Yoga to Compliment…CrossFit.
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.
If you follow any of the elite athletes in this sport, you’ll know how much time they spend on improving their range of motion and keeping themselves mobile and flexible, why do they do this? Because it works, simple as!
I believe Yoga is the perfect “Ying” to complement the high-intensity “Yang” of CrossFit training. The emotional and psychological benefits of yoga are the ideal balance to the physical intensity of a CrossFit. The endurance and flexibility, which the practice of yoga encourages, are the perfect accompaniment to the strength and power of CrossFit.
What are the benefits?
1. Increases mobility & flexibility
CrossFit athletes need good range of motion and yoga can really help by combing poses which cover all planes of movement increasing flexibility, mobility and reduce the risk of injury. Certain poses are particularly good for increasing ankle mobility, which is essential in many CrossFit movements. Posterior chain flexibility is essential for lifters and CrossFit athletes, and yoga is certainly a way to help you achieve this aim.
2. Increases strength and balance
Yoga movements help CrossFit athletes develop balance and isometric strength. Yoga builds strength helping you use your body in completely new ways, utilising slower movements and isometric holds that are often overlooked in other disciplines. It improves all round strength in general, “from progressive overload to metabolic stress, a strong yoga practice will naturally engage these muscle building processes.
3. Improves breathing
Yoga breathing or Pranayama is one of the foundations of yoga. Without proper breathing, a practice is only half-complete. The breathing techniques you can learn from yoga will help you breathe better in CrossFit. The result is more oxygen and energy. All yoga routines are centered on correct breathing, and by adding this to your exercise schedule, you’ll be able to incorporate these breath techniques into how you train.
4. Helps relaxation
Yoga stimulates the rest and digest mechanism of the body (Parasympathetic nervous system) and this can help us to wind down after an intense session. It will help with the soreness and muscle tightness that can follow a CrossFit workout, aiding you in loosening up and recovering more quickly. It also will help you to become more aware of your body and is a great tool on the path towards achieving a greater sense of inner calm and control. This in turn will result in better decision making and a healthier body and mind.
5. Increases concentration
It can increase your concentration through focusing solely on your breath and the movement of the body.
Many yoga balance postures require coordination, strength, stretching, calming, and core engagement. All of these attributes can benefit a CrossFitter. Each heavy lift you do needs core engagement, and good balance is essential for overhead lifting. It’s a great way to improve gymnastic movements - Handstand walks, for example, require thoracic flexibility, as well as shoulder, core and arm strength. Yoga improves these parts of your fitness. Even a simple, beginners pose such as the downward dog will enhance overhead mobility so as you progress into harder movements, flows and poses, so will your CrossFit improve as well.
Dynamic movements, vinyasa style yoga pre-workout and more static stretching post WOD.
