Yoga and RVing
Behold the Power of the Asana While on the Road
Image Caption: Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
The more RV trips I take, the more I learn and grow. Not that I’m alone in that. Travel has a way of challenging us all and taking us outside our comfort zones. It’s helped me become more open-minded and flexible in my thinking.
Now reread that last paragraph and substitute “yoga” anywhere I mentioned travel or RV. Everything I just said there? The EXACT same thing could be said for yoga. Travel and yoga are similar in that way. Both are ways we can engage in self-exploration—physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s why I love doing yoga on the road. The two things enhance each other.
I do have to admit, though, when I’m seeking a workout, yoga isn’t my default. I tend to gravitate more toward endorphin-boosting antics— anything that works up a sweat and involves suffering. Sure, yoga works me physically, but since I find joy in the sustained torture of other exercise modalities, I don’t do yoga solely for the physical benefits. Yoga, for me, is something different, going beyond traditional cardiovascular or strength-building activities. It helps me stay young, move well, and it also has tremendous mental benefits—like its powerful calming effect. That’s why it is so complementary with traveling. The out-of-control and dynamic nature of life on the road requires a flexible, positive, and roll-with-it mindset. Yoga helps me with that.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
While yoga is more than just physical poses (called asanas), that’s an excellent place to start. Yoga can be done anywhere, making it jive perfectly with the RV lifestyle. Once you begin doing yoga asanas, you’ll immediately notice how it focuses your attention on your body’s abilities in the present moment. It makes you mindful about yourself, and over time, helps you develop an inner awareness. And remember how I talked about my love of NOT fun high-intensity exercise? Doing yoga exercise actually IS fun. The relaxing nature of performing yoga sets it apart from traditional exercise. It just feels good.
So, whether you already do yoga or not, don’t press pause on developing or maintaining your practice just because you’re on an RV trip. Yoga is easy to incorporate into your travels. Here are some suggestions to help you make it happen.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Pack a Yoga Mat
Now, look. You absolutely do NOT need a yoga mat to do yoga. But having a dedicated mat in the RV does a few things. First, knowing there’s a yoga mat packed in your RV will be a mental reminder—and motivator—for you to go workout. Second, stepping onto your yoga mat helps you shift gears. There’s Regular You and then there’s Yogi You. The mat becomes your special yoga space separating the two and helping you change your focus. And finally, there’s the obvious one. A yoga mat is a useful barrier when you’re practicing yoga outside, keeping you dry and clean, and softening rocky surfaces.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Find a Class Nearby
No matter where your travels take you, chances are, there’s a yoga studio or a class at a park nearby you can join. You’ll get some exercise, and you’ll also get to make a connection with the local community—a great way to get to know an area you’re visiting. Finding yoga classes on the road isn’t difficult. Besides good old Google searches, I’ve had success asking locals I meet in the area we’re visiting, including RV park staff.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Download Yoga Videos Beforehand
You never know what sort of internet connection you’ll have on the road. Downloading yoga videos before the trip ensures you’ll always have access to instructor-led yoga sessions, wherever you are. I have downloaded yoga videos for free through my local library’s online portal. There are also loads of yoga websites that, for a small fee, allow downloads. One of my favorites is yogiapproved.com. For each video you watch, this website will plant a tree! If you have YouTube Premium or Amazon Prime, you can easily download yoga videos from those services as well.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Use Yoga Apps
There’s no easier way to develop your practice than with a yoga app. For a small monthly (or annual) fee, you’ll get access to hundreds of ready-made and downloadable classes. With most yoga apps, you can choose your difficulty level and the style of workout you’d like to do. There are loads of fantastic yoga apps to choose from. Three of my favorites are Yoga for Beginners ($3 per month—iOS/Android), Daily Yoga ($10 per month—iOS/Android), and Down Dog ($10 per month—iOS/Android).
Yoga for Beginners is a great app when you’re just starting out, and the other two work for any level, from beginner to advanced. Each offers a free trial period, making it easy to try a variety of apps before you commit to purchasing.
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Wing It; Go Freestyle
My previous suggestions involve instructor-led yoga experiences, but really, yoga doesn’t require an instructor, or a downloaded video, or a subscription-based app. You can freestyle it and do your own thing. You don’t even have to be advanced to freestyle. Beginners can learn a handful of go-to moves (like the ones in the sidebar) and start there. My own yoga practice is mostly built around freestyling.
It’s hard to describe the pleasure of unrolling a yoga mat in a beautiful outdoor setting somewhere we’re camping and winging a yoga workout, doing asanas based on my mood in the moment. Having to watch a video or app takes some of my focus away from my surroundings. I prefer to save the apps and videos for when I’m practicing yoga inside the RV.
As you look over this list of five suggestions, hopefully, you can find an idea or two to try. It really is a lot of fun practicing yoga in new places, so I hope you’ll consider giving it a go! The beauty of yoga is how easily it can be done anywhere, anytime. You’ve got the power in you to reach your traveling yogi goals. But it’s up to you to make it happen. Once you do—and you begin noticing the changes both mentally and physically—you’ll wonder what took you so long. Namaste!
Image Courtesy of Stefany Adinaro
Did You Know?
Yoga affects us on a biological level and offers powerful health benefits. Some of them include:
Better at Handling Stress
Yoga boosts GABA activity (a calming neurotransmitter), as well as the happiness hormones serotonin and dopamine. When life’s obstacles hit, you’ll have better control over your fight-or-flight response, so you’ll react with a calmer, cooler head.
Reduced Inflammation
Yoga is one of the most effective fitness modalities for reducing chronic inflammation, which is responsible for all sorts of health issues and premature aging.
Relief of Chronic Pain
Practicing yoga can help people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, lower back pain, and many other types of chronic pain conditions.
