Yoga for Cyclists
"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to
emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice
every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel."
--Susan B. Anthony, 1896
I love riding my bicycle. My ideal ride in weaving through flat city streets, navigating around potholes and waving at people I know around town. It's both anachronistic and totally in the moment. I don't love long slogs uphill and I'm terrified every time I have to bullet down Ithaca's many hills, but it's better than a car any day. This is a sequence for all of the other cyclists out there who need a good hamstring stretch and a wrist release (gripping handlebars all day, anyone?).
- Tadasana
- Forward fold to halfway lift, repeat 3-5x
- All the way up, to Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Hand)
- Take right hand to left wrist and side stretch to ride. Switch hands and repeat to other side.
- Forward Fold
- Step rt leg back to knee down lunge
- Step forward to fwd fold
- Step left leg to back knee down lunge
- Step forward to fwd fold
- Inhale to repeat step 4
- Repeat steps 5-10 two more times
- Parsvottanasana (Intense Stretch)
- DD
- Repeat step 12 other side
- Vinyasa to Downward Facing Dog (DD)
- Roll forward to plank and back to DD a few times
- Step right foot forward to high lunge
- Step back to DD
- Roll forward to Plank
- Vinyasa
- Repeat steps 17-20 with other leg
- Repeat steps 17-21 two more times
- Fwd fold
- Chair pose
- Fold
- Ardha Hanumanasana ("Runner's Lunge)
- Cat/cow in table top
- Repeat step 22 on other side
- Cool down of 10 minutes
- Savasana
