3 Ways yoga benefits cyclists

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced cyclist, riding a bike puts your body in a relatively abnormal position. You need to lean your body forward as you pedal and grip the handlebars with your hands. Over time, your muscles and joints need a bit of love. Yoga is a great way to stretch and soothe your joints while also gaining flexibility. Regardless of the type of cycling you practice (road, mountain or city), yoga can help you to reduce your risk of injuries and muscle pain; it will also improve your overall range of motion. Once you've stretched your muscles and improved your flexibility, you’ll be ready to get back in the saddle and pedal better than ever.

Competitive cyclists pay close attention to their V02 max level, which is the maximum flow of oxygen inhaled by the lungs and used by the muscles in a unit of time. Whether you are trying to beat your best time, explore different neighbourhoods in your city or take on steep hills, having the capacity to breathe better will optimize your performance and allow for a faster and more controlled recuperation after effort. In addition, having a regular and fluid breathing pattern allows you to stay cam and have better control of your bike. By practicing yoga, you will develop good breathing techniques that will become automatic when you’re pedalling on your bike. 

Ideally, you should use your rest days to do a routine that includes static stretches or a series of floor poses. You will feel the benefits in your whole body.

Try hatha yoga. This type of gentle yoga allows for deep stretching as you hold poses for multiple minutes.

You may also want to try hot yoga as it is easier to go deeper into your stretches when you are in a room that is heated between 38 and 40 ˚C. Drink lots of water before, during and after the class. Hydration is essential. Feel free to move at a slower pace, or to go into child’s pose for a while if you start feeling dizzy.

Those who would like to move at a faster pace may want to try ashtanga yoga, power yoga or kundalini. Again, it's important to respect both your physical and mental limits during any type of yoga practice. Remember, the goal is to relax both your body and your mind.