Yoga for Snowboarders

-- via Lululemon

According to a Park City patroller, we are officially halfway between the end of summer and the start of winter.  This is a really good thing, unless you have some long-standing pain from injuries in seasons past still plaguing you.

I warmed up to the idea of doing yoga after watching an episode of King of the Hill.  In the episode, Hank manages to tweak his back lifting propane tanks and his doctor is at a loss for ways to fix it.  Crippled and unable to do the work he loves so very much, Hank reluctantly joins a yoga class.

As snowboarders, our joints get abused--alot! For myself, my hips pop, my knees crack, my ankles lock up.  One particular flat landing in early 2009 really did a number on my right hip, causing me pain ever since. I figured there had to be some truth behind the episode where yoga healed Hank, so I gave it a try.

Lo and behold, a week of doing short 15 minute sessions in the morning when I woke up and at night before I went to bed have made a tremendous impact on my joint stiffness and pain of movement, as well as dramatically increasing the range of motion particularly for my hips.

Before trying yoga I couldn't lift my leg above my hips without jolting pain, and that was doing things slowly. Now I can lift it to my chest and give my knee a great big hug.

See, yoga is a lot more than just fancy stretching.  It engages and strengthens muscles you may not have been aware you had.  It let's your joints enjoy their full range of motion.  Certain poses will increase your ability to focus and balance...

All of these things are crucial to snowboarding.

So, while it may not be the most "manly" thing to do, and Hank Hill would agree with you on that, adding yoga to your off season is a relaxing, passive way to build yourself up for the first run of the season.  The added strength and range of motion you will gain may even save you from an injury plagued season.

The season is coming faster than you think.  Take steps to work out the kinks in your body by practicing a little yoga every now and then.  If you don't know where to start, YogaJournal.com is a great reference for pose diagrams and general tips. Namaste.