Our unhealthy lifestyle dotted with stress and strain calls for regular exercise to lead a fulfilling life. The virtues of cycling are well known as an exercise option. Not only is it a great form of transportation, it also has amazing cardiovascular benefits and helps in developing muscle tone.
However, what most of us don’t know is regular cycling causes extra tension in the shoulders, hips, and back. Cycling involves yin-yang balancing which affects a number of muscles. As a result, cyclists often suffer from a stiff hamstring, tightness in the muscles, stiff back, etc. And this is where yoga helps manifold. Practising yoga not only helps de-stressing, it also helps in training the muscles to cycle for a longer time without any strain. Moreover, cyclists need a lot of leg strength which is imparted through practicing yoga regularly.
What will you benefit from it?
The ancient practice of yoga is good for overall growth of the body and mind. Its contribution to the overall development of the body can never be undermined. Apart from strengthening, yoga involves restorative properties which help in muscle healing as well. Most people think yoga is all about stretching, however, in reality, it is much more than that.
Below are a few benefits:
Flexibility: Cyclists spend a lot of time hunched over the handlebars. This puts a lot of strain on the shoulders, neck and lower back and often leads to tightness in the hamstrings and hips. Practicing yoga regularly helps in making the body flexible. Stretching and warm-ups help in warming up which leads to lesser stiffness after a long ride.
Systematic breathing: All exercises in yoga requires you to breathe systematically. This is of great help. When cyclists are out for a long ride or are participating in a competition, systematic breathing helps in relaxing the mind. Moreover, breathing correctly also helps in faster recovery of muscles and helps cyclists to keep going for a longer time.
Building strength and core: Yoga helps in building up the core strength. This makes the cyclist more comfortable on the saddle and also enables easier climbing and descending. Yoga also aligns the spine, relaxes the back and provides relief from neck pain.
Ideal yoga poses
Out of the hundreds of yoga poses available for cyclists, a few are of great help. Below is a list of a few below along with their benefits for cyclists:
Downward and upward facing dog: Upward and downward facing dog yoga is targeted at building up the entire back muscles. It also stretches the spine and relaxes the same. When these two asanas are combined with proper breathing, it increases the capacity of the lungs thus helping the cyclists to continue cycling for a longer time.
Pigeon Pose: More commonly known as a hip opener pose, this pose helps through external and outward rotation of the femur bone in the hip socket. This, in turn, helps the cyclists to maintain their posture on the cycle for a long period of time.
Sidearm balance: Yoga is meant to train each and every portion of the body. By practicing side arm balance, one can train the oblique muscles which in turn helps in maintaining the proper form on the bike.
Chaturanga: Chaturanga or commonly known as lower push up builds up a number of muscles of the body – upper back, abdomen, hips, chest muscles and muscles. Yeah, the upper push-ups are a bit strenuous on the body, but they definitely go a long way in training a number of muscles across the body.
Apart from the above, all the stretching exercises included in yoga are recommended, especially for healing the body. If you are a cyclist, I do hope you will find great benefit by practicing yoga, especially in the long run. Live healthily and happily with yoga.
