Yoga

Yoga and climbing go hand-in-hand, which is why we’re running weekly yoga sessions at The Newsroom on Fri mornings at 10am. There are 8 spots available each week for an hour of Vinyasa yoga with Jack Parrott – secure your spot via the booking widget below.

Yoga and climbing

Don’t think yoga is for you? Here’s 10 reasons to make you think otherwise:

1. Increased flexibility: Yoga’s emphasis on stretching and flexibility helps to improve your range of motion. This can be particularly beneficial for climbers, enabling them to reach holds more efficiently and navigate through challenging routes with greater ease.
2. Enhanced strength and stability: Many yoga poses engage and strengthen the core, upper body, and lower body muscles. This added strength contributes to better stability, crucial for maintaining control during climbs and tackling demanding movements.
3. Improved balance and body awareness: Yoga encourages practitioners to develop a heightened sense of body awareness and balance. This translates directly to climbing, where precision and control are essential for navigating different holds.
4. Better breath control: The emphasis on controlled breathing in yoga can enhance your respiratory endurance. Climbers benefit from improved breath control helping to manage fatigue and maintain focus.
5. Reduced risk of injury: Regular yoga practice promotes joint health and flexibility, reducing the risk of injuries common in climbing, such as strains, sprains, and overuse injuries. It also aids in muscle recovery, essential for climbers pushing their physical limits.
6. Enhanced mental focus: Yoga is not just about physical postures; it’s also about mindfulness and mental clarity. The ability to stay present and focused is invaluable for climbers.
7. Stress reduction: Climbing can be mentally demanding, and yoga provides a counterbalance by promoting relaxation and stress reduction. The meditative aspects of yoga can help climbers stay calm and composed in challenging situations.
8. Improved recovery: Yoga’s gentle stretches and relaxation techniques aid in muscle recovery, reducing soreness after climbing sessions. This can contribute to a quicker overall recovery and a more consistent climbing performance.
9. Injury rehabilitation: For climbers recovering from injuries, yoga can be a valuable tool for rehabilitation. It allows for gentle strengthening and flexibility exercises, aiding in the recovery process while avoiding further strain.
10. Community building: Joining yoga classes or groups with a focus on climbing can help build a supportive community. Sharing the yoga mat or climbing wall with like-minded individuals can create a positive and encouraging environment for personal growth.

More about

Jack Parrott – yoga instructor

The sessions are run by TCA staff member Jack Parrott, who is a qualified yoga teacher.

Jack started his yoga journey at a climbing gym in London, where he attended classes to gain strength and flexibility to improve his climbing ability. After a trip to Bali he completed his yoga teacher training in vinyasa and became the resident yoga teacher at a sport crag in Laos, Green Climbers Home.

When Jack isn’t climbing or teaching he enjoys trail running, cooking (and eating) vegan food and wild swimming.

His classes are tailored with climbers in mind, as well as general wellbeing. All classes are open to beginners, advanced practitioners and everyone in between!