incorporating yoga into tri training?

cavewoman15

i'm being a total tri spaz, and this group discussion board has been a savior. thanks for all your responses MFP triathletes!

i just joined a new gym that actually has good yoga classes included in the price (win). i used to do yoga twice a week until about a year ago, when i moved and my new gym had a crappy class and charged an extra fee. since i stopped practicing, i started tri training. i did my first race in april (sprint) and now i'm working toward the oly in august. i often feel tight, even though i stretch a lot, and i miss yoga a ton, so i think the extra strength and stretch would be a nice addition to my training. i'm thinking just once a week and i'll try to find a lighter class so i'm not too tired/sore.

does anyone supplement their tri training with yoga? any cons to incorporating yoga into my training?

ZenInTexas

I can't see any cons to doing yoga. I love it and try to catch a class whenever I can. Yoga is great.

scott091501

There are really no cons to yoga if you have the time. I have incorporated yoga in the past with very good success. I was also very lucky in that the class was taught by a marathoner so it stayed focused on the problem areas for endurance athletes. Those being hips, glutes, IT bands, core, etc. Classes, like Bikram, that focus on a set progression of movements that don't really address these trouble spots are great for overall wellness, but may be a less efficient use of time.

One could argue that a full foam rolling/lacrosse ball and mobility program would yield better results.

Anyway the class is free to you, you know you enjoy it, and it will help with your overall well being at the least and possible help your performance. I see no issues.

daj150

Yoga makes triathlete bodies happy. That is all I have to say. I don't do enough yoga at all, but when I do it consistently, it aids tremendously in my recovery and for injury prevention. However, it is not a tool for injury maintenance. I agree with Scott, foam rolling and a mobility program will yield better results overall. But you need to do what you have time for and more importantly, enjoy. So, if you like yoga, do it...it can only help.

FYI...don't do any of the crane poses before a swim...you will regret it, lol.

wpayers

Yoga has saved my Tri life. Im an AG 55-59 and live in Florida. The good news about living in FL is we can race almost year round; the bad news about living in FL is we can race almost year round.

After years of banging away 10 months out of the year, my body started to fight back. Obviously age is a factor but the injuries were piling up. I did some level of rest/stretching and thought I was reaching the problem areas; realistically, I was just doing the same warm up routine I did in high school track.

Yoga completely altered my approach to listening to my body, and most importantly, increased my awareness of the mental aspects of physical effort. The result is significantly more flexibility in my hammys, quads and hips flexors. This has noticeably helped my run/bikes times and made bricks less of an ordeal. Also, I must mention the impact Yoga has made on overall stress reduction and the rediscovery of relaxation.

The only drawback is the grief I get for watching TV in pigeon pose. Regardless of a person's age, shape, sport or activity, I recommend Yoga for everyone.