In short: Yes!
Roughly 2 million Americans compete in Triathlons each year. There are over 700 Marathons scheduled on US soil in 2014, and more than half a million people finish them. Despite having just 180 riders on average (20 teams of 9 riders), the Tour de France is the worlds largest annual sporting event with over 3.5 BILLION spectators each year. Competing in such events requires cardiovascular strength, fortified bones, and a tremendous amount of willpower to keep pushing yourself forward in training. Seeing as many of these skills are also emphasized in yogic philosophy, let's just say that a regular Yoga practice can't hurt!
A typical yoga class has a mix of poses and sequences, and together with the breathwork and mind-body connection, you can hone a durable, injury-resistant body that's ready to absorb the demands of heavy-duty sports training. Adding tailor-made sequences to the type of athletic event you're training for can really enhance your performance and minimize the potential for injury (which can typically set back your training schedule)
Anyone who has experienced the flowing sequence of a Sun Salutation knows first-hand how you can build cardiovascular resilience on the mat. Balancing poses help bring your focus and attention to the task at hand - important in building endurance and training discipline. The strength-building standing poses of the Warrior series enable you to hold poses longer with less tension. You can improve breath flow and efficiency, while other standing poses and certain inversions can tap into smaller, under-utilized muscle groups that will help support your major muscle groups.
It takes perseverance, commitment, and confidence to bring yourself to the mat - just as these qualities are brought to task during any training event: running, cycling, or swimming. Maybe adding a little yoga to your training plan might not be such a bad idea afterall!
No comments:
Post a Comment