5 reasons for skateboarders to practice yoga
Skateboarding: it's amazing, yes, but let's be real, it can take a toll on your body. From the repetitive stress on your joints to the demanding tricks that push your limits, it’s no wonder why skateboarding injuries are so common.
Whether you’re a regular at your skatepark, working on your longboard dancing skills, or bombing hills, adding yoga to your daily routine can be a game-changer.
From improving flexibility and building strength to adding some zen to your day, here’s why I think yoga is so beneficial for skateboarders.
1. Build strength and resilient joints
Sure, yoga is fantastic for stretching, but there is a lot more to yoga than becoming more flexible. Dynamic yoga classes can also help you build some serious strength.
And why does strength matter for skateboarders? Well, the more muscle you build, the more you can protect your joints against the repetitive stresses that skating puts on your joints.
Yoga is particularly great at building isometric strength. Holding challenging poses for an extended period of time (think: holding plank or Warrior 2 for a few more breaths than you'd like) helps build isometric strength and muscular endurance, which help stabilise joints and can be key in preventing injuries.
So, hold those yoga poses, feel the burn, and say hello to more resilient joints and hopefully fewer injuries down the line.
2. Improve ROM and flexibility
Want to land that new trick you’re working on? Good mobility and range of motion (ROM) will help. Having mobile joints and bigger range of motion (ROM) will help you perform better on the board.
For example: working on your ankle mobility and improving your hips' range of motion means that you'll be able to pop into a deeper squat on your board, have more power when popping the board, and hopefully land tricks with more ease.
While you could improve ROM over time by spending more time practising on your board, mobility and range of motion are better trained off the board, by spending a couple minutes a day working on specific mobility drills.
3. Enhance balance on the board
Balance is key for any board sport, and guess what - yogis love a good balancing pose! Those wobbly one-legged poses that make you feel like a flamingo? Yes, as goofy they might make you feel in the moment, they're your secret weapon for mastering balance on the board.
So, start practicing that Warrior 3, Half Moon, and Tree pose - and watch as your balance goes from wobbly to agile skate ninja.
4. Tune in to your body
Your body is constantly giving you feedback. The key here is learning to listen. Sore knees after landing a trick? Maybe it's time to strengthen those legs. Tight calves after a long cruise? Your body's telling you to stretch it out.
Yoga isn't about contorting yourself into poses; it's about listening. Take a moment to check in with yourself, listen to your body, and give it the love and attention it deserves. Remember, “if you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it shout.” We all know it's tempting to skate every day, but making time for some R&R could be the key to skating pain-free for as long as possible.
5. Just breathe and relax
In a sport that runs on adrenaline and competition (even if you don’t compete with others, you’re often competing with yourself), finding moments of peace and quiet can be a game-changer.
In the end, yoga is not really about stretching or strengthening. The core of the practice is breathing. Your yoga routine can be a wonderful time to reconnect to your breath, calm down, and recenter yourself. Hopefully you'll find a sense a calm and mindfulness that sticks with you long after you roll up your mat. Because in the end, it's not just about landing the perfect trick — it's about enjoying the ride.
So, to all the skaters out there, remember to take care of yourselves - on and off the board. Roll out your mat once in a while, and let yoga be your secret to skating pain-free and injury-free.