It is well known that Yoga can help with many aspects of life, many activities, health and stress conditions but did you know that it can help with motorbike riding? As a fan of motorbikes and a recent novice rider, I found out just how physical the art of motorcycling really is. Notwithstanding the physical impact of injuries, the day to day riding of a bike is a physical work out in itself. First, the arms, particularly the upper arms and shoulders can get stiff and fixed in one position, you tend to work the same muscles for long periods of time. Secondly, the hips and pelvis, again, fixed in one position work hard to maintain the posture of the upper body and on long trips, cramps can occur, calf and ankle muscles tighten and knees can ache. Even the hands and the wrists can get tired and when the weather is cold, the muscles have to work harder to combat the drop in temperature. During the course of a ride almost every muscle in the body will come into play in some form or another.
If you look at the various positions of different kinds of riders, you will see also that the posture applied by the design of the bike can vary too – in racers, the rider is forwards so the lower back muscles elongate and the upper back can be very rounded.
In street bikes, there is a more upright posture and in cruisers, the legs and hips are slung forwards and the hands are high up. All of these positions have an effect on the spine which will effect the impact into the lower body and the internal organs.
Yoga can help to improve a persons riding technique by toning all the muscles groups through weight bearing and toning exercises as well as targeted posture work to focus on specific areas. With the awareness of posture through yoga, riders can often improve their riding position by learning how to be a relaxed rider with all their muscles and joints working efficiently and ergonomically. Once off the bike, a few simple stretches can help to alleviate the stiffness and cramps and a regular practice will keep riders fit and healthy to ride better and longer. Regular yoga practice also helps with concentration, coordination and reaction speeds and although unfortunately accidents do happen, the recovery time in people who do yoga regularly is a lot faster and better than in those who have no body health programme in place.
Massage also alleviates tired muscles or tension in shoulders, backs and legs and a good therapist will often give advice on posture and preventative measures – a good therapist or teacher won’t just love you and leave you – they will be a point of reference for you to keep working towards a better ride, a safer ride and and better one life.
Rachel offers private consultations to focus on specific areas for any sport or activity. As a qualified yoga teacher and massage therapist, she is able to provide a fully comprehensive body maintenance service to help people maintain their fitness, strength and flexibility as well as managing their stress and relaxation levels. She runs classes and workshops in Northampton and around the UK and provides massage treatments to target specific problem areas such as upper back & shoulders, arms, legs and neck.
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