Anyone do yoga?

[suhollyberry]

I'm thinking about starting yoga today and was wondering if anyone else does yoga in addition to cycling. What are the benefits you have experienced? Has it helped with your riding? Thanks!

[Bikingmomof3]

I love yoga. It increases flexibility and balance, works on the core, and is a wonderful destessor. I strongly encourage yoga. If you are looking at DVDs, my two favourite instructors are Rodney Yee and Patricia Walden.

HTH!

[tulip]

I do pilates now, but I used to do yoga. Yoga really helped my flexibility, as well as really helped me fall and stay asleep. Through pilates I have strengthened my core and all but erased back pain. Climbing is better, too.

[laury]

Yoga and cycling are a great combination. I can't imagine what kind of shape my middle aged bones and muscles would be in without regular Anusara and Iyengar yoga classes. I think yoga helps me recover from hard rides and helps undo some of the stress that cycling puts on my body. I can't wait to get to class the day after a hard ride. In my first down dog I can always tell just how hard I rode the previous day and how much my muscles need to stretch out.

Aside from the physical benefits of yoga, the mental strength and focus I learn in class help get me through long hard rides. In fact, I never rode further than a metric until I started taking Anusara classes. My teacher and fellow students inspired me to ride my first 100 miles. Several years and countless centuries later, I am now trying to apply what I learn in yoga about balance and moderation to my cycling.

The women at my yoga studio may not be hard core cyclists but they are my inspiration on every single ride.

[spokewench]

Yoga is great mixed with cycling. We tend to develop certain muscles which cause imbalances in our bodies as cyclist. The Yoga makes you more flexible strengthens your core and makes you a better cyclist!. I have a bad back and it really helps me out to be more flexible. Also, helps me when my shoulders and neck get too tight from mountain biking and sitting at a computer all day.

I don't think you can go wrong with yoga!

[Kalidurga]

I'd recommend yoga to anyone for any reason, as a compliment to any sport. The physical and mental benefits (and spiritual, as well, if you explore that aspect of it) are tremendous.

One of the first benefits that I think of is that learning to properly use the breath during yoga has been a great help in controllng my breathing while riding. Whether I'm hammering up a hill (or trying to hammer...), sprinting, or just cruising for distance, maintaining an even breathing pattern makes such a difference.

I also had an interesting realization about body alignment recently: No matter what saddle I used or how the saddle was positioned, I had very uncomfortable pressure on my "girlie bits" on even short rides. When I was talking to the LBS tech during my recent bike fitting, it dawned on me that it wasn't necessarily the saddle that was the problem.

In yoga asanas that involve a forward bend, proper form encourages you to bend from the hips and not the waist. This helps to maintain the correct curve of the spine in postures like Downward Dog and Forward Bend. I realized that when I stretched forward to ride on the hoods or drops, I was bending from the hips and rotating my pelvis backward just as I have always done in yoga. In the process, my weight was shifting forward onto the pubic region and causing the discomfort. Since then, I've begun to consciously bend from the waist on the bike, which puts my weight on the sit bones where it belongs. Voila! No more bruised "girlie bits".

The result of this new positioning, though, has been occasional soreness in my lower back, for which, of course, I turn to yoga for relief. Funny little circle, there, but through the combination of yoga and biking I continue to learn more and more about anatomy and alignment.

In addition to bikingmomof3's recommendation of DVD's by Rodney Yee, I'd throw in the suggestion to pick up Yoga Journal magazine or check out www.yogajournal.com (http://www.yogajournal.com/). It's a great resource from which I've learned a lot.

Edited to add this link I found at yogajournal.com: Yoga for Cyclists (http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/196_1.cfm).

[alpinerabbit]

What everyone said, in addition I am just not good about stretching after rides, so a yoga class makes up for it....

[Lenusik]

Any sport combination is great. I mix tennis and cycling. And I agree with the girls, yoga will give you excellent flexibility. If you have a combination of diffrent activities, you work out all muscles. It is the best way to avoid stiffness.

