CrimsonKarter21

What'll it do for me and who does it? I figure that it's come up a few times by different random people, so it must be some kind of sign.

semaj

I just started Yoga at the local 24 hour fitness to relax during my off days. I don't expect it to do anything magical for my training, I just do it to keep my core and flexibility in check.

HigherGround

I've been dabbling in yoga for the last year or so. I tend to go more often in the winter, and less so during the summer. The benefits have included better flexibility, balance, and coordination. I wouldn't say that it has directly improved my cycling in a dramatic way. I might notice a bigger difference if I was attending the classes more consistently. However, some over-use injuries that have bothered me in previous years did not bother me last year. That's a good enough reason to keep me attending for now.

MONGO!

I used to be way into it, twice a day, every day w meditation too.

It's very beneficial from a physical point of view, makes you more flexible for sure but is mentally beneficial too, it;s very...calming.

For me the added benefit was that it cured a bad allergy problem I had, I found that on days when my sinuses were feeling like balloons, doing certain poses would clear them instantly,

rmwun54

The key things you get with yoga is relaxed focus, quality breath control, flexibility, and a sense of calmness; all of which will aide your performance during a ride.

Metzinger

Yoga workouts can be radically different from one another. Look into the different types.
Improved core strength, better breathing, and hamstring flexibility are the main perks for me.

fauxto nick

I started dicking around with it when I was rock climbing now I do it on DVD's and I find it out helps with my recovery. I think I'm going to start taking classes soon.

leakysieve

I started taking yoga classes at the gym to meet girls... I got into it for a while, but then I moved and the gym I go to now charges for them, so I don't do yoga anymore. I might start up again once ski season is over.

kensuf

It'll improve your core strength and flexibility. I only do it in the off-season/base or on an easy week, but I also only do "bikram style" yoga which is a little more intense than your grannies ashtanga.

gsteinb

It's a good way to pick up chicks. Especially if you master the secret language and can talk about how open your heart chakra feels.

euphoria

That is all good and well but you guys are forgetting the sensation for 15 minutes afterward that is better than 95% of drugs on the open market

Never could bring myself to hit on girls from class (not saying it's wrong), maybe it was the guilt from already seeing everything on display

Stallionforce

I do Bikram once or twice a week. I find even when I'm training hard it improves my recovery. Definite benefits you'll notice right away are in flexibility and calmness.

kensuf

The chicks in my yoga class have more hair on their legs than I do.

jeeves1984

I have been doing cycling specific yoga classes here in NYC since January - they are run by a team mates mother. I definitely think yoga is worthwhile, especially if you are not doing much core or flexibility work (which you should). Its pretty intense and because of the specificity, it really hits the core and lower body. Plus it seems good for your breathing and as euphoria said, you dont feel half bad afterwards either!

BarracksSi

Whenever I do yoga at work, I double up on the mats so that my joints don't get killed by the wood floors...

mollusk

The best thing that I get from yoga is that it immediately tells me if anything is unbalanced or out of alignment. If I find that something is not quite right I usually can do extra stretching to get it right.

Ralleh

Can you guys touch your toes? I'm like 2-3" away at my most limber.

San Rensho 

Yoga will make you gay. Just kidding.

Yoga teaches you how to breath, from the stomach, not the upper chest. It also has elements of meditation that are very beneficial to getting you to concentrate on your breathing and concentrating on your spin.

ottsville

+1 Many different styles out there...and different instructors within a certain style can be very different as well. If your gym has several instructors, try all of them to find the ones you like.

classic1

Yoga sounds good to me. I particularly want to know if that transmedital levitation stuff helps improve your climbing.

CrimsonKarter21

Thanks for the info guys, it seems worth it to try a Yoga class based on what you all said.
I've got better than average breathing, flexibility and recovery already, but I'd like to try anyways.

HigherGround

That's a very good point. My gym has three different instructors. Two of them are very good, the other one is not so good. It makes a huge difference in being able to follow the instructions and enjoy the class.