13 Tips for On-the-Road Yoga

13 tips for on-the-road yoga when it’s too cold to practice outdoors:

1. Have at least a 6 by 3 foot level floor, and a nice traveling companion who doesn’t mind making space for your swinging limbs.

2. The more height the better. A fiberglass raised roof works well. Being 5 feet tall works very well.

3. A little buddy.

4. A pee bottle if it’s cold and your partner doesn’t mind you getting too comfortable with them.

5. A small broom to keep it free from last nights food crumbs and hair. Where does all the hair come from!?

6. Natural light. Nice to be woken up by the sun, because alarm clocks are not allowed. Ventilation for your incense and sage. Especially if you can’t quite locate where that funky smell is coming from.

7. Long underwear. Capilene 1 silkweight.

8. Wool socks. Merino.

9. Large Patagonia down jacket to nestle into so that you can practice your morning meditation and breathing – feeling held and warm. I prefer to use one that is pretty much a bivy sack. My husband’s fits me perfectly.

10. Morning tea (my favorite is gypsy cold remedy, or jasmine green) and a mug. It’s nice to have something ceramic, to offset the constant use of the MSR cookware, and to remind you that you have a nice kitchen at home.

11. Music. One of my favorites is “Shiva Invocation” by Shantala.

12. Good teachers, (one of mine is Gioia Irwin) who’s life inspires you to quiet your mind. If you don’t have one, just fine, the best teacher is really yourself.

13. Spatial awareness so that you don’t kick over water bottles or your rice pot that is soaking, or bust a hole in your sun roof. If you don’t have it, it will come through practice.

Driving up the central coast of California in our van. Photo: Sonnie Trotter

Chaturanga on a snow day in Joshua Tree. Photo: Sonnie Trotter

Koundinyasana 1. Photo: Sonnie Trotter

Van practice at the Buttermilks – padmasana in pincha mayurasana. Photo: Andrew Burr