[chickwhorips]

i do yoga and pilates. i work on them to keep up my flexibilty and core strenght. i notice a difference in running and cycling when i keep up with them. all around i feel better, mentally and physically.

[LBTC]

Yoga has been a very positive thing in my life. Even during times when I seldom "go to the mat" I still find benefits from the time I've spent learning asanas and contemplating the philosophies of yoga (mostly from Yoga Journal).

I feel my best when doing my own yoga routine several times a week, riding several times a week and doing a weight workout a week. :)

Go for it! Remember that it's not a competition and to listen to your body. It's never supposed to hurt!

Namaste,
~T~

[Sheesh]

I only have time to fit in one class, so now I'm trying to decide between Yoga and Pilates (on the reformer machine). I've done Pilates before and enjoyed it, but I've never done yoga.

Flexibility is my major issue...I have a very tight lower back so I'm looking for something to help me stretch it out on a more regular basis.

Which one do you all recommend?

[han-grrl]

So i am a little biased...personally i like a combination of yoga and pilates, actually pilates comes from yoga!

Yoga is a bit slower than pilates. Depending on the location it can also be a little more spiritual, have a little more meditation and breathing associated with it. You might want to research the various types of yoga (hathe, ashtanga, bikram...) to decide which one is more for you. Yoga at a fitness center, tends to be more fitness oriented and less spiritual than a yoga center.

what i teach is fitness yoga - hatha style, so the focus is on postures and a i do a little bit of relaxation at the end.

Namaste!

hannah

[spokewench]

I have a bad back so flexibility is really important for me. I've found that yoga is the ticket - it really helps me in the flexibility department. I really miss it when I'm not doing yoga.

[chickwhorips]

i do both. i would love to go to a class, but none where i live. :( so i've settled for the dvds.

i've been getting up a bit extra in the mornings to do a bit of yoga and i'm noticing a huge difference in my whole day.

[Aggie_Ama]

Maybe I should try yoga again. I took it my last semester of college and did not enjoy it. There was probably a lot of factors to my dislike:

1. It was usually after working in the morning at Lowe's. I was always so tired!
2. We had to write about the experience afterwards. Homework with yoga- ick.
3. My mind was never able to settle. I was trying to graduate, work 40 hours a week and plan a wedding!
4. I was a complete slug at the time. This was 30 lbs ago, I wouldn't run, I didn't bike, the only thing I could tolerate was 20 minutes on the elliptical.

[emily_in_nc]

One of the few things I like about the early-dark days of winter: time to do yoga tapes. I did them last winter and haven't since -- too busy riding, running, and walking after work. Once daylight savings time is over, I'll do them a couple of times a week after work (and ride the trainer a couple of other nights). I have several Rodney Yee tapes and really like them, though I still feel like a bit of a klutz when I do them!

Emily

[indysteel]

I second what everyone else has said. I agree that yoga is a great compliment to cycling and just about any other sport. I picked up a book called Bike for Life a couple months ago and would note that it recommends yoga to essentially "undo" some of the stresses that cycling puts on your body. Cycling aside, yoga is a great compliment to life in general. It's benefits go so far beyond the physical. I can't sing its praises enough.

I do recommend that you read up on the various types of yoga to determine which one seems best for you and then see what the studios/gyms in your area offer. I tend to like rather fast-paced vinyasa (or flow) classes. I otherwise get a little bored. Wherever you go, I would also recommend that you try various instructors. You'll find that you like some and not others.

[Sheesh]

I just received this email and it sounds like a good option, though expensive for just one session.

***************
Cycling Expert Steven Blum of Chicago's Johnny Sprockets Cycles teams up
with Yoga State's Physical Therapist & Yoga Instructor, Sheri Lake to
revolutionize your ride with safe and healthy practices for cyclists!

Whether you are an avid cyclist biking long distances, racing, or just
beginning, please join Sheri and Steven as they share their love of the
sport, and assist you to reap the healthiest benefits from the practice!

