#eQipeWELLNESS

Cycling and yoga Tips for regaining harmony

Yoga is a discipline generally little considered by cyclists, but if well integrated into training it brings countless benefits in terms of flexibility, concentration and consequently in achieving performance.

How can yoga help?

How many times have you planned a simple outing and found yourself literally wracked with pain the next day?
Taking a cue from this ancient practice of Indian origin allows you to work on theharmony of your muscle groups, preparing you for more balanced bike rides.

Yoga can be seen as a means of fine-tuning one's body, which, like the check-up on the bike, must be done before setting off and allows one to avoid mishaps during or after the journey.

This type of approach allows you to start each ride, more or less short, in ideal conditions to avoid the emergence of tension, gain strength and protect the musculoskeletal system of the back and legs.

What are the positions that improve performance?

Some specific positions, called Asanas, help to improve elasticity, posture and train the mind for greater endurance. Athletes and professionals use them for precisely these purposes, and recommend them to anyone who wants to achieve good results in cycling.

Some postures act on stretching the spine, opening the chest and shoulders, such as Urdhva Hastasana, the raised hands posture.

Others focus on the lower part, where the greatest physical exertion takes place, such as Parsvottanasana, which works on deep stretching, oxygenating the leg muscles and preparing the pelvis to maintain the riding position for long hours.

Supta Padangusthasana, on the other hand, is a posture that strengthens the muscles of the abdomen and at the same time acts on the mind, enhancing willpower.

What are the most effective techniques?

The aspect of meditation, breathing andlistening to the body act on concentration and enable one to maintain the correct and most appropriate posture with respect to the type of terrain and path.

Among the most widely used techniques in this area we recommend:

  • Theinhalation and exhalation with eyes closed, where the latter, slower, takes one second longer than the former
  • Visualization, during controlled breathing, of images that invoke confidence, strength, energy, and that come to your mind in a simple way
  • Theuse of repetition, verbally or mentally, that resonates with yourself.

Like cycling athletes, we therefore want to advise you to take care of your body before starting each ride; it is a moment dedicated to you that completes the activity, prevents neck and shoulder pain and puts you in the best condition to enjoy yourself and achieve the best results.