Yoga for Kiteboarders - Kitesurfers

Yoga
for Kiteboarding

Power Yoga for Sports particularly Yoga postures for Kiteboarders - Kitesurfers

 

by Steven Earth Metz ERYT and Director of Earth's Power Yoga since there is such little info on this subject as a fellow Kiteboarder I felt I should post an article about this. Make sure you are warm before stretching deeply.

This is an article about Yoga for Kiteboarding. Here are some good poses to be practiced before extreme training. First do five sun salutations or try jogging in place for seven minutes to warm up. Remember to breathe deep and retain body heat through a continuous flowing sequence. In other words don't stop between stretches. Try and only breathe through the nose.
Information contained here is not given to replace a doctors medical advice. Consult your physician before beginning this or any exercise routine. Basically if you experience sharp pains when you are doing this or any pose ease up a little. The "no pain no gain" mentality does not apply to Yoga.  

Do at least five Sun Salutations  (the first four lines of poses on the above blue  linked page) before stretching.

Virabadrasana Four

Warrior Four - Studies show that gravity is the single most powerful physical stress on the body. In this case, instead of hanging upside down, we're using the back and Lat muscles to elongate and decompress, and counter the effects of gravity on your spine. While Kiteboarding it is very common to have the arms outstretched to the point where it is very easy to pull the muscles of the shoulder or even dislocate the shoulder. To avoid injury. This is a very basic but very beneficial pose. I recommend that you do not lean too far back, no more than a 45 degree angle to the vertical standing position. When you look up to the sky try lifting the sternum bone up by lengthening your stomach muscles. Your feet should also be slightly webbed at the toes.

Side Sphinx

Lay on your right shoulder and extend your right arm under and to your left. Then raise your left leg up and out to your left side. Pull the floor towards you with your left arm. It stretches your right upper back Rombhoid and Trapezius area. Careful of your neck though. If you have neck pain do not attempt this pose.

 

Parsvakonasana

Side Angle Pose - Starting in a standing pose, lunge your right leg forward to a 90 degree angle and place your right hand on the ground inside of your right foot. Then reach your left hand up and back.

Remember - breathe! The purpose of this posture is to stretch the upper inside thighs and side of the torso. It is one of the best poses because it targets some of the same muscles that will be used in the kiteboarding athletic stance.

Trikonasana

Triangle Pose - This is a classic pose that stretches in so many areas that it is great for us especially when falling from the heights that we reach while kitesurfing.

With your left leg forward, step your feet about three feet apart into a equal lateral Triangle shape with your left pointing forward and your right foot sideways. Though your stretch is focusing on your left leg, pull back with your left hip slightly, keeping the foot flat on the ground, so as to stretch the upper back of your left leg. Keep length in your spine. Focus up at one point on the ceiling and then reach your left arm over your left leg and place your left hand on your ankle. This will help you maintain balance in the posture stretch the hamstrings as well as the side of the torso. Remember always do both sides in every pose and breathe deeply for 8 long breathes through the nose. Don't do this pose if you're not warmed up!

 

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Up Dog - Start at the top of a push up and lower down to the ground then pull the floor towards you as you lift your chest off of the ground and lengthen the spine. This is a good back bend.

 

 

Parivritaparshvakonasana

Twisting Side Angle Pose - Lunge the right leg forward and raise your arms up. Then with the right knee bent place your left hand on the ground next to the inside of your right foot. Make sure to focus on the spinal twist more the stretching the legs as we have already done that in the previous poses.

 




 

 

Urdvadanurasana

Upward Bow - Lay on your back and place your hands underneath your shoulders. Then with your feet hip distance apart push up into the full back bend. Great frontal body stretch. Make sure your feet are pointing forward and not out to the sides. If you have a wrist or back injury modify this pose with Bridge pose instead.

 

Setubhanda Girasana

Bridge pose - If the full backbend is too hard on your back or wrists. Try Bridge pose instead. Push half way up and place your thumbs underneath the waistline for support. Make sure your feet are hip distance apart and pointing directly forward.

 

 

Vasisthasana

Side Plank - This is great to prepare for Kiting The side of the body for stretching in awkward positions. Similar to when we are turned around after a fall and body dragging sideways trying to regain control of the kite.

 

 

 

 

 

Uttanasana

Forward Fold - This is essential for kitesurfing especially if your harness is on your waist. The strain can be alleviated by this stretch because it elongates the spine and helps to realign the spine after a long day of kiteboarding. Start at standing position and then reach out in front hinging at the hips and grab your ankles with your elbows touching the sides of your calves. Make sure to lengthen the spine as you pull forward and down.

 

For more inforrmation on Kiteboarding visit our Rudys page.

 
  Home - Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Video & DVD's - Yoga News - Yoga Retreats - Yoga in Los Angeles