Yoga to Compliment…Triathlon Training.

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.

So you’re probably asking how yoga can help, well it’s very simple and you’ll probably see the trend if you’ve read any of my other articles. Triathlon training requires repetitive movement that creates imbalances in the body and yoga is the perfect sport to counteract this. Yoga works the body through all planes of motion whereas the sports involved in triathlons are predominantly one directional. Yoga helps to create balance, stability, core strength and flexibility all of which ward off injury and help with faster recovery time.

A triathlete is an endurance athlete so it’s important that they have the ability to lengthen muscles that are commonly contracted during endurance disciplines while also strengthening overlooked muscle groups is one of the main reasons why incorporating yoga into a training routine can be extremely beneficial for performance and injury prevention.

Cycling and running can help to develop strong hamstring and quadriceps muscles however the supporting muscles of the hips and back can often neglected. Therefore developing these muscle groups and improving flexibility with yoga is one way to not only correct weaknesses to improve performance, but will also keep you away from unnecessary injury as the miles start to pile up.

Since the core is extremely important for building the stability, balance, and power needed to excel in endurance sports, adding yoga into your existing training plan can be an excellent way to improve upon weaknesses without overloading the body and risking additional injuries sometimes associated with weight training.

From a mental perspective, the centering and mindfulness part of yoga gives you (the athlete) the skills to help in those tough moments to remain calm and focused on the race. Things might not go to plan but by using your breath and having the ability to visualize the end goal will ultimately help you have the best race that you are capable of performing.

I know training routines and schedules are a bit all over the place at the moment especially as we are still in lockdown with no news on when outdoor competitions and races are due back but keep the faith, keep doing what you’re doing and maybe if you feel like it, try incorporate a yoga class into your week, even if it’s purely for recovery purposes. Your body will thank you plus you always feel great afterwards!