Experience a Comfortable & Efficient Ride:

* Learn Proper cycle fit

* Thoroughly enjoy a dynamic yoga practice incorporating Pilates
exercises to build the core

* Experience yoga poses to open and align the shoulders, back and
legs, and partner work to go deeper into poses

* Practice the Perfect warm up/cool down practices for maximum
efficiency & best ride

* Be free from pain and overuse that may be experienced with distance
cycling

Sunday, October 22 1-3pm $35

[Bad JuJu]

To what everyone else has said, roger that. PLUS, I've found that the combo of yoga and cycling is immeasurably good for my crooked, persnickety back.

A year or so ago, I couldn't teach two 1:15 classes in a row without ending up with excruciating back pain--I mean, ice packs, anti-inflammatories, immobility, and still being in pain. I'd begun to wonder how much longer I'd be able to teach.:eek: I saw a chiropractor who found that I have a slight curve in my spine and treated me for several weeks. That took the edge off but I was still in some pain most of the time, and still in agony after teaching those two classes in a row.

Quit the chiro treatments when I realized I wasn't getting better any more and figured if I was going to be in pain anyway, I might as well at least get some fun out of it. I started cycling again, then hitting a yoga class once a week. A year later, with no more chiro treatments and no more painkillers, my back is still persnickety but I can teach like I used to and ride my bike as much as I want without being miserable afterwards.

So yoga+cycling has given me my life back. Yesssssssss!

[han-grrl]

Ok i LOVE the boots in this poster!!!

www.texasyogachampionship.com

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I found this old thread in a search for TE yoga threads, and I got a kick out of seeing some of the old familiar faces of TE from 2006 who posted on it years ago.

I've been doing yoga now for three months, never had done yoga before. I'm just a beginner but am seeing results already. Really enjoying it and it seems to work into my lifestyle and schedule pretty well since we have a new yoga studio right in town, located where I have to go for errands anyway several times a week.

Anyway, figured I'd bump a post onto this old thread, especially now that we are heading into winter and biking way less, looking for some indoor fitness inspiration perhaps.

[indysteel]

Gosh, when I first posted in this thread, I was relatively new to yoga (about five months of practice). I've been practicing now for six and a half years. Although there have been times I haven't made it to my mat more than once a week, it's been a near constant, even when I've had to cut out other things. It's helped me immeasurely, physically and emotionally, and it's allowed me to meet some wonderful people. I just love it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Indy, I love hearing that!

Well your post as a beginner of 5 months was way more experienced than I am now after only three months! Wonderful that you are still enjoying it so much now over 6 years later, and here you are in the same thread! :)

I saw where you had written:

I do recommend that you read up on the various types of yoga to determine which one seems best for you and then see what the studios/gyms in your area offer. I tend to like rather fast-paced vinyasa (or flow) classes. I otherwise get a little bored.

So my question is now- after 6 yrs, do you still tend to prefer the fast paced vinyasa/flow classes like you did then? Do you still get a little bored by slower paced classes? Are there other things that have changed in your view, preferences, or attitude about yoga during the 6 years since then? I'd be fascinated to know!

[jessmarimba]

I'm looking at taking up yoga again, thought it would be easier/cheaper if my pilates studio just offered both. I think I can afford one class a week, though. I need to do something or all of this darkness is going to drive me nuts. 7-ish weeks til days start getting longer...

[indysteel]

Indy, I love hearing that!

Well your post as a beginner of 5 months was way more experienced than I am now after only three months! Wonderful that you are still enjoying it so much now over 6 years later, and here you are in the same thread! :)

I saw where you had written:


So my question is now- after 6 yrs, do you still tend to prefer the fast paced vinyasa/flow classes like you did then? Do you still get a little bored by slower paced classes? Are there other things that have changed in your view, preferences, or attitude about yoga during the 6 years since then? I'd be fascinated to know!

I still prefer faster-paced flow classes. My studio started offering heated classes a few years ago, and I've come to prefer those as well. It's not that I don't appreciate the challenge of slower classes (and they can be challenging in their own way), but I like how focused my mind is in faster-paced flow classes.

