DO YOGA TO IMPROVE YOUR SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

We love skiing and snowboarding, but we also like generally living well, eating healthily and looking after ourselves. One way that I feel is not only a great way to spend an evening, but will genuinely benefit your training and body in general, is yoga. I have done yoga and pilates for the past few years after a friend recommended it to me, and straight away noticed a change and how much more in control of my body I was. Surfing, SUPing, skiing and snowboarding all became better as my strength, flexibility and awareness of my body and specific muscles improved.

When I went out to Banff last winter, it was so great to see that there are so many free yoga classes on each week in resort! I would definitely recommend checking them out and making a date in your diary each week. Taking some time out of a busy schedule where you don’t need to think about anything else, I feel goes hand in hand with the chilled mountain lifestyle.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM DOING YOGA?

If you think Yoga’s not for you – I hear this all the time – “Im not flexible enough, It’s not for me, I won’t be any good at it, it’s for girls…” The yoga I teach is for everyone – if you can breathe and have a body then YOGA is 100% for you. Last year the majority of my students were men. I just want to help you get the most out of your body for the best skiing/boarding experience.

‘SKIING’ – WHAT COMES TO MIND?

A sport that combines speed and power to form adrenaline-fuelled experiences from powder skiing to high-performance carving. Yet, along with snowboarding, this high-energy sport shares its fundamentals of strength, balance, flexibility and focus with a far more chilled activity – YOGA.

By complimenting your riding with yoga either pre or post–ski you will get more out of your body, reduce your risk of injury and get more from your snowsports experience. Yoga can help you remain flexible yet strong which can help combat muscular imbalance from repetitive movements and postures. Skiing asks a lot from your body but yoga helps to build strength to prepare your muscles for those long runs down powdery slopes. It also increases joint range of movement to help your body recover from awkward slips and twists, improves your balance and focus for high performance skiing and snowboarding.

High Altitude adds another challenge to the body and if you are used to living at sea level you might find the decreased oxygen in the air makes breathing a little harder. Pranyama (Yoga breathing exercises) can help your body maximise its efficiency when breathing both on the ‘mat’ and when skiing. Have you ever noticed that tightening knot in your stomach when standing at the top of a steep slope? A mixture of excitement of the ride down and apprehension most likely, but by taking a moment to go back to your breath and calming the body with your breathing you can make sure that nerves don’t get the better of you and ensure you optimise your ride down.

WHY WOULD YOGA OR PILATES HELP BASI SKI OR SNOWBOARD TRAINING?

I know how to help you get the best out of your body off the snow to improve your performance on the snow. Let me tell you some of the things it will help you with:

• Muscle Elasticity• Joint flexibility• Strength• Relaxation• Core Strength• Muscle Fatigue• Co-ordination• Balance• Injury Prevention• Posture & awareness• Decrease Stress & tension

Not to mention doing handstands on the piste – cos thats what it’s all about really!