As an endurance athlete, you put your body through a lot. It can be tough to find that balance between squeezing in your workout, keeping injuries to a minimum and not getting burnt out, both physically and mentally. One way that many athletes are finding that balance is through practicing yoga. This ancient form of exercise and meditation has risen in popularity over the past few years, and it could be just the thing you need to get your body and your mind right. Keep reading to find out how you could benefit from incorporating yoga into your routine.
Build Strength
Despite what some people think, yoga requires and helps build strength. Each pose is designed to test your strength and balance, both of which you'll need to truly master it. Side planks will challenge your arms while warrior pose engages your legs. Once you hold the pose for just a few breaths, you'll see what we mean when we say yoga will test your strength. It can also help you build a strong core, which is the foundation upon which all of your exercise success rests.
Improve Flexibility
You might have heard that you need to be flexible to take a yoga class. But that just isn't true. What you will learn, however, is that you will become more flexible as you develop a regular practice. Endurance athletes know all too well the pain of tight hamstrings, calves, glutes and back muscles. Yoga will help you stretch these muscles, restore proper alignment and create more flexibility in your movement.
Discover Mental Clarity
Yoga is all about moving with the breath. What this teaches you is the power of focus. Your mental health is just as powerful as your physical health in determining your success as an endurance athlete. In yoga, you will learn to quiet your thoughts and become more mindful of your movement. It can help you become more confident and teach you that you are stronger than you think. That mental clarity can then be used to guide you through your workout routine, race or just in life.
Poses to Try
Downward Facing Dog: This pose will stretch your hamstrings and your lower back while building strength in your quads, inner thighs and your core.
Upward Facing Dog: In this pose, you will stretch your ankles, hip flexors and chest muscles. Upward facing dog builds strength in your glutes, hamstrings and spinal extensors.
Crescent Lunge: This is a great pose if you need to stretch your hip flexors and chest muscles, and helps build strength in your calves, quads and thighs.
Pigeon: In pigeon pose, it's all about stretching and opening the hips.
Happy Cow Face: Again, you'll stretch your hips here, as well as your triceps and chest while strengthening your hips and glutes.
Get the Right Nutrition
At ProLine Sports Nutrition, we offer you a highly complex and proven array of vitamins and supplements that are targeted for endurance athletes like you. Our goal is to make your training more effective and decrease your recovery time, allowing for greater success in your endurance races. Stop by our store today to check out our selection.
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