Five reasons apres ski yoga is important for snowboarders and skiers

Welcome to your apres ski flexibility yoga for snowboarders and skiers.

This yoga class is for those of you, who are looking for a more healthy option than heading to that après bar, drinking too much after a day on the mountain. 

This video was filmed last October 2020, yet it is now June 2021, I have massively procrastinated over editing this video but better late than never!

While we’re still in the midst of a pandemic this 12th May 2021, it is less of a shock than it was a year ago, yet still we aren’t sure what exactly is going to happen (I mean were we ever). 

So I’d like to dedicate this video to those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, in New Zealand and Australia. 

Who I know had such difficult strict lockdowns while Victoria state in Australia had a 4 day ski season. 

My husband is Australian by the way, I’ve done two ski seasons in Jindabyne NSW and we have many Australian friends. 

In Myoko, the pandemic is taking its toll on local businesses, lodges, pensions and hotels are uncertain of how they’ll run, especially as another year of no travel from abroad is likely. 

I really do hope that borders open and travel can happen again, but I remember learning about the Spanish Influenza of 1918 and that took about 3 years for the virus to disappear enough for things to get back to “normal”. 

I don’t want to get all doom and gloom, I’ve written many skiers and snowboarders yoga and there’s a part of me that wants to show what else yoga has helped me with in my life and that I’d like to share with you. So the content on this blog may change a little from now on. 

At least this is a reminder of the times that we are in and can be read back in the future, which will hopefully be a lot brighter. 

I should note that Eivy gifted me their new season clothing which I am wearing in this video. 

I’m wearing the Base Layer, Venture Top in Leopard by Eivy, which was really great to wear this winter on really cold snowy days in Myoko.

The Venture Top in Leopard is smartly designed by Eivy with the hood, which was great in keeping my body temperature warm. 

It doesn’t get too cold in Myoko, as we’re on the Honshu island of Japan, so sometimes I’d only wear another base layer underneath, a beanie, a balaclava on my neck and then my shell jacket.

It also came in handy to wear the Venture Top on my first Snow Camping trip, I was dreading being freezing cold, I grew up with central heating in Paris and England. Yes I know I sound like a Princess. 

Luckily it was spring so it wasn’t that cold during the day, but it was at night so I wore the Venture Top, another base layer underneath, with my down jacket and down pants (by Nanga, which are made in Japan) on top. 

I also slept in my sleeping bag in it, which worked great to keep my face warm. 

So finally onto this yoga sequence created for you!

For those who are looking for a more healthy option than drinking too much after a day on the mountain. 

Yes I am aware this was totally ruined due to the pandemic for many of you, especially in Europe. However hopefully this won’t last forever!

Otherwise you can incorporate this yoga class after a day of hiking in the backcountry.

Five reasons apres ski yoga is important for snowboarders and skiers:

1. This is a quick yoga lesson to wind down from a day on the snow. Snowboarding and skiing are at the end of the day an extreme sport. So you need to stretch your body out after a long day on the mountain.

1. Flexibility isn’t the goal in yoga, but it is something that you can gain more of as you practice more and more often. And no it isn’t something that’s just for thin, white women, wearing leggings and doing acrobatics. Yoga was first created for men in India, and there are so many styles of yoga so all you need is to be able to breathe, so try to make this a part of your routine if you want to continue skiing and snowboarding for years to come.

1. Apres-ski is usually a time to revel in the amazing day you’ve had on the mountain, but combined with a lot of drinking. So this is for you if you prefer to take care of your body and your wellbeing rather than get too drunk to be able to get back down to your accommodation. Take a moment of self reflection and quiet time after a day of moving so much on the mountain.

1. Strength doesn’t only have to come from going to the gym, personally, I love that yoga can also be gentle but also strong. When you’re doing poses just using your own body weight, it’s amazing how heavy you are and how much stronger you get as you keep practicing yoga.

1. This is your time to rest, whether you’re on holiday or working a ski season, snowboarding or skiing isn’t quite as easy as lazily hanging out by the beach all day. This is your permission slip to rest, take a moment to slow down by doing a few yoga poses.

Here’s the yoga sequence for Apres ski flexibility yoga for snowboarders and skiers:

1. Tadasana
2. Forward fold
3. Downdog
4. Chair pose
5. Repeat ⬆️
6. Forward fold  ➡️  downdog
7. 3 legged dog ➡️  pigeon pose (left)
8. Repeat ➡️  pigeon pose (right)
9. Cat cow  ➡️  locust pose
10. Hero pose, stretch thighs
11. Bridge pose
12. Bridge with leg up (right)
13. Bridge with leg up (left)
14. Hand to foot pose, hamstring stretch (right)
15. Hand to foot pose, hamstring stretch (left)
16. Knees to chest, each side. 
17. Shavasanna

Did you enjoy this class? Let me know in the comments below 👇

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