than you’d think.
(Photo provided by Ellee Thalheimer)
In Portland, sometimes it seems like there are nearly as many yoga instructors as people on bikes. In fact, those two populations often seem to co-mingle.
A number of yoga studios around town offer deals for patrons who show up to class by bike, and a growing number of yoga instructors are taking the yoga-bike connection a step further by offering classes specifically tailored to the needs of everyday bikers, with particular attention on the muscles that are used the most in cycling. (These bike specific issues, and some suggested yogic solutions, were thoroughly outlined in Yoga Journal a few years ago.)
At People’s Yoga on Alberta Street, for instance, if you bike to class 10 times the 11th class is free.
The yoga-bike cross-pollination might be more than just physical, so says Portlander Tasha Danner, who teaches a yoga for bikers class. “Yoga and cycling are very connected,” she wrote to us via email, “both allow fun, connection to community, focus, body and breath awareness and make us aware of our impact on the environment and those around us.”
Uma Kleppinger holds ongoing Bike Yoga classes at Health and Performance Chiropractic in downtown Portland. She offers drop-in classes focusing on “active recovery” and “core and flexibility.”
Another bike-oriented yoga teacher in Portland is Ellee Thalheimer. Ellee’s yoga expertise was featured in the July 2008 issue of Momentum Magazine (the article also includes some recommended yoga postures and stretches for cyclists).
Ellee teaches three classes a week (including two specifically for cyclists) at Belmont Yoga in Southeast Portland.
If pilates is where your heart is, there is also at least one pilates class in town geared toward bicyclists. Pilates bears some similarities to yoga but comes from a much different tradition. Amy Subach offers free, introductory classes geared towards bicyclists and other athletes. From the class description:
Learn how to use your core strength to pedal stronger and longer! Leave with some new moves to stretch and strengthen your legs and entire body.
The classes are at Portland Team Fitness at 3500 NE MLK Blvd (corner of MLK and Fremont). The free sessions are January 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st, from 8am to 9am. With questions or to RSVP, contact Amy at outstretch{at}gmail{dot}com.
If you know of other similar classes, feel free to post details in the comments. We’d also love to hear if you do yoga and how/if it has made your biking more enjoyable.
In the meantime, I know I’ll be seeing a lot of you out there on the streets and on the mats this year.