Why Yoga and Mountain Biking?

Singletrack Mindfulness is ultimately about deepening the relationship between you and the wild outdoors.  Mountain biking invites us to flow through the natural landscape.  Yoga enhances and refreshes our relationship to self.  The two together provide an effortless balance of yin and yang.

Although our yoga is designed to complement the more active component of biking, it is stand-alone in terms of its benefits.  Yoga is not simply a tool to improve your biking, rather it is a holistic, satisfying way of life on its own.  Bringing a stabilized and clear mind into mountain biking is another way of practicing being involved in the world, deepening your fundamental connection to nature.  It is this ability to apply mindfulness into other aspects of our lives that brings us wisdom and purpose.

The premise of yoga is to gain greater self-awareness, exploring the body and mind without judgment.  As the practitioner gains more mastery of the body and breath, it becomes possible to apply these gains to mountain biking. Yoga opens the muscles of the hips, legs and arms, which become tight during biking.  It strengthens the core muscles, which we need for biking but must develop independently. Engaging the abdominal muscles provides stability and locates the center of gravity during riding.  In general, yoga helps the rider feel more relaxed.  The fitness gained from mountain biking brings vitality to the yoga practice.

Yoga helps us overcome fear and mental limitations. Through visualization, we can dissolve the tension of obstacles that cause us fear, freeing us to respond rather than react.  Additionally, yoga works deeply with the breath or prana, teaching us to focus our vital energy.  Breathing can powerfully affect the mind, calming and empowering us. It is useful to observe what the breath does during times of stress, such as when approaching an intimidating trail section.  By duplicating these effects and learning to work with them on the yoga mat, it is possible to gain more control and find courage in the face of fear. Yoga quiets the mind, allowing us to be present and receptive.

It is the philosophy and hope of Singletrack Mindfulness that your retreat will not only improve and invigorate your biking and yoga practice, but ripple throughout the rest of your life.