Why You Go There?

Why am I passionate about teaching “Yoga for Cyclists”? Because I am one and during a typical training week I’m on the bike for 10-12hrs.

That’s me on the front of the pack in the photo above during the weekly, local criterium (The Driveway Series) I use for interval training. In the photo above (thank you, Jim Hicks) I am also bleeding from the hand, elbow, and knee after a group crash midway through the race (the judges give you a neutral lap and let you back in after such mishaps). You can’t always continue racing after a crash, but I was lucky this time… and yoga is also a practice I use to prevent deeper injuries when the inevitable crashes do occur.

I understand the benefits of yoga for cyclists firsthand. Cyclists tend to have overdeveloped leg muscles (or what I call “MASSIVE leg muscles”) with an imbalance of flexibility in the hamstrings, quads, and hips. All of this usually leads itself to lower back pain that can occur on and off the bike. The bike also puts a lot of tension on the neck and shoulders. In the event of a crash this lack of flexibility can lead to torn/pulled muscles and ligaments to go along with the road-rash! Ouch! Most of these ailments can be alleviated through a regular yoga practice targeted at cycling recovery regardless if you’re a road racer, mountain biker, cyclocross freak, or commuter. Yoga probably can’t keep you from crashing, but it can help prevent injury and speed up recovery when a mishap does occur!

Yoga promotes flexibility and core strength and when these two come into balance cycling becomes more enjoyable and its a lot less painful. The lower back feels good, the neck is healthy, the chest is open, and the legs are always fresh.

In my “yin-style” classes we’ll focus on opening up the full-circumference of the hips, stretch the hamstrings (all three of them!), stretch the quads, open up the chest, and relieve tension in the neck and shoulders. We will also draw extra attention to the breath that will help relieve the muscles during the class while promoting good breathing techniques that can be used while racing or riding your bike.

Stay tuned for my class schedule for May 2013!

Team Super Awesome featured on active.com’s “12 Great Cycling Jerseys”!!! And yes, we really are AWESOME!

I learned a lot to today and the body felt great after attending Libby’s class during Yoga Yoga’s FREE DAY OF YOGA!!!

(Focus on chest openers, neck, back, and hamstrings) (at Yoga Yoga)

Got back in the saddle today… Humbling after a year off of racing and six-months of travel with no training, but beautiful spring weather in Austin, TX and happy to be back on familiar roads with good cycling buddies!!! Time to get the legs back (and some tan lines)… (at Texas State Capitol)

Exploring the ruins of Hampi, India on the bicycle… The area of ruins and temples covers around 26 square/km which makes it a great distance to cover by bike. We spent two days exploring all day and didn’t see it all. Bikes can be rented for 50INR/day ($1.00)

Expect it to be hot so bring water! There aren’t many hills but the hills you do come to are quite steep. Also expect to push the bike or lock it up and walk to be able to explore many of the temples that can only be accesses by taking the stairs.

The bicycle is the best way to explore Hampi if you don’t mind the heat!!! And it’s cheap!!! - India

Biking the streets of Hampi - India

Lance (snagged this from Street Art News and did my own edit… Original stencil was shot in Los Angeles, CA) - To good not to share!!!

MTB Ride from Luang Prabang to the Kuang Si Waterfall… A hilly 65k ride but an awesome way to see the Laos countryside!! (at Luang Prabang City)