Share with Us: How does yoga help you to cross-train?

Yoga has helped me with my running as I am very conscientious of my breathing techniques and it assists me with keeping in the moment as I move down the trail. It also helps to cool down after a run as I focus on breathing control, allowing my body to slow down to a restful state.

I love to cycle, and yoga helps to keep me strong throughout the long Canadian winter. I find a steady yoga practice improves my respiratory capacity on the bike as well as keeping my hip flexors from beoming too tight. It also increases my upper body strength for mountain biking.

I have been practicing yoga for ten years and teaching for four. I am also a Mom to two small children and swim competitively with my local Master's team. Yoga has helped me in numerous ways, but in particular with swimming it has helped me to stay focused by continually returning to my breath. Swimming is all about the breath and finding a rythm. Yoga teaches you to be present. It helps me to stay with each stroke of each lap rather than jumping ahead in your mind to the next 50 or the one after that!