Yoga Vibes WeHo, West Hollywood, CA
If you tried yoga before, maybe your first experience with Yoga was at your local gym like me. The meditation music played in the background, while the instructor chanted jibberish words out loud I didn’t understand. The poses were difficult for me to complete as my mind ran rampant, wondering when this class will be over…it was too slow for me. 🧘🏻♀️😳😣
It’s funny how cycling can make you do things like eat healthier, go to the gym to strengthen muscles, and now take on yoga, all of which I typically wouldn’t do. 🤔😳🤪
But, I’m motivated to climb that next mountain pass, take on another personal record, and see the world on two wheels!
Table of Contents
Origin of Yoga
The origin of Yoga dates back 5th or 6th Century B.C. in ancient India.
It’s a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices first mentioned in Rigveda (Sanskrit meaning: “praise knowledge”), an ancient Indian hymn collection used to recite Hindu prayers and celebrations.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word Yuji, which means TO UNITE with spirit and physical body. How awesome is that? 🤯🤩🤯
There are many forms of yoga, but I will specifically focus on Hatha Yoga because of its physical and mental strength building exercises and postures, or asanas. Its higher purpose is to purify the body, enlighten awareness, and internal control, preparing your mind and body for meditation.
Hatha Yoga 👉🏼 Practicing Postures or Asanas + Breathing (Pranayama) 👉🏼 Balance, Release of Tension, Calm of Body & Mind.
Hatha emerged in the 9th and 11th Century that includes ashtanga, vinyasa flow, kundalini, Bikram or “hot” yoga, acro, SUP, aerial, Lyengar, and all other forms of physical yoga.
This form of yoga gained popularity in the WEST in the early 1900s. Today, it’s purely celebrated for its physical benefits, energy, strength, and harmony of mind and body.
The more I come to understand the purpose and history of yoga, the more I see its potential for enhancing my cycling performance. I am loving it so far! 🤩🤩🤩
Mind-Body Benefits of Yoga
There is a myriad of benefits to yoga.
Everyday we accumulate tension, trauma, stress, or fear that not only causes mental distress, but physical ailments too (headaches, digestive problems, etc.). 😩😩😩
Add the physical and mental hardship of endurance cycling, and it’s no wonder why our bodies begin to shut down. 😱😱😱
Here are just a few benefits you’ll get from regular yoga practice:
- Prolong muscle endurance
- Expands range of motion and flexibility
- Improves core strength
- Builds up bone density
- Enlarges lung capacity
- Boosts immune system
- Sharpen & heightens focus and concentration
- Reduces stress
- Cultivates proper balance
- Promotes strong blood circulation
- Quiets the mind
- Alleviates chronic pain
- Helps you sleep better
Re my FLEXIBILITY issues, I’m learning to challenge my body to go deeper into the poses, pulling the muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues, creating a system of muscle memory. That muscle memory will trickle down to my cycling! 🤩🤩🤩
Wow! Can you imagine if you improve all the above and more, what kind of cyclist YOU will become? 💯💪🏼🚴🏼♂️
#BEASTmode on physical performance baby! 💥💥💥
I, particularly, was taken aback that yoga increases bone density. 🤔🤯
Hatha poses use groups of muscles against another (i.e. quads against hamstrings, glutes against shoulder muscles, etc.). This physically triggers osteoblasts, the bone making cells that secrete bone formation.
What does that mean for us cyclists?
It is inevitable that we will fall and have some kind of bicycle accident. It comes with the territory, but prayerfully, it doesn’t happen often. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Strong bone density can help prevent bone fractures.
In addition, since yoga increases balance and coordination, it can also protect us from falling off the bike in the first place.
4 Hatha Yoga Sequence Poses After A Ride
Vanessa of Yoga Vibe WeHo was gracious enough to educate and instruct me 🤯. Here are 4 of her recommended POST-RIDE BEGINNER Hatha poses:
Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
Muscles Involved: Quads, Hamstrings
3-5min pose + deep breathing
Cow Face Pose (Supta Gomukhasana)
Muscles Involved: Glutes
3-5min pose + deep breathing
Reclining Pigeon (Supta Kapotasana)
Muscles involved: Hips
3-5min pose + deep breathing
Locust Pose (Salabasana)
Muscles Involved: Chest, Back
3-5reps for pose + deep breathing
Integrating Hatha yoga into your post-ride regiment will help your muscles and mind recover.
For your next ride, complete your Hatha yoga asana practice, then sit still. Meditate. Turn inward, and allow yourself a moment to experience spiritual bliss 🧘🏻♀️🧘🏻♂️. Then, give thanks. So so good!
Can I tell you how excited I am to dive into this stuff?
I’ve only touched the surface here.
I can’t wait to share my findings on other forms of yoga, experience a deeper connection spiritually through meditation, and eventually, tap into an energy force beyond my comprehension (God? Whoa! 😳🤯) and use that to enhance my life.
It sounds like Jedi training to me! Yes! 🥋⚔️
Recommended Yoga Gear
Below is the GEAR I use for various yoga poses to challenge and build muscle memory during a yoga class and a post-ride. CLICK on the pictures below to direct you to the products on Amazon.
Any questions about Strength Training Tips? Got other Yoga exercises that have worked for you in the past? Drop me a message in the comments below!
THANKS FOR READING 🤟
The Beginner’s Guide to Hatha Yoga for Cyclists article is one of
the best I have ever read!
I found a way to lose weight with yoga, maybe you try it
too: https://bit.ly/YogaBurn108
You are doing a great job with http://thecyclingceo.com site.
🙂 Congrat!