Yoga for Cyclists: Why Our Practice has Power
January 2024 marks the triumphant return of RVA’s Yoga for Cyclists class.
I am thrilled to announce a new partnership with the fantastic people at Blue Ridge Cyclery - Libbie Mill!
BRC will be our new home and sponsor year-round and will host many other cycling related programming for our community.
Yoga for Cyclists in RVA: A Brief History
Many years ago, this class was started by Tara Eschenroeder as a partnership with Richmond’s Carytown Bikes. When Tara moved to Asheville, NC, I asked for her blessing to carry forth the torch and continue the tradition.
The original Yoga for Cyclists was run on Sunday mornings, in the upstairs loft of the Carytown CBC bike shop. To prepare for each class, the staff needed to move service bikes out of the loft and down the narrow rickety staircase. It was not a totally ideal space, but we loved it anyways.
We moved the class outdoors to Byrd Park when the bike shop got too busy in the spring and summer. Outside, we were frequently challenged by variables like weather, grass mowing, and public events. When COVID hit, it wrecked our momentum.
Then in 2022, a life-threatening crash rendered me unable to teach for an extended period of time. But now in 2024, with the stars aligned, we can return to the mat together, in a new home.
Carrying Forth the Torch: Why Yoga Matters for Cyclists
Recently I received a poignant question in conversation: What is your yoga practice to you? Is it physical, mental, spiritual…?
I love this question because it acknowledges the multi-layered nature of the practice - like an onion. We all start practicing yoga as beginners. Overtime our relationship with yoga evolves, and it begins to influence our lives off the mat. Ultimately yoga can blossom into a lifestyle and deeply healing spiritual practice. My hope in teaching Yoga for Cyclists is to introduce a toolbox of stress management techniques, weave yoga into our experiences as cyclists, and provide a touch point for people in all chapters of practice.
The Physical
The simplest, most approachable aspect of yoga is the physical benefits it offers to our bodies. We can relieve tension in sore muscles, build strength, and improve mobility. Cycling is a lower body dominant activity, causing our upper bodies to spend a lot of time in a static, hunched position.
A major focus of Yoga for Cyclists is working to reverse the hunchback/turtle posture that comes from extended periods of sitting in the saddle.
The Hunchback position of cycling inherently shortens and tightens the fronts of our bodies, while lengthening and weakening the backs of our bodies.
On the yoga mat, we practice movements and shapes that open the chest, strengthen the core and back, and relieve sore neck muscles.
Over time and with consistent practice, we can build stronger and more balanced bodies with greater performance and decreased odds of injury.
The Mental
My personal experiences over the past several years have highlighted for me how deeply our community is in need of healthy coping strategies.
As a Programs Manager for SwimRVA from 2019-2023, I watched many young people (and adults) struggling to handle daily stress in a healthy way. Without a toolbox of coping strategies, even minor inconveniences can trigger major stress responses - an unhealthy pattern that leads to unnecessary suffering. This is true for ALL PEOPLE.
We need practices that teach us how to be present in our bodies, recognize indicators of our current stress levels, and skillfully bring our selves back into a calm state.
This is often referred to as Self-Regulation.
Interestingly, Yogis have been practicing self-regulation for thousands of years!
In the wake of my near-fatal crash in 2022, I spent two months laying in a hospital bed enduring intense pain. The skills of self-regulation I learned from yoga helped me to stay grounded, calm, and connected to my values - even in the worst moments. Practicing the mental aspects of the yoga practice when my body was completely incapacitated was liberating, and kept me out of the mindset of suffering.
The reality is that modern life can be challenging - for anyone! As cyclists we experience stressful moments on the bike (in traffic, on technical trails, climbing up steep mountain passes) and in our lives otherwise. Yoga’s techniques of mindful breathing and body awareness can help navigate these stressful moments with more ease.
Bringing ourselves into a more regulated state of mind will make us happier, more engaged, and more compassionate members of the community.
The Spiritual
Yoga teaches us acceptance of others and connection with world around us. It offers a deep well of healing spiritual practices available to us, should we seek them. Spiritual wellness is just one crucial aspect of overall well-being. Connection to something greater than ourselves has been linked to better medical outcomes, improved mental health, and increased quality of life.
While Yoga for Cyclists will not be a deeply spiritual journey, it will be a introduction. Each meeting we will establish a circle of safety and acceptance, where all people are welcome. My hope is that our practice together creates ripples in our lives that extend outward to the people we interact with. These ripples of love and respect will one day create waves that move us towards a brighter, more positive future. Should you be interested in the deeper spiritual practices of yoga, I am happy to lead you in the right direction towards greater resources.
In CommUNITY
The word Yoga means Union: of body, breath, mind, Purpose, and community.
My vision for Yoga for Cyclists is a healing space where all bike-interested people can feel Belongingness. Bringing all types of cyclists together will help our community to better understand and support each other. In a safe space, we can share wisdom, ideas, and opportunities.
Hearing the experiences and perspectives of other riders will help us build a cohesive voice in advocating for improved bicycle infrastructure in the greater Richmond region.
But most importantly, our practice together has the potential to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Donations received for this class directly support Richmond Cycling Corps and their work to educate and empower youth in Richmond’s East End through cycling.
When we put our heart and minds together, we can do great things. I believe that our practice has the power to make an impact.
It is my deepest honor to continue the tradition of Yoga for Cyclists, in the spirit of making our Community a safer and more positive place for ALL People to live (and ride) together. Please feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or personal concerns regarding practice.
I look forward to seeing you on the mat soon!
With Gratitude,
Natalie
