I have such an admiration for people who compete in Triathlons, a race consisting of running, swimming and cycling all in one event is not easy. It takes weeks and months of training and a wide skillset to be up there with the best of the best as essentially it’s three sports in one.

As I always say, warming up before any sort of exercise is important so who’s to say you can’t incorporate a bit of gentle movement such as yoga into your weekly routine to prepare and help your body’s ability to recover quicker and improve your hiking performance and reduce the risk of injury. Pre-hike warm-up will really help reduce the risk of muscle soreness and cramping, as well as post-hike cool-down and soreness relief.

Did you know that the Dubs (Dublin Senior GAA football team – for those reading outside of Ireland!) are big fans of yoga and have incorporated it into previous training schedules? I might be slightly biased on this one but they are definitely onto something!

xxxx

Tennis is a game that requires strength, flexibility and mental concentration and really works the shoulders, spine and legs. It’s fundamentally a one-sided sport therefore the dominant side will always do more work as your serve, volleys, overheads and forehand shots are hit with your dominant side only, so what happens to the opposite side?

Yoga and rugby are two very different forms of movement however they compliment each other nicely. Rugby is a sport that requires athletes to maintain a high level of physical strength, endurance and speed but as it’s a contact sport that can take a heavy toll on muscles, bones and joints, rugby players must also be very flexible.

It’s not unheard of that CrossFit and yoga are a good pairing, I’ve spoken to and know lots of CrossFitters and they all understand the importance of mobility work but it’s mostly a case of prioritising some time for it.

When we think of building strength, most people automatically think of lifting weights, which is very effective but it’s not the only option.

Cycling is a fantastic way to get movement into the body and the beauty of it is there are so many options when it comes to intensity and style but as a cyclist you’ve probably experienced in some form, tight hamstrings, calves and thighs, as well as discomfort in the lower back, shoulders and neck.

There are many similarities when it comes to cardio training and yoga and to get the most out of a HIIT class; strength, power, stamina, endurance, balance, mobility and flexibility are all needed for high performance. Yoga has elements of all the above, as each pose and sequence incorporates the use and movement of multiple joints and muscles in various planes of motion aiding in better range of motion.

Whether you’re a marathon runner, 10k fanatic, 5k pacer or a casual jogger, setting aside some time for a low impact exercise such as yoga, will benefit you and your performance immensely.