Yoga and benefits for cycling?

[BlueVet11]

I love it, I don't do it enough though. I tried the DIY, but I have to say going to a great yoga instructor is priceless. I've found a very small, local donation based yoga studio ($3-$5 suggested donation and you can stay for another class). The instructor I like to go to is just amazing, very encouraging, doesn't want you to hurt yourself or push to hard just to get the pose. He's just awesome. I have to say the oujai pranayama (breathing style) is really helpful in being mindful of your breathing, helps control breathing (on the bike too) deepening your breath, etc.

I'd encourage anyone to try and find a yoga studio and not take a yoga class at a big gym. I'm sure there are decent yoga instructors in gyms, but my experience with the small yoga studio, I would never be able to attend a gym yoga class!

Do it!

[Aggie_Ama]

I took yoga in college and found I appreciated the exercise but not the class. Now we have a DVD and I quite enjoy yoga again. Of course I did know the basics, I just prefer the calm of my house to the calm of a studio. To each her own I guess.

[Veronica]

I've only done yoga on my own with a video. I have Yoga for Triathletes -1 & 3. These have lots of very basic stretches. I also have a few Rodney Yee videos. They are also very basic I think.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I started with the yoga from the Cyclo Core series by Graham Street. About 6 months after that I ventured into a level 1 class at my gym. My gym is a full service club, that is not one of those "huge" gyms that advertise on TV. It's been around for 50 years, starting as a tennis and swim club. They have 5 classes a week, so it's not like it's a big part of the program. I have found that I was glad I had it done it on my own before I went to class. The instructors are all very good, some are 500 hr. certified and others 250 hour, who are working on the 500. They all have taught for years. At first, I was put off by the "spiritual" part and the "noises" some of the participants made. But, I got used to it and now I can say, it really helped me through my difficult months last year with the fibromyalgia. I also have scoliosis and many other sports injuries and it just has taught me to stretch and relax! I never do the advanced classes, doubt I could handle those poses, but I have improved a lot.
I never thought that anything could have me totally relaxed and practically sleeping on the floor in front of others, but it did happen.
+1 on the Bikrahm yoga. The guy who started it has a studio near the university I go to and some of the other students go. I think I would faint doing poses in that heat.

[Kalidurga]

There are so many varieties of Yoga and many of them can be modified to the practitioner's physical requirements and goals. For many people, taking a class from an experienced instructor is definitely the way to go. But for others, a researched home practice can be just as effective. For anyone who's considering starting out on their own, do some homework first.

Personally, I'm not comfortable going to a gym or Yoga studio. But over the last several years, I've developed several asana series on my own using Yoga Journal magazine and an assortment of books, and I choose the series I do depending on how I feel that day both physically and mentally. I'm far from being an advanced practitioner. For instance, I wouldn't attempt Headstand without an instructor because I have neck and shoulder issues, and I may seek out a teacher one day to learn how to do it safely. But I've definitely come a long way on my own.

I say this not to refute any of the advice above because it's very good advice, but to reassure anyone who thinks they'd prefer to start off on their own. Again, do some research. Learn about the various types of Yoga and the possible modifications that you can use. And ease into the practice, starting simply and paying close attention to how your body responds. You may end up heading straight for the nearest class, or you may develop a wonderful, personal, home practice.

[indysteel]

There are so many varieties of Yoga and many of them can be modified to the practitioner's physical requirements and goals. For many people, taking a class from an experienced instructor is definitely the way to go. But for others, a researched home practice can be just as effective. For anyone who's considering starting out on their own, do some homework first.

Personally, I'm not comfortable going to a gym or Yoga studio. But over the last several years, I've developed several asana series on my own using Yoga Journal magazine and an assortment of books, and I choose the series I do depending on how I feel that day both physically and mentally. I'm far from being an advanced practitioner. For instance, I wouldn't attempt Headstand without an instructor because I have neck and shoulder issues, and I may seek out a teacher one day to learn how to do it safely. But I've definitely come a long way on my own.

I say this not to refute any of the advice above because it's very good advice, but to reassure anyone who thinks they'd prefer to start off on their own. Again, do some research. Learn about the various types of Yoga and the possible modifications that you can use. And ease into the practice, starting simply and paying close attention to how your body responds. You may end up heading straight for the nearest class, or you may develop a wonderful, personal, home practice.

Great advice. Whether you choose to do it at studio, gym or at home, it pays to be discerning. Some DVDs are better than others. Read reviews and take it slow. If you go to a gym or studio, ask about the instructor's training level. Experiment with styles and teachers.

I was lucky in that my first instructor has 14 years of experience under her belt. In some cities, that wouldn't be terribly unusual, but in Indianapolis, it's not as common. As much as I like my studio, they employ some newbie instructors who are simply not as good. Even among well trained instructors, there are some I like, and some I don't. Unfortunately, my favorite instructor is on an indefinite sabbatical and isn't teaching any more. Even though it's been over a year since she made that decision, I'm still heartbroken about it. No one else I've gone to compares, and my practice has gotten really off track.

I, personally, like the studio/gym environment, but I find my house to be do distracting for yoga. The cats like to join in. If it works for you, and you're able to develop a mindful practice, then great. I sometimes balk at the expense of my studio, not because I don't think the price is worth it, but because it seems like an extravagance. My studio operates on a slim profit margin, and the instuctors aren't getting rich from it.

[Red Rock]

You all have mentioned some good things here, things that I had not really even thought about. Like instructor trainning. I have the DVD-was a birthday present- and have been doing that to the best of my ability. I guess having a gymnastic background has helped a bit because the poses are often called one thing and I knew it as something else from gymnastics.

I do not know if my small town has yoga at any of the gyms. If they do they probably will not see me because it is too expensive $$$$ to join. I have always had a hard time with paying good money for exercise when you can go right out the door for a bike ride, run, or hike. I guess I see what I can find out from the internet and anything else you wise people can say.

Red Rock

[NoNo]

Tonight will be my first instructor-led class. It'll be here at work for the next 6 Thursdays. I think it'll be a good introduction to yoga and maybe give me the basics so that I can do the DVDs and not hurt myself.

[Zen]

Pilates might be something to look into as well. Stretches tendons and ligaments while strengthening the core.