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Yoga confers balance. First, there’s the literal work of the balance poses, which will strengthen your lower legs and hone your proprioception so you grow more aware of where your body is in space. Yoga balance poses also teach a more subtle awareness of your body’s center of gravity in different positions, along with a finer sense of how the body works as a unit to balance.
Some principles apply in all balance poses:
Remember your alignment.
Learn Mountain Pose well, and let it inform every other posture you take. Never hyperextend your knees in Mountain or any pose.
We know that exercise is great for our general health, but can mindful movement like vinyasa yoga also boost our immunity?
“Exercise and movement are very important for supporting our immunity and overall health,” says Dr. Vani Gandhi, an infectious diseases and integrative medicine specialist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. But when it comes to immunity, not all forms of exercise are equal.
“There’s a relatively new field of medicine called exercise immunology,” Gandhi says. “Studies have shown that moderate exercise can activate immune cells, which have anti-inflammatory effects. On the other hand, evidence shows that high-intensity exercise, like intense competition events, is associated with physiologic and metabolic stress, which are linked to immune system dysfunction and inflammation. A short yoga session or a 45-minute walk is very different on the body compared to a 26-mile marathon race.”
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If you’re a runner, cyclist, or any other kind of athlete, you might have tried yoga before, walking into a class thinking you were fit and walking out humbled. Think back to your first experiences with your sport. You didn’t perfect your technique in a day or, I’ll guess, even a year; you’re probably still refining your skills. Your yoga experience will be similar. Soon things that were very difficult become easier. But just as some workouts leave you sore, some yoga sessions will, too. We call it yoga practice consider it like soccer practice or guitar practice. Even the pros do drills and play scales. It’s all about the process. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you begin.
Eka Pada Galavasana, variation (Flying Pigeon modification)
This is the quintessential buttocks yoga stretch for avid cyclists. This pose allows you to determine the depth of your stretch while also building strength and stability in the ankle of your standing leg.
From Tadasana (Mountain Pose), cross your right leg above your left knee into the shape of a figure 4. Bend your left knee and lower your hips any amount to find a stretch in your right buttocks. If you have a stationary bike, you can hold on to your bike for balance. Hold for 5-10 breaths. Stand up and switch sides.