5 Reasons Endurance Athletes Should Try Yoga

Running and cycling for long distances can be a lonely and difficult endeavor. Stride after stride, stroke after stroke, it can be tougher mentally than physically to push on to the finish line. One way to focus the mind is to meditate. Yoga is a great way to learn how to meditate. Meditating is a great way to get the mind over any hurdle and it allows the body to complete the ride. Being able to meditate can help clear the mind during any activity, not just running or cycling.It may seem like the simplest of actions, but many people do not know the full power of breathing. Consider this: many pregnant women use the power of breathing to survive giving birth without pain medication. Yoga teaches how to breathe properly so as to not only use the body effectively when exercising but to keep the body calm and relaxed through breathing even during strenuous activity, like running and cycling.Anyone who runs or cycles for long distances is going to suffer injuries. Sprained ankles and pulled hamstrings are regular occurrences, not to mention the constant foot and toe issues like blisters. Regular yoga practice has shown to be an effective way to prevent and even heal injuries. Yoga is also a great way to recover from injuries as well those really tough workouts that leave the body aching.View the list »
The most obvious benefit of yoga is flexibility. The practice of yoga revolves around a series of poses that stretch the muscles in ways that typical movements do not. The benefit of this is that the muscles become looser and more pliable. Being more flexible allows runners and cyclists to get warmed up easier, train longer and at a faster pace and feel better during training. Yoga will be flexibility in a way that regular stretching will not.

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Endurance pursuits like running and cycling require a strong body to perform. They also require a strong mind because they require the ability to deal with pain and to push on when the body feels like it cannot continue. Therefore, when engaging in an endurance activity, like running and cycling, it just as important to train the mind as it is to train the body. One way to do that is to cross-train in a pursuit that focuses on the blending of the mind and the body. Yoga is just such an activity. Here are five reasons why it is a good idea to train in yoga for runners and cyclists.

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  • The most obvious benefit of yoga is flexibility. The practice of yoga revolves around a series of poses that stretch the muscles in ways that typical movements do not. The benefit of this is that the muscles become looser and more pliable. Being more flexible allows runners and cyclists to get warmed up easier, train longer and at a faster pace and feel better during training. Yoga will be flexibility in a way that regular stretching will not.
  • Anyone who runs or cycles for long distances is going to suffer injuries. Sprained ankles and pulled hamstrings are regular occurrences, not to mention the constant foot and toe issues like blisters. Regular yoga practice has shown to be an effective way to prevent and even heal injuries. Yoga is also a great way to recover from injuries as well those really tough workouts that leave the body aching.
  • It may seem like the simplest of actions, but many people do not know the full power of breathing. Consider this: many pregnant women use the power of breathing to survive giving birth without pain medication. Yoga teaches how to breathe properly so as to not only use the body effectively when exercising but to keep the body calm and relaxed through breathing even during strenuous activity, like running and cycling.
  • Running and cycling for long distances can be a lonely and difficult endeavor. Stride after stride, stroke after stroke, it can be tougher mentally than physically to push on to the finish line. One way to focus the mind is to meditate. Yoga is a great way to learn how to meditate. Meditating is a great way to get the mind over any hurdle and it allows the body to complete the ride. Being able to meditate can help clear the mind during any activity, not just running or cycling.
  • In order to stay strong while running or cycling, it is important to maintain good posture. For example, a strong stride requires a person to stay upright, with good posture and hips in line. Poor posture makes it hard to get a proper stride, which not only slows the runner down but makes injuries more likely. Yoga teaches not only how to achieve good posture but how to keep it in any pose.
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, LA Cycling Fitness Examiner

Jay has a Bachelor of Arts in English from West Virginia University and a Master of Arts in adult education from the University of Rhode Island. He is also a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist (CFNS). ...

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