About Yoga: Is Stretching Bad for You?

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Yoga Yoga Yoga Styles Beginners Poses & Workouts From Ann Pizer, your Guide to Yoga You may have seen this article (Reasons Not to Stretch) in The New York Times recently and wondered if this is the death knell for yoga. The answer? Not in the least. Despite its scary headline, the article actually focuses on studies evaluating how warm-up stretches affect athletes' performances. The studies in question concluded that stretching before a race or sporting event hindered muscular power, which is very interesting, but doesn't mean you should toss aside your yoga mat. Yoga Vs. Stretching Yoga is a lot more than just stretching and still has a lot to offer athletes, even if stretching right before exercising might not be as beneficial as previously thought. Improved flexibility, balance, and core strength are just a few of the ways yoga can aide athletes in their sports. Search Related Topics:  yoga for beginners  exercise for beginners  vinyasa Yoga Stretches for Runners People who run regularly tend to have a lot of tightness in the lower body, so poses that stretch the hips, quads, hamstrings and calves can help loosen things up. Just don't do them right before the big race. Search Related Topics:  hamstring stretches  yoga sequences  stretches for runners Yoga for Cyclists Cyclists often experience tightness in the major muscle groups used in riding a bike: the calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hips, shoulders, and neck are particularly in need of regular stretching. This short series of yoga poses is designed for the recreational cyclist and intermediate yogi. Search Related Topics:  yoga for athletes  sports injuries  hamstring stretches Pose of the Week - Pigeon Illness kept me off my mat last week. When I finally got back on, there was just one pose on my agenda: pigeon. By then, I was experiencing that tell-tale pain in the piriformis that means a sciatic incident is imminent. After adding in a few hamstring stretches from my flexibility series, I was feeling a whole lot better. Search Related Topics:  intermediate poses  hip openers  Related Searches Vinyasa Yoga Classes Yoga Asanas Yoga Meditation Yoga En Pilates Yoga Exercise Featured Articles Lifestyle Yoga Breathing Exercises - Pranayama Yoga Philosophy and Meditation Advanced Yoga Yoga Glossary Yoga Frequently Asked Questions   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Ann Pizer Yoga Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Yoga newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What is Yoga? Yoga for Beginners - How to Start Yoga and Weight Loss Yoga Tips Sun Salutation - Step by Step   Follow me on: Advertisement