HEALTH & FITNESS

Easy Yoga for Snowsports - Balance

A good sense of balance enables you to move freely on the slopes and helps to prevent falls and injuries. It's also an important aid to clearing and focusing the mind and raising confidence levels.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Before each run take time to evenly distribute your weight over skis or board, then draw up the lower abdominal muscles

Reach for the sky

Ski balance 1 - Easy yoga for snowsports

Practise all of these postures regularly to improve your balance. Virabhadrasana I (Warrior 1) is the easiest so start with this posture before progressing to Tree (below).

Begin with the feet leg length apart and imagine a clock face, with 12 o’clock in front of you.
Point the left foot towards 12 and the right foot towards 2 or 3.
Lift your arms level with your shoulders and rotate your torso 90 degrees to the right (as in the picture), while bending your right knee.
Lift your arms up above your head and join the palms to create a prayer position while drawing up the lower abdominal muscles.
Breathe slowly in and out through the nose and hold for 10 complete breath cycles then come up to standing and repeat on the other side.

Focus ahead

Ski balance 2 - Easy yoga for snowsports

To help you practise Vrksasana (Tree), focus on a still point in front of you and tense the standing leg.

Begin in a standing position with a straight back.
Position the feet under the hips and distribute weight evenly through the soles of the feet.
Transfer all your weight on to the left leg, then lift the right foot and place it on the left inner thigh with the toes pointing down and the knee out to the side.
Bring your hands to the front of your chest and join the palms, while drawing up the lower abdominal muscles.
Breathe slowly in and out through the nose and hold for 10 complete breath cycles, then repeat the posture on the other side.

Look to the floor

Ski balance 3 - Easy yoga for snowsports

Eka Pada Hastasana (One Foot to Head) is a great way to prepare for the final posture, Warrior 3. When you first perform this posture it’s OK to bend the standing leg.

Begin in a standing forward bend with hands positioned flat on the floor.
Distribute your weight evenly through the sole of the right foot then lift the left leg so that it is level with the pelvis, while drawing up the lower abdominal muscles.
Breathe slowly in and out through the nose and hold for 10 complete breath cycles and then repeat on the other side.

Stay strong

Ski balance 4 - Easy yoga for snowsports

When you are confident balancing in Eka Pada Hastasana, try Virabhadrasana III (Warrior 3).

Move from Eka Pada Hastasana, by slowly lifting the right hand from the floor and placing it beside the right hip.
Lift the left hand and place beside the left hip, remaining strong through the lower abs.
Breathe slowly through the nose and hold for 10 breath cycles, then repeat on the other side.