Gear Up For National Yoga Month With Essentials From Sport Chalet

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- National Yoga Month is not only for yoga enthusiasts, but for all athletes who seek to strengthen the mind, body and the spirit. Premier specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet encourages those who live and breathe an active lifestyle to practice yoga on a regular basis in order to stretch and heal muscles while channeling inner strength.

"Yoga is applicable to anyone, from tri-athletes seeking alternative methods of recovery training to new athletes looking to strengthen core muscle groups," said Sport Chalet Expert Tom Connell. "Sport Chalet understands the value of incorporating yoga practice into training and offers a variety of product essentials to help all athletes reach their fitness goals."

To help celebrate National Yoga Month this Sept., Connell recommends the following yoga tips and exercises for all athletes—from runners to cyclists.

• Begin with "Downward Dog": Start practice by bending at the waist and stretching arms and legs out. Press into heels to stretch calves while applying deep pressure into palms for a shoulder stretch. Use a yoga mat with a superior non-slip fabric finish like the Manduka Black Mat Pro to ensure stability and comfort.
• Ease into stretches: Runners often have tight hamstrings, which makes stretching difficult and uncomfortable. Utilizing a wooden block like the Natural Fitness Bamboo Yoga Block can assist a runner in the "forward fold" pose by removing pressure from the back of the legs and allowing a deeper and more comfortable stretch.
• Protect the wrists: "Chaturanga Dandasana" is an essential pose that targets the upper back, triceps and abdomen. Lower from high plank to low plank squeezing elbows next to the body, making sure to protect wrists with the Stick-e Yoga Wrist Saver, designed to decrease stress in the delicate wrist joint.
• Prep for a workout: Yoga is the perfect way to awaken muscles and work on breathing before starting a long hike. "Cat-cow" pose and a sacrum stretch will help alleviate tension and prepare the body for a long hike. First, find a mat that is easily transportable and won't weigh down a backpack, like the Natural Fitness ROAM Folding Yoga Mat. Another great option for easily transporting a mat to the yoga studio or the hiking trail is the Manduka GoPlay Yoga Mat Bag, which fits any mat and comes with storage space for other workout necessities. Find a flat surface and position the body on hands and knees, arching the back up like a cat while breathing deeply. Then reverse the stretch.
• Eliminate sweat: Strengthening the legs and abdominals is important to perfecting a CrossFit workout. A useful pose for CrossFitters is "boat" pose, in which athletes engage the abdominals while balancing on the tailbone with legs and torso making a V-shape. To eliminate bacteria after a sweat-induced CrossFit class, use the multi-purpose Manduka eQua Hand Towel, which is super absorbent and quick drying.
• Use a yoga strap: "Strap" poses stretch the upper back and shoulders and can make it easier for swimmers or scuba divers to move in the water. Try sitting on knees and holding the Natural Fitness Hemp Yoga Strap in both hands behind the back, stretching upwards slowly until feeling a deep stretch. If this position is uncomfortable, do the same motion in front of the body and above the head, slowly lowering the strap behind the body.

For more information on Sport Chalet's selection of yoga gear or to find the nearest Sport Chalet location, visit www.sportchalet.com. For additional media inquiries, contact [email protected].

About Sport Chalet

Sport Chalet is a premier, full service specialty sporting goods retailer featuring the industry's top sports brands in apparel, footwear, and sports equipment. Founded in 1959 by Norbert Olberz, the company has 50 stores in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah; an online store at www.sportchalet.com; a Team Sales division; and offers more than 50 specialty services for the sports enthusiast, including online same day delivery, climbing, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, avalanche education, and mountain trekking instruction, car rack installation, snowboard and ski rental and repair, Scuba training and certification, Scuba boat charters, team sales, gait analysis, baseball/softball glove steaming and lacing, racquet stringing, and bicycle tune-up and repair at its store locations. For more information, visit Sport Chalet at www.sportchalet.com.

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