abellaYoga

Where Yoga Comes to You

Call Us at 703-371-9219
contact@abellayoga.com
  • Home
  • About
    • Client Locations
  • Yoga
  • Locations
  • Yoga Blog
  • Contact
  • Private Yoga
  • Office Yoga
  • Event Yoga
  • The Biz of Yoga

Yoga on the Mountain Bike Trail

August 8, 2009 By Melody

My husband surprised me last month with a new GT Zaskar mountain bike. The bike is way more advanced than I am. Let’s just say it would be a disservice to simply ride it on the local paved bike trail –my comfort zone for riding.

Recently we’ve been hitting Wakefield Park in the Alexandria/Annandale, VA area to force me out on the new bike so it can be used for its true purpose – mountain biking. Wakefield is an extremely popular multi-use park filled with trails for all levels of cyclists. Many of them, though perfect for the new Zaskar, are way too technical for me – I have already had my share of falling ☺.

As a result of these rides I’ve realized that everything I teach as a yoga instructor, I need to personally practice on the bike trail. This is much easier said than done. Here are some of the lessons I’m a pro at on the yoga mat but an amateur at on the bike trail…

1) Don’t think about it; in yoga, take your brain out of it
2) Breathe; invite the body to relax
3) Eyes to the horizon; in yoga, drishti (gaze) is essential to each asana
4) “Feel” the bike do the work; in yoga, feel the breath move you deeper into the pose
5) Find balance – clip out with the left foot (my weak side) just as often as you do with the right (my leading foot)
6) It’s a process
7) It takes a lot of practice
8) It takes a ton of patience with one’s self
9) Learn to let go of the need to control (see #4) and just trust
10) Have more faith than fear – this is my new motto since attending Level II with Baron Baptiste last month

As a yogi these are a natural part of my life on the mat –another comfort zone. As a beginner student in a sport I am intimidated by, the above list contains things I need to learn in a new capacity. The process of breaking out of the comfort zone is scary but can be extremely empowering. So I will continue to chant #10 as I fly down the treacherous hill: Have more faith than fear!

Related

Filed Under: Alexandria, arlington, chanting, health and fitness, life, nothern virginia, outdoor yoga, yoga, yoga asana

Subscribe to My Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Private Yoga Rates
  • Business of Yoga (part 5): Rest to Reset
  • 2016 – What’s Your Word?
Be a warrior not a worrier. Get the liability protection & peace of mind you deserve. $159/year BeYogi Insurance

Post Archives

Business Information

abellayoga
Arlington, Virginia, 22202
Phone: 703-371-9219

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 YOGAbella, Inc. All rights reserved. abellaYoga is a registered tradename of YOGAbella, Inc.