Hamstrings tighter as a brand-new bike chain and a back as stiff as a corroded hinge, cannonball glues and quads of steel. If you have ever spent hours in the saddle, you are aware of how cycling may cause soreness and constriction of the body. Though it functions like a pocket-sized mechanic, one yoga position at a time gently untangles the body knots. Find out more!

Imagine riding for a long distance and then dropping into Child’s Pose to find the dull pain in your lower back begins to calm. Forward folds allow those muscles that seem to have been slumped over the handlebars too long stretch out. And the hips, those wretched, tight hips following hours on the bike? We call upon pigeon, lizard, even Happy Baby Pose. Though first painful, relief comes shortly after.

Also quite important is breathwork, particularly while ascending a steep slope. Diaphragmatic breathing first sounds a bit too woo-woo, but bikers soon find its advantages. Controlled exhales and deep, calm breaths help you clear your head, increase endurance, and make that last push up the hill seem less like a battle. When you get to the top, you will see it is just you, the wind, and perhaps a bug between your teeth.

Yoga stimulates the muscles cycling tends to overlook in addition to the ones most evident. Regular planks and side plank improve your wrists and core, regions neglected while cycling. Consequently Less saddle pains, more accurate turns, and easy pothole bouncing back capabilities.

Yoga speeds up healing as well. It breaks up scar tissue, releases lactic acid, and gets that “week-old spaghetti” feeling from your legs gone. Savasana? Perfect for reversing the tension of the day are supine twists. Simple ecstasy. Many say, in this silence, the real magic occurs.

After a few yoga sessions, you will find yourself peddling longer, recovering faster, and—dare we say—smiling more. You will see it on your early morning rides as well as in the café later when your cycling friends comment on your seating posture. Rider’s edge is, it turns out, about understanding how to move, breathe, and let go, even after the finish line, not only about fancy gear.