Yoga for cyclists

Greetings all,
I have been teaching a yoga for cyclists class in Bethnal Green for just over a year now. What started off as an experiment has over time become a successful specialisation that I would like to deepen and extend further to include all types of cyclists including fixed gear and single speed riders. So, this new thread has a few aims in mind, not just advertising I promise!
Firstly to inform you about the class which takes place every Thursday from 8.15 – 9.30pm (excluding Thursday 29th October) at Bodywise yoga and natural health centre (www.bodywisehealth.org) on 119 Roman rd, E2 0QN. Prices are very reasonable as the studio is in fact a charity, committed to accessing those who are financially challenged and/ or local.
Secondly, I would like to use this thread to offer advice on specific postures for particular complaints, adjustments/ prop advice for those with particularly tight group muscles, and home-based practice to those who may be interested.
Lastly, I am interested in teaching a donation based yoga for cyclists class in Hackney and/or Tower Hamlets. So this last aim is two-fold, wondering if anyone is interested and if so, if anyone has any ideas as to where we may be able to do this.
If you have any questions/ would like more information, feel free to PM or email me on gizzardbogue@yahoo.co.uk.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Warm regards,
Rebecca Bogue

fantastic, yoga is the key.
good luck with everything in London.
come and practice on the beach with us sometime here in Bournemouth.

Good stuff, Rebecca. You have e-mail.

I've been going to this class for a year now and can recommend it highly. I've kept pestering Rebecca to post it up here for a while. conservative_values has also been attending lately and will be able to offer his own perspective.

I wS going to say Oliver has been a proponent of this class for a while now

Hope it goes well

one of my favourite things is cycling after a yoga class, when my body is pleasantly exhausted but my legs spin so fast because they are properly stretched and relaxed

shouldnt this go in a more general forum so more people see it?

yoga sorted my back out for a bit, but I think too much bmx has fucked it up again

sound good, i'd be up for a session

thank you, practicing on the beach sounds grand indeed!

as for cycling after a yoga class, few things beat it! I realised whilst doing my training that some classes provoked even more epiphanous cycling experiences than others and that is in fact what inspired me to design a programme specifically for cyclists, for both short term and long term cycling pleasure!

not trying to take anyone away from your classes, theres a d.v.d. in some bike shops which is fine for fundamentals here:-
Yoga for Cyclists [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Andria Baldovin: DVD
have given it to a few friends, and they liked it.
the beach, ah so lucky. might have to be next year now though ;-)

good point pastry lover, Oliver pointed this out too, have moved it to Classifieds. I would obviously say Yoga is one of the best long-term solutions for many common back problems. Most of the back postures I use in class work on reversing the often 'prawn' like bike posture (particularly on bmx) and strengthening the core postural muscles therefore elongating the spine, avoiding compression, injuries etc. Would be happy to recommend preparatory back bend work as well as back bends if you were thinking of practicing again...

look forward to seeing you lpg! The classes are generally offered as 6 week courses (sometimes 5 or 7 depending on calendar) but can be attended as drop-in classes too dependent on level of experience. Tonight is week 5 of the current course which, if you're not a complete beginner, you're more than welcome to attend. Otherwise the next course starts 5th November.

Wow, that beach shot looks divine!

Yes indeed, I have that DVD and as you say, it does address the fundamentals. I must confess the last time I watched it was well over a year ago, should watch it again. As ever though with so many Yoga DVD's (with a few exceptions), whilst it bears in mind typical cyclist tendencies, it cannot cater too brilliantly for different body variations which I find key...

Is there a secure bike parking place at the venue?

Is there a secure bike parking place at the venue?

Not really, there are plenty of racks outside, though. I wouldn't bring the bling bike. SInce I've been attending, I haven't heard of any thefts yet.

Can you just turn up or do you need to book? It sounds great.

Can you just turn up or do you need to book? It sounds great.

Both fine. You can book for the whole course when it starts and you're sure that you'll be able to attend every session, or drop in.

good point pastry lover, Oliver pointed this out too, have moved it to Classifieds. I would obviously say Yoga is one of the best long-term solutions for many common back problems. Most of the back postures I use in class work on reversing the often 'prawn' like bike posture (particularly on bmx) and strengthening the core postural muscles therefore elongating the spine, avoiding compression, injuries etc. Would be happy to recommend preparatory back bend work as well as back bends if you were thinking of practicing again...
cool - sadly i live in birmingham so cant come to your class

i still do yoga, though not as often as i should. what poses do you recommend for lower back pain?

Both fine. You can book for the whole course when it starts and you're sure that you'll be able to attend every session, or drop in.

I think I'll drop in and see how I go. Next week, maybe. Thanks guys.

.

I decided to check this out 3 weeks ago after advice from the Physio that inflexibilty could have contributed to a lingering injury I've been trying to shake. I tried it out at first for this relatively one-dimensional reason but have been back for much better ones. It's great to really practice relaxing and maintaining good posture while exerting youself, something that you can take straight to the bike. The session is physically very challenging in terms of flexibilty but also strength. It's also a great tonic to a hard day and I think I'm improving in the mental aspects of the class as I'm getting to grips with the actual positions (the theory at least).

Greetings Plurabelle and thank you Oliver for providing prompt answers to questions! Sorry, I teach all day on Thursdays...

Plurabelle, dropping in to check out a good idea. If you've done a fair bit of yoga before, feel free to drop in next week, otherwise I would recommend dropping in on the 5th november which is when new course starts. Next week is the last class of current course and we are trying out some relatively challenging postures.

As for bike parking, there are racks outside bodywise on the roman rd. Some may be tempted to bring their bikes in, but I would urge you to resist as I have heard of interior bike thefts and no exterior so far. But yes, I don't bring bling bike either!

*m.f, i enjoyed your squiffy-eyed straight talkin' wombat!

Greetings Plurabelle and thank you Oliver for providing prompt answers to questions! Sorry, I teach all day on Thursdays...

Plurabelle, dropping in to check out a good idea. If you've done a fair bit of yoga before, feel free to drop in next week, otherwise I would recommend dropping in on the 5th november which is when new course starts. Next week is the last class of current course and we are trying out some relatively challenging postures.

As for bike parking, there are racks outside bodywise on the roman rd. Some may be tempted to bring their bikes in, but I would urge you to resist as I have heard of interior bike thefts and no exterior so far. But yes, I don't bring bling bike either!

Thanks; that sounds great. I have done a fair bit but I'd like to start from the beginning anyway – every type I've done I've felt like a beginner again... See you on the 5th!

thank you conservative values - very pleased it's working for you on various levels!

Posture of the day-Downward-facing dog. One of the most fundamental postures, one that can be improved on over years. The important things here are to work on having an equal pressure betwwen feet and hands, the whole thing not too stretched, not too arched. Shoulderblades sliding down the back and strong integrated shoulders. For cyclists this is a brilliant posture, you dont have to have the legs straight, and it feels good to just walk the feet towards being flat on the floor, again you dont have to the heels on the floor. pic and animation:-

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adho_Mukha_Svanasana[/ame]

http://www.flashmavi.com/yoga_adho_mukha_svanasana_the_dog_pose.shtml

have a great day.