Anyone do 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. 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.

[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