A yoga travel mat is essentially the same thing is a standard yoga mat with the added bonus of being lightweight enough that you can roll it up and easily carry it wherever you decide to go for your next yoga session, whether it be a yoga studio or a retreat. While generally not recommended for everyday yoga practice, a travel yoga mat can provide an effective surface when laid over a rug or towel to allow you to follow your standard exercise routine while on vacation.
Basic Construction of a Yoga Travel Mat
Yoga travel mats are designed specifically for yogis on the go and tend to weigh anywhere from 1 1/2 pounds to about 5 pounds. The mats are also generally notably thinner than the mats suggested for everyday use but can still be found in more than just one or two colors. More often than not, these yoga travel mats will be of a synthetic material and likely not quite as durable as your standard exercise mat. However, one definite benefit is that you can fold them up to easily be stored in your suitcase or bag without adding a whole lot of weight to your luggage.
Another nifty feature of a yoga travel mat is they are typically easy to clean. Most of them are capable of being hand washed in your hotel room's bathtub or sink, and since they're so thin they don't take very long to dry at all. Depending on what your yoga exercise mat is made out of it might require different washing procedures, so you should probably check the care instructions that should have come with it. If all else fails there are usually cleansing wipes sold at the same places that sell travel yoga mats, so you can buy a few of those to save for when you're out and need to use your travel mat.
If your local sporting goods or yoga specialty store doesn't carry something you like, or worse, doesn't exist in your neighborhood at all, don't fret. There are plenty of places online you can go to find just about any size, color and type of yoga exercise mat you might be interested in. With all the web sites and information floating about, you're bound to find a yoga travel mat you'll love to use during those chances you get a vacation, or even just a quick weekend away.
If you have been an avid yoga student for some time, you might be considering the advantages of teaching your own yoga classes. As popularity for yoga has grown in past years, so has the need for yoga teachers to obtain certification before delving into the field of yoga instruction. As classes have begun to crop up globally, and many have decided to pursue yoga on a much more casual, "Let's see if I like it" mode, yoga certification has become more important.
The plain and simple reason is liability. While yoga is not as vigorous of a workout program as other types of exercise, there is always the possibility of injuring oneself. Yoga instructors must be familiar with the individual needs of each student in a class to ensure that any special needs or medical concerns are addressed.
With the potential for injury, liability insurance becomes a necessity for today's yoga studios. Yoga certification of instructors enables studios to obtain and carry liability insurance much more easily. While some studios might request that a yoga instructor be registered to teach yoga, many more will ask that teachers have yoga certification before conducting classes.
Yoga Certification - Then What?
Yoga certification is only the first step in becoming a competent yoga instructor. Yoga instructors should have a minimum of 200 hours of study and two years of practice under the guidance of a yoga teacher before considering the certification process. A person who is considering teaching yoga should also have good communication skills, along with a strong awareness of safety and a good knowledge of yoga. Often studios will hire an instructor on a trial basis to ensure that the person will be an effective teacher in classes.
Once yoga certification is complete, additional courses should be taken to keep an instructor up to date on information regarding the impact of sports medicine, anatomy and physiology on yoga. It is also important to stay current on safety, modifications, and props in the yoga program. If you meet a student with particular medical needs, you may need to do your homework to learn how to address his individual issues most effectively.
Finally, it is a good idea to attend yoga workshops and camps after yoga certification is completed so that you continue to fine tune your own yoga skills. The more you study and learn after your certification is completed, the better yoga teacher you will be for your students.
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