23 January Ray Child January 23, 2012 Yoga For Cross Training Hot Yoga cross training, hot yoga, sunstone, yoga 0 Comment Yoga can be excellent cross-training for athletes. Hot yoga, in particular, is especially suited to a slot on your cross-training schedule. It’s a no-brainer that yoga will help keep hard-working muscles stretched and flexible while making them strong in their full range of motion. But the benefits don’t stop there! Over time, a regular hot yoga can actually increase lung capacity and cardiovascular abilities. Spend a few hours in a hot yoga studio each week and notice yourself begin to breathe more easily during distance runs, improve alignment when lifting weights, and even increase range of motion in a tennis swing or a softball throw. In addition, the mental focus you’ll learn on the mat can help you maintain brainpower and laser focus when engaged in other sports. You may find yourself reacting more quickly and feeling more present in all physical activities! Yoga and Your Favorite Sport: Yoga can help you improve performance in your sport of choice. Here’s how: Yoga for swimmers: Hot yoga’s focus on balance and alignment makes it an excellent cross-training technique for swimmers. You’ll build long, lean muscle with a full range of motion that translates easily to the water. Check out Yoga Journal’s article on swimming and yoga for suggestions. Yoga for runners: The greatest benefit most yoga practices offer to runners is a reduction in the likelihood of injuries while running. The pain and muscle rigidity that many runners battle are due to hard-core sport-specific training that wears on the body over time. The gentle extensions of yoga can help counteract those problems. But hot yoga can go farther. The stamina you build on the mat pushes over into your attitude on the track or the trail – you’ll find yourself pushing harder, yet feeling more relaxed and able to go the distance or find the speed you need. Yoga for ballplayers: Focus on hip openers that help you run faster and harder, and on shoulder openers that will improve your “torque” and range of motion. Downward- facing dog, a variation of standing forward bend, and hip openers such as pigeon pose are excellent choices for a basic practice. Check out Yoga Journal’s article for more suggestions. Yoga for golfers: Katherine Roberts, author of Yoga for Golfers, has seen first-hand how yoga can open up shoulders and both strengthen and stretch stiff back muscles, visibly improving a poorly aligned golf swing. Check out Yoga Journal’s article, “Swing Time” for more information on the benefits of yoga for golf, and on Roberts’ book. No matter what sport ignites your passion, hot yoga can help you get the most out of the activities you love – and stay healthy (and injury-free) while you do it. Need a good workout that works for a variety of fitness needs and cross-training needs? Try our stamina-testing hot yoga practice! To find out more about Sunstone Yoga’s revolutionary hot yoga, check out our website, friend us on Facebook, or contact us directly. Related Articles Yoga Teacher Training: Transformational Learning at Sunstone Yoga Academy Is yoga teacher training right for you? Even basic yoga training can change your life. Whether you want to open your own studio or just take your yoga practice to the next level, Sunstone Yoga Academy can help you open up to the world around you. Our Yoga Academy is for people who are passionate about yoga and growing their practice—we’re not just looking for people who want to teach yoga! Who Does Yoga? – Breaking Through Dallas’ Hot Yoga Myths Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but it’s still a very misunderstood form of exercise in America. Misconceptions about yoga, most especially Dallas hot yoga, are still, (sadly) widespread in the West. Here are a few of the most far-reaching yoga myths. You have to be in perfect shape if you want to do yoga. Don’t Settle for “Gym Yoga” – Dallas Hot Yoga is a Cut Above Gym Yoga Do you know what the difference is between “gym yoga” and Dallas hot yoga? When you take a yoga class at the gym, you may get a sub-par experience that leaves you disappointed. Gym classes are designed for the broadest audience, and sometimes even taught by instructors with no certification and little experience. Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Advantages of Hot Yoga: 5 Ways Hot Yoga Helps Insomnia The advantages of hot yoga are many and varied… and one of hot yoga’s most surprising benefits is that it can alleviate insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by stress, anxiety and depression, a lack of physical activity, diet, or imbalances in body chemistry. Yoga, especially hot yoga, can address all of these concerns. Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. Comments are closed.