 15 minutes of stretching in the airport counts. Perfection is the enemy of consistency.

Use your surroundings. A wall is a prop. Stairs are a prop. A bench is a prop. Some of my favorite practices have happened in the most unlikely places because I had to get creative.

Breathe first. If I'm jet-lagged, anxious, or just overwhelmed by a new place, I don't force a full practice. I find a quiet corner, sit, and breathe for five minutes. Everything else follows.

Travel has made me a better teacher. When you practice in chaos and discomfort, you learn what the practice is really for.