Vskiing holidays ino sight? A yoga course it could then make a difference to arrive physically prepared for the descents on the slopes. Well yes: in addition to being a practice that is good for the body and mind, in fact yoga can prove to be a valuable strategy to support sports preparation of other disciplines, both at an amateur and professional level.
“The yoga is functional for all sports both from the point of view of physical preparation and as an ally for improve concentration and full presence in individual actions. Depending on the sport you want to prepare for, you can in fact adapt your yoga practiceactivating and stimulating certain muscle compartments” – he explains Simona Tarabini, founder of the BaliYoga.it school as well as former semi-professional skier from Valtellina who has competed in international slalom and downhill competitions and who has now decided to make his experience available to those who wish to arrive prepared for the inauguration of the winter season.
Yoga as preparation for skiing
«In the case of skiing, Yoga can help stimulate on a physical level especially the lower body and core – continues the expert – with the objective to activate and train the muscles and joints most involved so as to face the descent onto the slopes with adequate preparation. But we also work a lot on body proprioception and muscle reactivityas well as on stabilization and motor coordinationfundamental aspects when skiing.”
How long in advance to start
How much time in advance can be useful start preparing to reap the benefits of yoga in view of the skiing week?
«For those who practice skiing at a professional level, yoga is a great support all year round. In the case of amateur skiers, however, some preparation may be useful on time, dedicating at least four weeks of constant practice as a form of functional preparation – advises Simona Tarabini. – So one lesson is not enough to be ready ideal frequency is to practice yoga at least 2 or 3 times a week within a month so as to arrive really ready to put your skis back on».
Yoga in the snow or ‘snowga’: that’s what it’s all about
And who doesn’t ski but still plans a holiday in the mountains? Don’t worry: in this case you can think of experience the benefits of yoga in the snow. A version of the practice for which the neologism was coined ‘snowga’ born from the union of the words ‘yoga’ and ‘snow’.
«It’s a tmakes it very popular today – explains the expert again. – Yoga in itself has in fact gained great popularity in Italy over the last 10 years, so much so that it is declined in multiple variations different and one of these is precisely the winter version on snow».
Yoga in the snow: how to practice it
To try snowga You don’t need the classic mat but just suitable clothing at low temperatures.
«The objective is precisely that of get the maximum benefits by moving in nature and in contact with the snow – Simona Tarabini continues – practicing, for example, the classic sun salutation or other mini sequences which may also include balance positions such as chair and tree. And the benefits are amplified thanks to associated breathing techniques – pranayama who enjoy the clear mountain air to the fullest and which can be different based on different climatic conditions. Some techniques contribute for example to warm the body when it is very cold, others to calm tensions when perhaps there is a very strong wind.”
Is snow yoga suitable for everyone?
Just like classic yoga, also yoga on the snow It has no particular contraindications and can be practiced without problems by everyone. «The basic advice However, it is always to rely on expert teachers that they know modulate the different asanas on the snow to your physical conditions starting point of each one, giving the necessary variations”.
Yoga in the snow: also useful before skiing
The snowga can also be a great way to warm up your muscles and body as a whole before engage in any other snow activity, including skiing.
«In this case the proposed sessions are shorter, they last about 20 or 30 minutes maximum – explains the expert – and also the exercise sequences are reduced. As a preparation for skiing, snow yoga is practiced with boots on their feet and predicts a series of asanas that aim to warm up the leg and core musclesin addition to activities that help stretch those muscles that will then continue to contract and relax during the descents on the slopes. Great importance is also given to breathing, with techniques such as breath of fire (kapalabhati) or the breath of the bellows (bhastrika)which warm the body and better prepare it to face the coldest temperatures.”
The course to try
Anyone who wants to experience the benefits of yoga in view of the skiing week can take part in the lessons organized online by BaliYoga.it (by downloading the BaliYoga.it app). Simona Tarabini will hold the lesson from Bali, where she now lives, looking forward to organize a two-day ski trip in February 2025 to which all those who practice online will be invited, thus completing the circle with “Yoga on the snow”.
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