There is something about the holidays that can turn even the most peaceful person into a bit of a mess. The crowded airports, the long drives, the endless checklists of things to pack, people to see, and pies to bake. It is beautiful, yes, but it is also exhausting. And for many of us who find balance through yoga, the question becomes: how do we keep our practice alive when life is literally in motion?
The short answer is simple: you bring your mat.
Floral Bells
But not just any mat. You bring your mat, the one that already knows your breath, your sweat, and your stories. The one that feels like home under your hands and feet. The one that helps you find peace, even when the world feels like it is running late for a flight.
This is why I always travel with my Big Raven Yoga mat. It is part of my ritual now, as much as brushing my teeth or packing a warm sweater. Over time, I have learned that keeping up with my practice on the road does not have to be complicated. It is actually easier than most people think.
Let us talk about what makes traveling with a yoga mat simple, grounding, and completely worth it, especially during the holiday season.
The Real Reason to Bring Your Mat
Here is something most yoga enthusiasts eventually realize: your mat is not just a piece of equipment. It is a space. A container. A friend, even. It is where you return when you have been stretched too thin, when you are tired, when you have lost track of yourself somewhere between obligations.
When I unroll my mat in a hotel room or my in-laws’ living room, I am not just doing yoga. I am creating a familiar boundary. A little square of calm. The world can keep buzzing, but inside that rectangle, everything slows down.
And that is why I always pack it, even when I tell myself there is no room.
The truth is, there is always room for the things that bring you back to yourself.
Traveling During the Holidays: Finding Stillness in Motion
Yosemite Sunrise by Alyssa Shaw
The holiday season is full of motion. It is planes and cars and luggage and early mornings. It is schedules that shift, and people who need things from you, and that subtle hum of pressure to make everything perfect.
In yoga, we talk about balance, but balance does not mean stillness. It is movement that is centered. Traveling during the holidays is exactly that. It is movement with intention.
Practicing yoga while traveling helps you remember that. You cannot always control the noise, but you can control your breath. You cannot always choose the scenery, but you can choose presence.
Even ten minutes on your mat between gatherings can reset your entire nervous system. A few forward folds, a gentle twist, a minute of slow breathing, and suddenly, you are back in your body. Back in your life.
Why I Travel with a Big Raven Yoga Mat
Speckled
Now let me be honest. Not every mat is meant to travel. Some are too heavy, too slippery, or too bulky to bother with. That is why I started traveling with my Big Raven Yoga mat.
It is light but not flimsy. It rolls up tight, fits easily in my car, and even slides into my carry-on when I fly. The top is made from soft microfiber that actually grips better as you warm up, a small miracle in humid hotel rooms or unfamiliar spaces.
And there is something about the artwork that matters more than people realize. Each Big Raven Yoga mat is a piece of art. I designed many of them myself, and each one carries a mood, a kind of energy. Some mats are peaceful and soft, others are bold and fiery. I choose my travel mat like I would choose a companion for the road, one that matches where I am and where I want to go.
When I am traveling, that little burst of color under my feet is more than pretty. It is comforting. It is a reminder of home.
What Makes Big Raven Yoga Mats Perfect for Travelers
If you have never taken your mat on the road, you might wonder what makes one easier to travel with than another. So let us get practical for a minute.
Lightweight and Easy to Pack
Big Raven Yoga mats weigh around four and a half pounds. That is about the same as a pair of jeans and a cozy sweater, and worth every ounce. You can roll it tightly and slip it into a strap or yoga bag, or just lay it flat at the bottom of your suitcase and pack your clothes around it.
Grippy and Reliable
There is nothing worse than sliding around on a rental mat or cheap travel mat. Big Raven mats get grippier as you move. The suede-like top actually performs better when you sweat, and the natural rubber base keeps the mat firmly planted on any surface such as wood floors, carpet, or even concrete patios.
Easy to Clean
Travel can be messy. You might practice outdoors, in a hotel, or on a guestroom floor. Luckily, Big Raven mats wipe down beautifully with just a damp cloth and a little soap. They air dry quickly and do not hold odors.
Non-toxic and Earth Friendly
Every Big Raven mat is made with natural tree rubber and water-based inks. There are no PVCs, phthalates, or harsh chemical smells. When you are practicing breath work, you should not have to inhale plastic.
Art That Inspires
San Juan Mountain by Hannah Wilson
Travel can be draining. The colors, the art, the symbolism of your mat all of that matters when you are tired and far from home. Your mat becomes a visual cue to return to your body, to breathe, to remember what steadiness feels like.
How to Pack and Carry Your Mat
If you are driving, it is easy. Roll it up, toss it in the back seat, and you are set. But if you are flying, here are a few tried and true tricks.
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Use a yoga mat strap or sling. Most airlines let you carry a yoga mat separately without counting it as an extra bag.
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Pack it inside your suitcase. Roll it around your clothes. It keeps the mat compact and your clothes wrinkle-free.
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Bring a travel towel. It doubles as a practice towel and an easy mat wipe.
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Use it as a buffer. If you are bringing fragile gifts, the mat makes excellent padding.
