2ndGen

Does anybody here do Yoga?
Have you found that it helps your cycling?

jmsmke

Yes,
Especially before racing. Calms the nerves and gets all your muscles/tendons nice and loose.

2ndGen

I would imagine that unlike stretching (just for the sake of stretching),
Yoga might be a less impactive manner of limbering up.

iheartbenben

P90X yoga is pretty intense. Does that count? It's over 1.5 hours long.

I can't lick my butt or anything, but I haven't done it like I'm supposed to either.

2ndGen

Wow.
I didn't even know there was a P90X yoga program.
Do you have to yell when you do it?

rkelley23

YOGA SUCKS.......because im terrible at it

iheartbenben

Yeah, at the instructor. He's a total d-bag some times. It's like he knows when you wanna punk out.

P90X is the shiz if you actually do it. ha.

2ndGen

Sufferfest for yoga?

hooligancyclist

On hot days or on days before a ride I would much prefer restorative (easy, relaxing, more about balance) yoga. I've seen an article that says that intense stretching that lasts 20 or more seconds will weaken the muscle temporarily. In base training I might do some more intense stretching, like this book on yoga that I bought told me to do. It was yoga for athletes.

DPV

I'm thinking of taking it up. My legs are constantly stiff just from my commutes (which I use as training rides- always go hard) and weekend rides which both feature long climbs and not much in the way of descents. Some strecthing helps, but a dedicated yoga plan would probably do wonders for the tightness and overall flexibility.

My two best friends ski competitively, and they can't praise their yoga sessions enough- they say their balance, posture, strength has gone up noticeably- can't see why those benefits wouldn't transfer to biking, albeit in other ways.

Anyone with a before/after yoga story?

Menel

Find an Ashtanga practice.
Intense, good stretching, static strength building, and breathing.

inkspot

I've done yoga for about 10 years now. It certainly helps my flexibility, and the 'power' yoga can be a tough workout. Mentally it allows me to reign in some of the chaos of the day. You don't have to buy into the Zen or yin/yang stuff, but you have to keep at it.

As for helping the cycling - it's a different type of workout, so it stresses your muscles differently, thereby aiding your overall capabilities. That's how I see it, anyway.

Seattle Forrest

My girlfriend has been doing it lately. She says yoga helps a lot with her core strength, which didn't seem to be an issue before she started, but, apparently, it's helping more than she expected.

iheartbenben

I would love to mail you a copy of the dvd. You would agree with me, it's pretty tough.

PM me if you want it, I got a bunch of stamps just layin' round.

Creatre

I would love to do Yoga to help me get a bit more flexible. Haven't gotten around to it yet.

Dantebfd

I would agree that the P90X yoga is pretty tough and when done right you will be able to lick your butt. :no: I would go as far to say as it is the hardest workout in the series. I would also agree that Tony is a bit of a d-bag and his obnoxiousness does not lend itself to your typical yoga experience.