Yoga & Spin/Cycling – The Yin to my Yang

Prior to YTT, I lead a pretty active lifestyle by doing spinning and lifting weights daily. I love cycling, be it indoor or outdoor. I’m a self-confessed spinning addict and I go at least 4-5 times a week. I go to spin classes on the weekdays and on the weekends, I cycle at least 40KM outdoors across Singapore. I especially love spin classes because I love just grooving to the beat and having a workout is an added bonus 😉

 

People always ask me if I love spin or yoga more and I always tell them that I can’t decide as both activities are completely different from each other. On one end, spin is completely high-energy and intense and yoga, on the other end, is slow, controlled and mindful. I guess my answer is I do them both exactly because they are the opposites of each other and it balances out – the yin to my yang.

 

The reason is simply because during spinning, your muscles are contracted and tightened and in yoga after, the muscles are expanded. This action helps the body to recover quicker after an intensive workout and this helps to strengthen the muscles.

 

I noticed that for me, personally, my hip flexors and hamstrings became really tight. This is simply because during spinning, you’re seated the entire time. This shortens your hip flexors, especially, the iliopsoas. 

 

These are some of the yoga poses which targets the lengthening of hip flexors that have really helped with my post-spin recovery:

  • Uttanasana(Standing Forward fold): Stretches the inner thigh muscles and ilopsoas as well as hamstrings
  • Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide legged folded fold): Stretches the inner thigh muscles and ilopsoas as well as hamstrings
  • Utthan Pristhasana (Lizard pose): Stretches the outer hip adductor muscles

 

Another issue that I face from too much cycling is too much rounding on the upper back as you are basically hunched over the bike for long period of time. Some poses that specifically target the shoulders that have helped are:

  • Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) – External rotation and depression of shoulders enhances the opening of the chest/thoracic area.
  • Dhanurasana (Bow pose)

 

I highly recommend everyone to try this combo of activity in 1 day to really reap the benefits of both spin and yoga and see what your body feels like after!