Yoga for Cyclists

Yoga for cyclists. Course Information.

Next Series of Y.f.C
Riders from local clubs are enjoying learning the ultimate stress relief techniques and as a result I am pleased to invite you to a new series:-
The next series runs Tuesdays from 19 November to 11 February 2014(10 weeks).
8 p.m at Sir David English Centre, East Way, Bournemouth, BH8 9PZ. Please bring a Yoga mat (widely available)
Students are invited to benefit most from attending the whole series,
And can book for £35 in advance, paypal, cash or cheque to this email address.
Or, come along for when suits them best, £5 each hour session.
email or call for more info:- mf.jason@gmail.com 07455 315715. Thankyou.

Who?? Jason Falconer :-Teacher profile-
Recent. July 07 2012 Jason Falconer was hospitalised after a S.M.I.D.S.Y (sorry mate I didn’t see you) collision. The advice of the Neurological doctors finalising full recovery in September 12 strongly observed that Jason’s evident physical fitness and flexibility from yoga and a lifetime of cycling had led to rapid recovery from injury. Herein direct proof of the connection between regular cycling and yoga practice resulting in rapid recovery from injury, and the vast majority of sport cyclists do sustain injuries throughout their careers. As with other sports there are relatively few individuals who have publicised the link between benefits of Yoga practice, example being Ryan Giggs from Football, who at 40+ is the only remaining Premier League footballer retained at that age. Jason would like to share the health, flexibility and self- awareness benefits of learning a practice with you.

Background. Yoga came to Jason after several years of friends and colleagues telling him the practice would sort out his hyperactivity. Early Integral Yoga classes in Australia 1998 transformed into years of training with a variety of U.K teachers. By 2008 relocation to Bournemouth enabled Jason to find Keith Grant, where his teacher training began. Jason at this time 2009 began incorporating Yoga sessions into group work with colleagues and others, building experience of teaching the original stress relieve techniques to others, whilst maintaining a daily practice pushing the edges of his own ability. In July 2013 Jason completed the Independent Yoga Network 200 hours qualification with Keith, whos varied background includes training with Luminaries such as Godfrey Devereaux, work with Tripsichore Yoga, and who is now a Yoga Elder with I.Y.N having 5000 hours teaching experience with the fascinating science of Yoga.

Yoga for Cyclists –Y.f.C consists of three major themes:-
Firstly:- Compensatory:- Dealing with what gets lost during frequent repetitive cycling activity. Bringing a range of movements to rebalance the physical self, a range of fundamental movements to equalise body harmony, probably the most requested aspect of the project. Within the realms of most students who simply want to rebalance the physical body.
Physiotherapists have commented that everyone over 40 should practise Yoga, We associate every sequence that improves joint flexibility with this theme.
Secondly:- Supplemental:- Building overall fitness which can be utilised within the sporting interests of the student. The most physically demanding option, applied to road, track and mountain bike riders these aspects of lessons aim to strengthen the students ability to access full use of the lungs and deep breathing and link to a very controlled raising of the heart rate, similar to interval training familiar in above cycle sport disciplines. This form of yoga training can help student to maintain high levels of fitness and flexibility, and supplement this by extending variety of movements whilst at the same time utilising higher heart rates at a high level of self-awareness. All this practice will assist in racing scenarios across cycle sport where racers have to apply sprint tactics during selected short periods of races. We associate the most dynamic sequences with this theme.
Thirdly:- Regenerative:- Adding the opportunities to spend time refocusing the mind and body through the meditative aspects of pranayama (breathing techniques) and stillness.

Class aims-
Easing common cycle related complaints- identifying postures that will alleviate common cycle related pain both short and long term. Compensatory.
Flexibility work- identifying all muscles that shorten as a result of cycling, and exploring postures that will lengthen them. Increasing full mobility in the joints that suffer from reduced mobility during cycling, in particular hips, shoulders and knees. Compensatory.
Core strengthening - Simultaneously lengthening and strengthening the muscles which are underused (postural back and abdominal muscles), therefore alleviating overused muscle groups and stressed joints. Compensatory.
Spine work - Finding full mobility in this long sequence of joints that often ends up suffering from reduced mobility, lengthening the spine as well as exploring counteracting postures such as twists, lateral bends and back bends. Compensatory.
Waist-down work - focussing specifically on the biggest muscle groups as well as the overused groups. Lengthening the commonly overdeveloped quadriceps, hip flexors and tight hamstrings. Compensatory
Backbends - exploring the group of postures that perhaps most significantly address cyclists tendencies/ complaints (including upper back/ postural tendencies) by reversing the cyclists postures. Compensatory/ Supplemental.
Inversions and arm balances - Exploring fun postures that give the legs a well-deserved rest whilst exploring concentration, use of breath and upper body strength. Supplemental.
Balances - Again, these are fun postures that are actually demanding in terms of concentration, correct posture, strong leg/arm work but also ease tension in tense cyclists' muscle groups. Compensatory/ Supplemental.
Developing a daily sequence - putting together a supplemental practice that can be done solo at home. Dynamic sequences to become a regular addition to the athletes schedule. Supplemental.

Class structure. Each classes main aim is that students learn how to strengthen and stretch mindfully in class and apply these at any point pre or post ride and keep commonly developed cycle related injuries at bay. The elements above are taught within a sequenced dynamic class including warm- up, posture work then relaxation time. Students gradually get to know how their own body functions. From what you were born with to what has evolved over a lifetime of all your various activities and tendencies. Once you have identified those, then you can understand why some are agonising and others aren't. Obviously, the agonising ones are usually addressing parts of our body that are stiff and/ or weak and then there are those that we just find plain scary.
This info gradually gets processed gradually over time by body and mind and the poses that we love to hate gradually become the poses we love to love.