Skiing and yoga becoming the perfect healthy partnership
To optimise your skiing ability, there are several fitness programmes to help you get better, fitter and achieve more flexibility. But not all of them require going to a big gym or hiring a personal trainer to whip you into shape. Yoga is growing in popularity and can be a great activity to complement your skiing – and, in some cases, something you can even combine with your skiing.
Yoga focuses on bringing balance to your mind and body. In many ways, to be in the best skiing frame of mind, you must be balanced as well. In both activities, the key tenets of focus and strength are essential to success. To excel in both requires concentration of mind and control of the body. Yoga has precise movements and shapes, and skiing needs you to be in the correct position in order to perform each turn, jump and handle the increasing speed of the downhill.
As a healthy activity, yoga can be done at all times of the year. Thanks to some innovative yogis, it is something you can even take part in whilst enjoying your amazing holiday at a luxury ski chalet in Meribel or other parts of France.
Here are some basic yoga techniques to think about if you are interested in getting more involved. They are great for a warm up or for the times when your body needs a bit of recovery and relaxation after a day on the slopes. There are plenty of licensed practitioners all over the country, so if you have any questions, be sure to ask an expert to avoid injury.
Basic yoga poses helpful to skiers
Lunges – these exercises have multiple benefits and can be great for those who enjoy snow sports – skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and even ice skating. They help increase strength and stability in the legs – quads and hamstrings – and hips. There are so many variations of the lunge, here are some examples of yoga lunges.
Sun Salutation – this sequence of movements and breathing helps engage the entire body in healthy congress. Experts say to keep the process slow, deliberate and simple. You should breathe as you move through the positions. Here is a handy guide to the process: how to take part in sun salutations.
Warrior 2 – this pose is a tribute to warriors in the ancient past. It is a total body pose that is a great activator for your muscles. Perfect for the shoulders, your core, hips and legs, it is a great beginner pose for skiers. Experts suggest holding the pose for at least 30 seconds or more to warm up the body prior to skiing.
Utkatasana (Chair Pose) – the basic position in Utkatasana is very much like the tuck position maintained in skiing. By engaging your arms and legs at the same time, you can stimulate the core muscles in your trunk. For skiers, this pose can greatly help your ability to stay in a tight position whilst going downhill and can have benefits to your turning ability. Here are the basics to the Chair Pose.
Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Butterfly Pose) – a restorative pose, this is great after a long day on the pistes and trails. The goal is to open the hips and relax the lower back. To help protect your back, laying on some blankets under you can provide support. Here are more tipsfor the pose.
Gomukasana (Cow Face Pose) – this is a great exercise for any tight shoulders you might have after skiing. They are also good for your hips. In the sitting position, it also helps with posture.
Yoga on the slopes
Principles of yoga can aid you while you’re on the slopes as well – especially when it comes to breathing correctly. When skiing, you can be mindful of your yoga principles by employing Pranayama, also known as “One-To-One Breath”. With basic concentration, you can find oxygen balance, even at altitude. Here are some how-to videos to help learn the breathing techniques.
While waiting in the queue for the chair lift, you can take part in Uddiyana Bandha. This abdominal exercise involves pulling your abdomen under the rib cage by taking in a “false” inhale while holding your breath. After a pause, release the abdomen to expel any air remaining.
There is the Ardah Uttanasana, also called the Half-Forward Bend, which can be done on the slopes as well. Try to use your poles with your arms fully extended. Fold yourself at the waist, and let your head and neck fall down to relax. This is a great exercise to relieve tension and pain in your back and legs – especially as the winter’s day of skiing is coming to a close.
A ski and yoga holiday
Yoga-ski holidays are now popular amongst those looking to combine both disciplines. There are companies across Europe who promise to give visitors the perfect combination of Eastern philosophy and Alpine excitement.
In Méribel and Courchevel, ELITESKIPINK is offering a great experience that combines ski and yoga. Part of a local ski company, an experienced yoga instructor can show how to incorporate the principles of yoga whilst on the local French pistes. After signing up for a session, you can choose from a menu of healthy activities including yoga, pilates, stretching and others.
For more information on the offerings, please visit their website.
Image Credit: Zach Dischner