Cycling Claremont: Yoga for Cyclists...
at Claremont Yoga.
I noticed this card at a local bike shop the other day, and picked it up. I have never been an especially flexible person (from a physical perspective) and knowing that a strong core is fundamental, I have often though yoga could help me be a better racer, not to mention ease an occasional aching back. Check out their website, you will notice that Claremont Yoga offers a range of classes, for all levels.
From the website: "The key areas that can be overworked or strain[ed] while cycling are: hamstrings, quadriceps, hips and lower back (caused by a constant forward flexion of the spine.) Yoga poses help open what is contracted and focuses on the breath. This can help cultivate a mind, body awareness that can be transported to the bike. Improve flexibility, core, strength, and balance."
The instructor for the class at Claremont Yoga was kind enough to respond to an email of mine in which I asked a few questions. She (Suzanne) originally came to the idea of developing a class for cyclists after working with a cyclist friend, and some first-hand experience with a sore back and aching muscles following some spin classes.
"The benefits in cycling are: making you a stronger, faster cyclist. It can give you strength, flexibility, alleviate pain, and stamina. Yoga can also reduce stress, make you less prone to injury, lengthens the muscles and can give you a more powerful pedal stroke. Yoga creates flexibility where there is only strength, which balances the action. Yoga can also help bring the spine back into alignment caused by a constant forward bend of the spine."
"The breath we use in yoga helps to calm our mind and bring ourselves to the present. Focusing on the breath and bringing awareness to the mind and body can be brought to the bike to maintain a strong focus and calm mind. The breath delivers oxygen to the muscles that are being over worked and then begin to cramp. Yoga increases that tolerance for torture by releasing toxins like lactic acid and carbon dioxide from your muscles." says Andrea Baldovin, creator of the Yoga for Cyclists DVD. Using this method of breathing on your bike can help break the pain barrier."
From a racing perspective, I think most cyclists recognize the benefits of stretching before and after a race (or training), but I see very few (including myself) doing so. "Another benefit that a cyclist could find useful is recovering without being sore. A fewpost-ride stretches can lubricate the muscles, which can add to a speedy recovery and increase your training." After a 76 mile ride today, this last really hit home. If you see pros at the end of a race, sometimes they can barely more - why do you think team soigneurs always run over and hold them up after crossing the line (at least the team leaders get that treatment). That is how I felt today - my back has never felt so stiff. I may have to go check into this class.
From the website: "The key areas that can be overworked or strain[ed] while cycling are: hamstrings, quadriceps, hips and lower back (caused by a constant forward flexion of the spine.) Yoga poses help open what is contracted and focuses on the breath. This can help cultivate a mind, body awareness that can be transported to the bike. Improve flexibility, core, strength, and balance."
The instructor for the class at Claremont Yoga was kind enough to respond to an email of mine in which I asked a few questions. She (Suzanne) originally came to the idea of developing a class for cyclists after working with a cyclist friend, and some first-hand experience with a sore back and aching muscles following some spin classes.
"The benefits in cycling are: making you a stronger, faster cyclist. It can give you strength, flexibility, alleviate pain, and stamina. Yoga can also reduce stress, make you less prone to injury, lengthens the muscles and can give you a more powerful pedal stroke. Yoga creates flexibility where there is only strength, which balances the action. Yoga can also help bring the spine back into alignment caused by a constant forward bend of the spine."
"The breath we use in yoga helps to calm our mind and bring ourselves to the present. Focusing on the breath and bringing awareness to the mind and body can be brought to the bike to maintain a strong focus and calm mind. The breath delivers oxygen to the muscles that are being over worked and then begin to cramp. Yoga increases that tolerance for torture by releasing toxins like lactic acid and carbon dioxide from your muscles." says Andrea Baldovin, creator of the Yoga for Cyclists DVD. Using this method of breathing on your bike can help break the pain barrier."
From a racing perspective, I think most cyclists recognize the benefits of stretching before and after a race (or training), but I see very few (including myself) doing so. "Another benefit that a cyclist could find useful is recovering without being sore. A fewpost-ride stretches can lubricate the muscles, which can add to a speedy recovery and increase your training." After a 76 mile ride today, this last really hit home. If you see pros at the end of a race, sometimes they can barely more - why do you think team soigneurs always run over and hold them up after crossing the line (at least the team leaders get that treatment). That is how I felt today - my back has never felt so stiff. I may have to go check into this class.
Yoga is dangerous, don't do it!
ReplyDeleteOh, now Jason, don't start any wars here.
ReplyDelete