Veggie Vacations

When I arrive in a new place, one of my favorite things to do is to check out some new yoga classes…

As far as gear goes, it’s a pretty easy thing to do – no special shoes required and yoga mats can usually be rented at most yoga schools.  All you need are comfortable clothes.  Weirded out by the thought of using a mat that has been sweated on by countless other yogis?  No problem – get yourself a travel mat!  They are thin and fold up easily to fit into your suitcase.

Before your trip, search for yoga studios in your destination city.  You can use the Yoga Journal directory if you like.  I prefer to go to Google and type in “yoga near [your destination]“.  Once Google Maps provides me with a list of studios to choose from, I check out their websites to see what classes they offer.  I then print out the class schedule, address, and phone number of each studio and stash the info in my suitcase just in case I don’t have access to the internet when I arrive at my destination.

It’s a great opportunity to try out a new class, new teacher, even a new style of yoga.  When visiting my family over Thanksgiving last year, I tried out Bikram for the first time – it was great! And so perfect to get into that super hot room to build up some heat at the end of November.

It’s also great to move and lengthen your body after spending an inordinate amount of time in airports, on planes, in cars, etc…

Most yoga studios have a drop-in fee that hovers around $15-$20.  If you’re a student, carry  your student ID because there’s often a discount.  Also, a lot of studios have special deals for new students – unlimited classes for one week for $25, things like that.  Check websites or call the studios and ask if there are any special offers.

If your destination is a beach town, some studios might offer morning yoga on the beach! Keep your eyes open for this, because it’s a beautiful experience to practice yoga with the sound of the waves crashing and also quite a challenge to balance in the sand.  Make sure to bring a towel for floor poses!  If your destination is a resort or spa, they will possible offer yoga classes on site – easy enough!

Finally, remember to thank your teacher – since you probably won’t be back again, it’s nice to let him or her know that you enjoyed the class.

Check out yoga.about.com for more travel yoga info.

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