5 Reasons to Add a Yoga Studio to Your Travel Itinerary

​One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to practice yoga in the local studio. My family and friends have come to expect (somewhat reluctantly, I suppose) that I’ll want to find a class while we’re away. I’m a much more pleasant travel partner when I do. 
 
It’s not just about “getting a practice in.” There are other reasons for which I carve out this time for myself when I travel. Here are five reasons why you should too!  

1. You’ve been seated, and you need to move. When you sit for an extended flight or a long car ride, your blood does not circulate as well. You might even notice your legs and feet begin to swell. Air travel has other adverse effects on the body, but I’ll spare you those details. When you travel, you also carry heavy bags and stand in lines and you’ll start to feel those imbalances in the body. A yoga practice will allow you to move mindfully, to stretch and strengthen, and get the blood flowing. 
2. You will learn something new about your practice. Ever notice how your teachers use similar cues? Well, we’ve all trained together and practice with one another. Some studios even encourage a script, and then every. class. starts. to. sound. the. same. When you practice yoga in a new city, you’ll pick up on new prompts, or different ways of looking at the same postures you’ve practiced again and again. With so many different styles and lineages of yoga, you might even happen upon a new favorite influence. 
3. Traveling is stressful. Have you ever thought I need a vacation from my vacation? Sometimes you need a moment to yourself. Meditation and pranayama (breath work) will help you to drop into stillness and calm for a few moments while you’re away. 
4. It restores balance. If you’re accustomed to a consistent yoga practice or exercise routine, then your body will respond if you go a few days without this movement. We are creatures of habit, after all. According to livestrong.com, it can take as little as two weeks to lose your physical fitness level when you stop exercising. If you’re on a different schedule (or in a different time zone!), eating an altered diet, and feeling tired, then stopping for a yoga practice might help to restore your equilibrium. 
5. You’ll make new connections. If you have time, check out the studio’s fliers or boutique items. Chat with the teachers and other students. Subscribe to the studio’s newsletter. Newsletters are a great way to keep up on events or new trainings and research. As a teacher and studio owner, I get inspo from other studio’s newsletters and social media accounts.

 
Am I missing anything?! I’m in the middle of a vacation out west, and I can’t wait to check out a couple of studios and share with you!