A lot has changed for me physically in the years since I started. I've had a number of injuries that I've had to nurse, from some nerve issues in my hands, to hip and groin issues, to a hamstring injury. I was also diagnosed with Graves' Disease last year, and that's affected my strength and energy levels, too. At times, it's been really challenging to practice, and I've had to modify a lot of poses and/or take more rest during class. I've often been very discouraged, but it's taught me to really listen to and honor my body. I have to resist the urge to compare it, on any given day, to what it once was. Right now, thankfully, I'm feeling pretty strong, but I know that it might not last.

I also encountered other challenges to my practice in the years since I started. My first teacher quit teaching in the spring of 2008. She really was the back bone of my practice. It was rough on me, and on the studio as a whole. A lot of the regulars ended up going elsewhere, and I struggled to find a new teacher that I liked even half as well. By the time I did, I had started to suffer from some of the aforementioned physical issues. Then I got married and moved away from the studio. It became harder to pop into a class any old time that I wanted. So, while I continued to attend classes, it was with far less frequency. That's why I was so excited to find a new studio that's closer to my home.

Emotionally, my practice has evolved. When I first started, I was going through a tough time in my life, and yoga resonated very strongly with me in a spiritual sense--and I, an agnostic, use that term with some degree of hesitation. I don't want to bore you with the details of where I was at the time, but suffice to say that yoga helped me bring together some things that I'd been working on/thinking about for a long time, e.g., self love and self empowerment, interpersonal connection, and the cultivation of a sense of gratitude, surrender and openness. I can't explain, exactly, why yoga helped with these things, but it did. Ultimately, I changed in some profound and fundamental ways the first couple of years of my practice and while yoga wasn't the only thing that aided that process, it was certainly key. The intensity of those years has lessened over time, but the spiritual undercurrent is still there for me.

Ultimately, I almost always find peace on my mat. Even if it's just for an hour, my mind quiets. Regular practice usually gives me enough mental and emotional space to work on those things in my life that need attention. And for that reason, I'll keep going to my mat.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Indy, thank you for sharing all that- it's inspiring and compelling to hear about how your life and yoga have evolved in an interweaving way over these past few years.
I try to do 3 yoga classes per week, but sometimes I have to miss one. Today's class was after 4 days without, so I really felt the difference between 'yoga/non-yoga'. I think my studio offers pretty good pricing of 10 classes for $120, that's $12 per 90 minute class....that's pretty low, isn't it? I figure that's a good health investment in the long run, will help me prevent joint and back problems like so many of my friends seem to have. The postures involving hip opening and particularly spine stretching and twisting make me feel so good the next day. I've never moved and flexed my spine this much in my entire life, and I keep thinking wow, what I've been missing out on all these years! I feel like I've discovered a whole new part of my body. Isn't it odd!

[sarahmulls21]

You should try doing pilates. You can search online on pilates private instruction North Brisbane (https://reformstudios.com.au/mat-intro-offer/). It is like yoga. Really effective in workouts too. A good way to meditate also.

[Bal krishna]

Here are some of the benefits i've experienced from yoga and cycling :

1. Improved Core Strength
2. Improved Neutral Spine While Ridding
3. Increased focus and lower levels of tension
4. Reduced Risk of Injury
5. More Efficient Breathing

check out https://www.nepalyogainstitute.com/yogateachertraining/300-hour-yoga-teacher-training-in-nepal/ for more great resource which i've learned alot.

[cycling78]

Yeah, I do.

[LisaStone]

Cycling connects me with nature, while yoga brings inner peace. My yoga routine is disrupted by holidays, periods, travel, and mental resistance. Hot classes are uncomfortable due to excessive sweating and self-consciousness about unshaven underarms. Relying on my mother for transportation causes anxiety, and preparing lunch afterwards is exhausting. Minimal social interaction and vulnerable poses also contribute to my unease due to lack of social contact. I'm having trouble choosing the right sportswear for my yoga classes. I tend to get attached to certain leggings, but I'm not always sure if they're suitable for yoga. For example, are these leggings a good choice? [URL="I'm having trouble choosing the right sportswear for my yoga classes. I tend to get attached to certain leggings, but I'm not always sure if they're suitable for yoga. For example, are these leggings a good choice?