When I travel, I like to think of my mat as a companion, not cargo. It is the one thing that guarantees I will feel grounded wherever I land.
The Practice of Presence: Yoga on the Road
Summer Savasana
Traveling with a yoga mat is not about sticking to a rigid routine. It is about being ready when the moment invites you to pause.
You might unroll your mat for twenty minutes in a hotel room before breakfast. Or maybe you sneak in five quiet breaths beside your bed at night. You might practice in the airport lounge, or in a rest stop parking lot, or on a sunlit porch with a view that takes your breath away.
The beauty of yoga is that it meets you where you are.
Here are a few of my favorite travel-friendly practices.
Morning Grounding Sequence
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Seated breathing, three minutes
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Cat-cow stretches
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Downward dog
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Low lunge on each side
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Gentle forward fold
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Seated twist
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Savasana, even five minutes counts
Evening Unwind Sequence
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Legs up the wall
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Supine twist
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Supported bridge
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Slow diaphragmatic breathing
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Gratitude reflection
When your travel days feel chaotic, even a five-minute practice can shift your energy. It is not about doing it perfectly. It is about showing up.
The Emotional Side of Travel
Dusk
Here is something that does not get talked about enough. Travel can stir up a lot of emotions. Joy, excitement, nostalgia, anxiety, loneliness, sometimes all in one day.
Yoga helps you process that. When you roll out your mat, you are saying, “Here I am. Right now. In this body. In this moment.”
I have practiced in airports, in spare bedrooms, in borrowed studios, and once in a tiny corner of a guest bathroom because it was the only quiet place in the house. Every single time, the moment I felt my hands press into the mat, I could breathe again.
That is the gift of having your mat with you. It is a familiar rhythm when everything else feels unpredictable.
Why the Holidays Are the Best (and Hardest) Time to Practice
The holidays are meant to be full of love and connection, but they also tend to magnify stress. You are surrounded by people you adore, but that does not mean it is easy. Between travel logistics, social obligations, and the emotional weight of memories, it is no wonder so many people feel unsteady.
This is when your yoga mat becomes your greatest ally.
A few moments of stillness before breakfast. A grounding flow before heading to a family gathering. A short meditation before bed. It is enough to reset your entire system.
Your body will thank you. Your mind will thank you. Your loved ones will thank you too, because you will show up calmer, kinder, and more present.
The Symbolism of the Mat
The Serenity Prayer
When I travel, my Big Raven Yoga mat is more than a tool. It is a symbol. A portable sanctuary.
Every time I roll it out, it reminds me of my own intentions. It says: slow down. Be here. Breathe.
I have seen guests at my retreats experience the same thing. When they unroll a mat with art that speaks to them, something shifts. Their practice becomes more personal, more connected. That is what I want for every yoga enthusiast, to have a mat that feels like an extension of their spirit, not just something you use and put away.
A Few Favorite Travel Stories
Last winter, I taught a morning class in a cabin tucked in the woods of northern Minnesota. There were seven of us, snow piled high outside, and the room smelled like cedar and coffee. Everyone brought their own Big Raven Yoga mat, and each one was different, like a row of art pieces waiting to come alive.
When we finished, one of the women said, “I love that my mat feels like home, even when I am far from it.”
That is exactly what I hope for anyone who travels with theirs.
On another trip, I practiced in an airport terminal during a five-hour delay. I tucked myself into a quiet corner, ignored the curious glances, and flowed through a slow sequence. Within minutes, a flight attendant walked by, smiled, and whispered, “I wish I had mine with me.”
You never know who you might inspire just by unrolling your mat.
How to Keep Your Practice Real While Traveling
If there is one piece of advice I can give, it is this: lower your expectations.
You do not need a full hour-long practice. You do not even need total silence. Yoga is not about perfection, it is about awareness.
Practice in the gaps. Practice in your pajamas. Practice while you wait for cookies to bake.
And when you are too tired to move, just sit quietly on your mat. Let that be enough.
How Big Raven Yoga Makes It Easier
Big Raven Yoga mats make it easy to stay connected to your practice wherever you go. They are beautiful, yes, but they are also practical. You can fold them, roll them, clean them, and carry them with ease.
They are designed to travel, to last, and to hold up under real-life use. They look and feel good in every setting, from cozy cabins to hotel rooms to studio floors.
But more importantly, they remind you that your practice belongs to you.
When you invest in a mat that feels like yours, you are making a promise to yourself: to show up, even when life gets messy. Especially when life gets messy.
Coming Home
The holidays always end the same way, with a return. You go back to your regular schedule, your home, your routines. But if you have kept your practice alive through the travel, something is different when you return.
You are not drained. You are renewed. You have stayed connected to yourself through all of it.
That is the quiet power of bringing your mat along. It is a small act with a big ripple effect.
So when you start packing this holiday season, before you add the extra sweater or the backup shoes, make space for your yoga mat.
It might just be the most important thing you bring.
Ready to Travel Light, Stay Grounded, and Bring Your Practice Everywhere You Go
Explore the full collection of artist-designed Big Raven Yoga Mats and find the one that feels like you.
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