| To achieve you maximum performance you need to | | | | make good progress on your own with Yoga DVDs |
| develop more than just cardiovascular fitness and | | | | or online yoga courses. This is the way I started |
| strong legs. If your core is weak you will be limited in | | | | many years ago. I bought Power Yoga by Rodney |
| how much power makes it to the pedals. Add to this | | | | Yee and started doing it a few times per week. |
| tight muscles and you have a recipe for mediocre | | | | After a couple of weeks I stopped going to the |
| results. | | | | chiropractor as all of my back pain disappeared. After |
| You've been putting the time on the bike but your | | | | a couple of months I noticed it really improved my |
| progress has slowed down. You might feel tight in | | | | riding as tight hamstrings and back pain didn't flare up |
| the hamstrings and hips. Your long, hard efforts start | | | | on long rides and races. |
| to fade as your back gives out. When you stand on | | | | I have since incorporated Yoga into the training |
| hill climbs you fade muscularly before the cardio and | | | | programs of the athletes I coach. Training beats up |
| legs give out. | | | | your body. Yoga keeps it limber and strong and |
| So what is the answer? | | | | speeds up recovery allowing you to get in more |
| You could do a core training program and work on | | | | quality training. Yoga will also decrease the chance of |
| your flexibility after every ride. The problem is that | | | | injury. To improve your cycling performance you |
| will cut down on your riding time. The easy way to | | | | need to make sure you don't have any weak links. |
| improve these areas is to take up Yoga. The | | | | With very little time spent each week, Yoga takes |
| combination of poses will stretch and strengthen the | | | | care of two very important pieces of the puzzle and |
| muscles with particular emphasis on the hip, legs and | | | | it makes you feel great. |
| core. | | | | If you are feeling adventurous, sign up for a Bikram |
| Three sessions a week of around 20 minutes will | | | | hot yoga session each week. This is a long, intense |
| make a huge difference to your riding and how you | | | | yoga in a hot environment. The heat really loosens up |
| feel. Not to get all "new age" on you, but yoga | | | | your muscles and you sweat out a lot of toxins. |
| unleash inner energy and gets the body aligned. The | | | | If you are a cyclist and you aren't doing Yoga yet, |
| increased blood flow from Yoga also helps speed up | | | | you are missing a great opportunity to increase your |
| recovery. Scar tissue is broken up and the joints | | | | performance. Buy a DVD or sign up for a local class |
| move more freely. | | | | and start seeing the difference from the first session. |
| While it is best to sign up for a Yoga class, you can | | | | |