yoga

timely, just got out of my friday am power yoga class.  I find that it helps in a couple ways, it improves my flexibility, especially in the hips, and makes riding in aero a bit easier.

Also, core strength has improved.  I have found that on longer climbs I can generate more power, again from the hips.

I started going to a class at my Y last week and thus far have gone 5 times. I had gone once a few years ago to a class at someones home that I thought was stupid and was not impressed so I had low expectations.

The classes I take now at the Y really really like it a lot. My Yoga instructor said to me during class she couldn't believe how much flexibility I've gained in two weeks and I've never heard her say something like that before. I ran this morning and then went straight to Yoga..it was the best stretching after a run ever. We did somethings that really stretched my hip flexors and hamstrings. I have a shoulder that bothers me due to bike crash in which I seperated it. It helps with that too.

I do find the mental, relaxing, moment focus incredibly helpful. I feel very refreshed afterwards.

I'm not sure power yoga and all that more intense yoga would really be as helpful for me as I s/b/r and strength train already. I like the stretching, added flexibility and relaxing I get from this.

When I get a job I won't be able to go to the classes so I had my Yoga teacher recommend some DVDs similar to the way she teaches and a BT friend recommended some others. I hope by attending classes and learning I can do some on my own.

I also am going to get a book that has short routines to do in different situations...like for running, for calming. We do certain moves together that just feel so good after running and it so much better stretching then I'd ever do normally. I think coming up with a short 15 minute post run yoga routine will be helpful for me. 

I'm going into my 5th tri season (and doing my first IM) and I see more and more that my body is interconnected and my back surgery 10 years ago effects my back, hip, IT band, my calves and by dealing with it hopefully I can stay healthier than I was this year. 

If  you belong to a Y and have classes try it. For me it is free. I know some Yoga studios are pretty expensive but classes to start I think is wise just like swimming there is technique involved and easier to learn the right way at the start.  

votes for leah yoga and kimberly fowler yas

former is more relaxing and i tend to do it on days when i need to turn my brain off; latter is a tough workout - you sweat loads and it really works your upper body. i'd say my flexibility/core are worked more by kimberley yoga but my brain gets a better downtime with leah.  

The book is

 Yoga For Your Life: A Practice Manual of Breath and Movement for Every Body (Paperback)

You can get these at Amazon as well. If you get them from the website the set of 3 is $49.95 with $3 shipping. The strength one (ie first one) is the one she recommended if I only got one.

any of these 3 dvds listed on this website
https://www.shopyogaaway.com/shoponline.html

The Workout: Feeling Great Again Strength $19.95

Stress Reduction: Feeling at Home Relaxation $19.95

Finding Focus: Feeling Clarity of Mind Concentration $19.95

Yoga has definitely improved my flexibility and core strength, and it weaves nicely into a focused training plan, depending on what you choose to do.  I've been using a Rodney Yee DVD that is AM/PM yoga.  The AM session only takes 20 minutes and really sets the tone for my day.

I'm with Elly - the mental aspect has become just as important to me as the physical.  It really offsets all the craziness and tempo of life.

Lastly, I used to DESPISE stretching.  Because of the flexibility gains and learning to slow myself down, Yoga has also helped me be much more consistent with post-training/race stretching, and I feel noticeably better because of it.  Hopefully that translates to injury prevention.

x2

My gym cancelled it and I really miss it. Just not the same doing it on my own so I rarely do. 

I do bikram yoga, primarily in the offseason.  These sessions are pretty intense and some training partners of mine choose not to go these sessions anymore.  They certainly help with flexibility and core and I find them to be a very rewarding and relaxing.

This offseason I intend to experiment with other yoga offerings to see if I can find something that I’ll to do year-round

I do yoga.  I love it.  It makes me sore so I know it's doing SOMETHING.

And....I went to the doc two days in a row.  Non-yoga day my HR on their gadget was like 70bpm.  Yoga morning?  47bpm.  And I did nothing else different.  It was freaky.

Good for flexiblity and strength....but I don't buy into the whole breathing hocus pocus....