The Benefits Of Yoga For Biking Enthusiasts

Most people wouldn't automatically make a connection between practicing yoga and riding a bicycle. After all, riding a bike is

something you do zooming through the great outdoors. Yoga, on the other hand, is usually done inside in a single room, and although

you may be stretching your mental and physical abilities, you are hardly hurtling through space. Yet, believe it or not, there are real

benefits of yoga for biking enthusiasts.

Enhanced Strength and Endurance

One of the best ways to improve your overall physical strength is through yoga, because the practice of yoga helps to develop every

muscle in your body. In contrast, when it comes to bicycling, the strength and endurance benefits are often limited to the lower body,

especially the legs. When it comes to other parts of the body such as the chest and back, the amount of development is not as great.

Through the use of yoga, you can develop these other areas that don't get enough exercise while bicycling. Later, you can use that

increased strength and endurance to handle and balance the bike better while having better endurance on long rides.

Greater Flexibility

If there is one thing most people get out of practicing yoga, it is better flexibility of movement. This is very helpful to cyclists, who

tend to have problems with tightening of the muscles of the ankles and hips. The overuse of these muscles can result in feelings of

soreness and stiffness, which can be a disadvantage when racing or on long rides. With greater flexibility due to the practice of yoga,

cyclists can avoid or delay the onset of cycling related muscle soreness.

Better Mental Focus

Because yoga includes non-physical aspects such as intense mental focus and a higher awareness of breathing, it can also aid in

developing skills that are beneficial to bicycling. For example, knowing how to breathe consciously can help a cyclist to not lose their

breath from exertion. Better mental focus helps to raise awareness of one's surroundings and the actions of other bikers, both of

which will help make you a better racing and long distance biker. The better mental focus also helps you to remain calm under

competitive pressure.

Injury Prevention

Yoga is all about balance, both of the body and mind. Bicyclists are also very much into balance, and for the very practical reason

that a bicyclist that can't maintain their balance is likely to fall and be injured. The same balance that enables you to perform

complicated yoga movements will help you to keep your bike upright on the road and when riding in close quarters with other riders.

If you do fall off your bike, then a stronger sense of balance can help you to land better and avoid injury.

Yoga and Training

The truth is that bicyclists who also practice yoga are better cyclists both mentally and physically than if they did not. Try thinking of

yoga as just another dimension of biking training, something done to ensure that you have the strength, flexibility and focus for

maximum biking performance and as a way to avoid injuries. The bottom line is that the use of yoga for biking enthusiasts to enhance

their performance is something that will result in many benefits for bikers.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To

receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
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