Practising yoga on the mat—that’s easy. Watch the breath, bring the body into proper alignment, allow the body to be as it is—no problem. Practising yoga on the road, however—that’s tough! Here are some yoga postures you can do when you’re in a car and your mat is the road.

drivethespeedlimitasana
This pose requires the yoga practitioner to drive with awareness at (or near!) the speed limit for a period of time or a distance, e.g., for 10 minutes, or from work to yoga class.

Benefits include: greater appreciation for the landscape, relaxation in the neck and shoulders, saving money on spontaneous speeding tickets and more.

beingontimeasana
This pose requires the yoga practitoner to leave enough time for the journey and is a prerequisite for drivethespeedlimitasana. Without this pose, drivethespeedlimitasana is difficult to achieve in its full expression. In addition to leaving enough time for the journey, modifications include knowing the directions in advance, as well as having the address and phone number of the destination handy.

Benefits include: increased popularity with friends, more energy, safe and relaxed arrival at destination.

donothonkasana
This pose is a practice at allowing things to be as they are as well as being generous to other drivers by assuming what they did was necessary for them to do. This requires the practitioner to observe the breath and abstain from habitual reactions. When the urge to touch the horn or to use hand mudras (gestures) is strong, use awareness and send breath to the places that have the most sensation. Do not honk the horn!

Benefits include: greater understanding for others, deeper concentration, reduced noise pollution.

lettingsomeoneelsedriveasana
When practised in correct alignment, this posture promotes a sense of trust and harmony within the car. Unlike the other postures, in this pose the practitioner is in the passenger seat (the advanced pose is done from the back seat). The pose consists of keeping the hands to oneself, reducing audible breathing sounds, and most importantly, of refraining from verbal comments about directions, proximity to other cars, the car’s speed, etc.

Benefits include: trust and harmony as mentioned above, as well as ego reduction, increased trust in the universe and possibly a deeper relationship with the driver of the car.

takingcareofthecarasana
In this asana, the car is given fuel before the indicator light comes on. The yogi or yogini will practise awareness of the dashboard and know the controls in the car. This pose requires knowledge of the type of fuel the car needs as well as the location of the tank before pulling up to the pump. Deepening the pose includes: the removal of all garbage from the car upon reaching a destination, monthly washing of the car’s exterior, bi-monthly dusting and vacuuming of the car in addition to regular tune-ups.

Benefits include: healthy car, pleasant environment, and absence of embarrassment when giving someone else a lift.

drivingwithbothhandsonthewheelasana
This may be the most challenging of the poses done in the car. This pose requires the person practising yoga to just drive. This pose includes refraining from: eating, talking on the phone, listening to the radio or CDs (yes, even this), reading the paper, applying mascara, or anything else that takes the yoga practitioner’s hands off the wheel unnecessarily. More than a posture, this is truly meditation in motion.

Benefits include: lowered stress levels and a pleasant, calm state upon arrival at final destination.

Copyright Jamine Ackert