With so many triathlons and other races coming up I thought it would be a good idea to revisit the practice of adding yoga to your training. Whether it is for meditation, alternative medicine or exercise, yoga is practiced to strengthen the body, mind and soul.

With so many athletes including yoga into their training regimen I think it is worth another look at the trend as it relates to multi-sport racing.

The following is a brief and very basic description on a few styles of yoga that are practiced in the Coeur d'Alene area:

Anusara Yoga (a-nu-sar-a) is a school of hatha yoga and teaches flowing form, proper breathing and posture for body alignment, flexibility and balance.

Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient form of yoga with a strong emphasis on breathing and posture and is very fluid for building strength, flexibility and stamina. Ashtanga is also from the school of hatha yoga.

Bikram Yoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yoga guru, started in the 1970s from traditional yoga techniques and consists of a series of 26 postures and breathing exercises. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees and is the most popular form of hot yoga.

Yoga for runners

One of the most popular specialized yoga classes these days is yoga for runners. These classes teach yoga postures, flexibility and breathing to realign your body, keeping your body in a neutral position for proper hip and leg movement and at the same time, giving you controlled breathing for better endurance.

Yoga for cyclists

Many cyclists practice yoga to alleviate muscle tightness from long hours on the bike. Most yoga positions focus on flexibility, core strength and balance and can be a perfect cross-training workout for both the casual cyclist and the competitive cyclist.

Yoga for swimmers

For those of you who swim, you know the importance of proper form. All yoga styles and practices focus on proper form and movement that help increase flexibility, strength and mental focus. Many swimmers suffer from tight shoulders and a tense upper back. Many standard yoga moves will stretch, strengthen and open those areas.

The many benefits of yoga come into play for anyone with an active lifestyle. Medical studies have proven the benefits of yoga even done just once a week are real and lasting. Athletes are seeing these benefits with reduced stress, increasing flexibility and calming their minds for better sports performance.

Whether you're a triathlete or active senior, yoga is going to improve your breathing, skeletal alignment, lung capacity and boost your energy levels. Yoga can be a game changer for the competitive athlete, giving you a noticeable edge in your performance. Yoga is a great addition to anyone's training; it will challenge you on so many levels - physically, mentally and in your flexibility. And for you tough guys who are off the hook fit and think yoga is only for girls, try it and prepare to be humbled.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.