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.