Hello,
I read some articles based on research, telling that certain Yoga practices increase [B]chest wall[/B] expansion and lungs capacity; there is this following document http://202.12.97.32/mdphy/oarticles/Chanavirut2006.pdf that specifies the postures; I wish I could have your advice on the required practice and the right postures for that.
With sincere regards,
VS1
I am not sure what exactly you are asking so you may not have your needs met by my answer.
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several of the poses shown in the document you site are not appropriate for beginners nor are they immediately accessible for the sedentary or non-asana practitioner.
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it is not YOGA that increases the volume of breath or the chest wall. It is anatomically releasing that which binds the rib cage. For simplicities sake let’s say it is freeing the intercostal muscles. You can do that in a variety of ways. Keep in mind the study you cite compares yoga practitioners with those reading a book (control). It is no more than common sense to say that people opening the muscles of the thoracic cavity with movement would likely have increases in the chest wall when compared to those sitting and reading.
Aside from this, what is the purpose or interest in increasing the lung capacity and chest wall? What purpose would that serve in your evolution?
[LEFT]
Hello again,
Thank you for the reply, I should have explain myself better;
Start with my purpose, I am investigating whether certain practices, possibly from Hatha Yoga could improve any of a pro cyclists capabilities;
In this specific case, I thought that improved respiratory system can improve ‘maximal oxygen intake’ (VO2Max) which is a k e y (and very hard to improve) factor in cycling.
I was thinking, and I see that you correct that idea, that the certain sequence and certain way of practicing, dictated by the Hatha Yoga practices, is what making the change (improvement) – having said what my purpose is, I am Most attentive to, and will Appreciate your comments.
One little comment, I myself ‘have’* quite some background in practicing Another eastern philosophy and I know from the level of experience how much ‘time’ it takes to reach certain ‘progresses’ – still since the issue here (as you yourself say) is physical, I was hoping to be able to gain an improvement in a relatively short period of time;
- ‘I’ don’t really ‘have’ anything and ‘progress’ is in the plane of ‘time’ (and space) only[/LEFT]
Big mistake by most people - Nothing in yoga can really happen over a short period of time. As I have said so many times on this forum, yoga is not a McDonalds Drive-thru, you need time and patience and that is it. Do you have that on your side?
Yes.
But as InnerAthlete suggests, we are talking about phisical apects here…
In short, [B]Practice is a must[/B]…
The physical aspects are the hardest to change, in my opinion.
Vital nature, mind, intellect … are all more volatile, more subtle, more easy to change, form, develop.
I am sure yoga would benefit cyclists, too. But the effect is not just from the physical postures. Pranayama probably has much more effect on lungs than asana practice.
The effects of deeper relaxation and rest gained by yoga practices will also help getting that extra edge.
Thank you.
Namaste.
VS, just looking at the postures of many cyclists while riding, roundend back, arms forward, that alone would tend to close the cheast up. A thought, have them work on the posture while riding and after riding some postures to restore them. also some muscle strenthening in the shoulders, back, chest, and abbs would probably be beneficial for them so when they lean forward they have muscular support to hold them in place. have them sleep in corpse pose if they can or at least spend some time there each day to counteract the time they spend leaning forward. Backbends as well, chest openers, etc… now what is “RIGHT”, that is always a tricky subject 
pandara, I remember a quote from the peaceful warrior book “GIve them what they want you to give them until they want what you want to give them” People being atracted to the poses is a great thing, they see some results and hopefully will expand from there.
may you all have a blessed day
seeker
Seeker.
I enjoyed erading your reply. I checked the corpse pose at Yoga Journal - Corpse Pose
could you please help me understand what is the purple thing and the white belt in this photograph and what it is suposed to do?
A blessed day to you to.
We’re simply not answering your question here are we?
In brief, yes it is possible that doing the positions you saw in the link you provided that you may see results in your respiratory system applicable to heightened performance in cycling.
It is also possible that you may not. What is for certain is that you will have the opportunity to learn something very significant about yourself. Again, whether you learn it or not cannot be determined.
Relative to your question about the photo in YJ that you link to above…
I find that sort of online instruction to be quite irresponsible.
The placement and use of props - in this case yoga belts, sandbags, and blankets - should be executed from a place of training, understanding, wisdom, experience, assessment and efficacy, not from a photograph. While a photograph may be helpful as a supplement to the above list it is, to me, only a supplement.
You may of course do with that photo as you wish, you may try to replicate what you see. But the eye fools us frequently and when it is untrained it cannot see into the depth and only records the gross superficial image.
If someone asked for my recomendation I would recomend the least amount or no props at all. The people who wrote that article recomend props and that is fine too. I would say that an excessive bend in backbend may cause harm, but life is not about what I would say or do but about you. If you use props, be observent of what your body is telling you, if you use no props, be observent of what your body is telling you.
Thank you InnerAthlete and Seeker!
It is clear to me that one cannot Really practice by a photo; using the photo was for the purpose of verifying the certain posture that was suggested earlier in this discussion.
Namaste.