Yoga for Skiers and Snowboarders

by Suzy Stichbury August 08, 2016

Winter brings the promise of long days spent on the mountain, speeding down perfectly groomed slopes, gliding through glades, or for the braver, hucking off cliffs and cornices. While totally different in approach, skiing and snowboarding are super complementary to yoga, and knowing the right poses to do for these winter sports will help you engage the muscles and your mind for sliding on snow with the greatest ability. 

Every annual skier or snowboarder knows that the muscles that are used on the slopes in the winter don’t get much conditioning during the summer months. Finding the right asanas to do year-round will build and stretch the necessary muscles for these sports, while increasing your concentration. Yoga is an excellent way to cross-train and will give you more power in your turns, increase your range of motion, and keep your mind centered and alert.  

Best Yoga Poses for Skiers and Snowboarders 

Practicing yoga is extremely beneficial to giving your body strength exactly where you’ll need it when racing (or simply making your way) down the slopes this winter. Combining different poses to strengthen your legs and back while increasing your core strength will condition your body and keep you centred when you need it the most. Keeping the following poses in mind before hitting the slopes will not only keep you from injury but will put your body in the best condition for whatever the mountain brings. 

• Forward Bend 

This will help loosen the back and lengthen the hamstring muscles. Your calves also get a great stretch in Forward Bend, all of which are beneficial to skiers and snowboarders.  

• Warrior Pose 

Not only will this pose give you more confidence to face that black diamond, but will strengthen the muscles you need the most. Ankles, calves, glutes, and quads are all strengthened in Warrior Pose, and hip flexors and hamstrings are stretched as well.  

• Chair Pose 

This is a classic pose for skiers and snowboarders. Chair Pose helps warm up quads while increasing their strength. 

• Downward Facing Dog 

Core strength is really important in skiing and snowboarding, and this is a great pose to increase core strength. Combining Downward Facing Dog with Plank Pose will increase the upper body strength you need as well.  

• Tree Pose 

Skiing and snowboarding require balance, and Tree Pose is excellent for improving the balance you need on the slopes. This pose also tones the quad muscles, calves, ankles, and spine, all of which need to be in top shape for your best performance on the snow.  

When you incorporate a yoga routine that will benefit skiing and snowboarding, you are guaranteed to find better performance, more balance, and increased energy. You’re also less prone to injury when you strengthen and tone the muscles that these winter sports demand. Yoga will support your winter lifestyle and benefit in more ways than you could possibly imagine. 

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