Stories From Our Community: Nick Makuch, BMX Rider
Einstein equated life to riding a bicycle: only when moving can you maintain your balance. That’s a principle that BMX rider and Alo Moves member Nick Makuch has taken to heart. Despite a series of events that might have thrown him off course — including a neck and spinal injury that left him in a brace for months — he kept moving forward and is stronger than ever. Learn how yoga played a role in his recovery and what keeps him in motion every day.
When did you first begin practicing yoga, and what drew you to the practice?
My first yoga class was at the end of 2015 at a resort in Hawaii. I was just looking for things to do and came across a free yoga class that was every morning down in the gardens of the hotel. It was so peaceful, relaxing, and it made my busted self feel good, so I would go every morning of the trip before going out to ride. The awareness of the body and the release of tension in the mind and body are what drew me in.
I found a studio in Austin as soon as I got back and would go regularly. However, it only lasted a few months. I was struggling with a breakup that was still fresh and needed a healthy way out, so I applied for jobs within the company I was working for. I applied in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, London, Barcelona, Hawaii, Melbourne…anywhere that had a position I felt I was qualified for. Nonetheless, I got a job in Melbourne, Australia. Moving to a new country, a place I had never been, a place where I knew no one or even knew much about was very exciting to me.
As I got settled — setting up my bank account, orientation at work, finding a place to live and figuring out the city — I lost sight of yoga. I was very inconsistent with it and would maybe go twice a month. I would do little bits at home but could never make it long until I didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t until I moved to New Zealand that I developed a consistent practice. I would go to hot yoga classes. I loved the way I felt after. My joints ached less, my day-to-day movement felt more fluid, I built strength that helped with my riding, I worried less. Overall, I felt way better as a human. I would go early Monday through Friday so I could go ride and swim before work. It was ideal living for me.
My visa soon expired though. I wasn’t ready to go home, so I went back to Melbourne for three months while I decided what to do next. I stuck with the practice but soon ran out of funds and had to sort my next move. Three months goes quick. Luckily, I got sponsored back in New Zealand so I headed back across the water. I was allowed back in the country but not able to work immediately. I waited four to five weeks before the final visa got approved. This is where I found Alo Moves. I desperately wanted to keep up my practice but couldn’t afford a studio while I was not working and living in an expensive place. I came across Alo Moves on IG, signed up for the free two weeks, and have been hooked ever since.
What are your favorite styles of yoga to practice, and do you have any favorite Alo Moves classes?
I really enjoy a challenging Vinyasa flow, Ashtanga, and Yin. I’ll usually start the day with Ashtanga or a Vinyasa class and then end the day with Yin-style classes. My favorite class is subjective to the day and how I’m feeling, but I do have some that I frequent more than others. I really enjoy Kayla Nielsen and Patrick Beach’s work. All of the spinal undulations in Kayla’s classes make my shoulders and spine feel so good. Patrick’s Awakening Solar practice and challenging inversion flows help me build strength and open up where I need it most. No matter how I’m feeling, I can pick a class of theirs and feel like it was made for me.
You can be spotted on Instagram doing challenging arm balances and poses that require a lot of flexibility. Did you find that these shapes came easy to you when you first started practicing, or did it take some time to make your way there?
My current ability to do challenging poses that require a moderate amount of strength and flexibility did not come easy. From years of biking, I had pretty strong legs going into yoga, but I also had many injuries. My upper body was weak, my core was weak, and my inner thighs were so tight. It took daily work to really be able to come into some poses and reap the benefits. Some things would change in a week’s time, while other things took six or more months. I kept noticing positive changes and feeling better so I kept practicing, though.
When you’re not on your mat, you can often be found on your BMX bike. How has your practice on Alo Moves benefited your riding?
Yoga has really helped my riding in several ways. First, I’ll say it has helped me fully recover from past injuries that I neglected. I never kept up with any physical therapy after any of my knee surgeries. I lost a lot of mobility and was often uncomfortable just walking. I thought that was just the way my body was after surgeries. I used that as an excuse to justify it and left it at that, thinking that it can’t get any better.
Regaining mobility helps to prevent injuries, which brings me to the next benefit: preventative maintenance. You never know how you’re going to fall or what you’re going to fall on, so I feel it is important to be more fit, flexible, and aware of your body. This can help you fall in ways that don’t take you out. If you can move through a deeper range of motion, a fall that would otherwise cripple you could simply hurt in the end. Next, I’ll say it helps me focus more. If you’re about to hit rail, a set of jumps, or do anything big, you can’t be thinking about anything other than what you’re about to hit or you could seriously injure yourself. That in-the-moment awareness that helps you focus your mind and do something you’re scared to do is priceless. Last, I’ll say yoga helps me build strength that allows me to hop higher and be able to throw my bike around with a bit more ease.
Is it common to see other BMX riders doing yoga as a form of cross-training? Why do you think fellow riders could benefit from a yoga or movement practice?
Since I’ve noticed a lot of benefits, I’ve set this as a goal of mine: Get more BMX/skater homies to take care of their bodies so they can continue to do what they love. When I first started to practice consistently, I didn’t notice many people in the BMX/skate community practicing yoga. Some don’t ever talk about it or post anything about it, but I’m seeing and hearing of a lot more BMX riders and skaters finding their yoga practice. Most people don’t counter their day-to-day movement, so I feel like everyone can benefit from a consistent yoga practice. If everyone practiced yoga, I reckon the world would be a better place.
This year you’ve worked to recover from a few injuries. What was that process like and how did it impact your wellness routine?
On March 9, 2019, I fell riding some dirt jumps in New Zealand and fractured C6 in my neck and broke the spinous process of T1. It was a terrible slam that dusted all of the muscles in my back in addition to the breaks. It messed with my lungs a bit too, which turned out to be my savior. If I hadn’t started to cough up blood, I may not have had my friend take me to the emergency room and I could have seriously messed my neck sleeping, driving home, or doing any other little thing. It was scary to find out what I had actually done. I won’t lie, I trembled with fear and cried a bit while I was alone in the hospital thinking that I may have crippled myself. All of the worst thoughts kept racing through my mind. Somehow, I held it together. I’m so fortunate for the friends that helped me get to the hospital, the New Zealand healthcare system, and the New Zealand government for looking after me while I was down. New Zealand is amazing, but this injury made me realize that I should head home to see my family. I had been out of the country for a while and since I nearly killed myself, they were scared for me.
Once I was cleared to fly, I headed back to Idaho where I finished out my recovery. I was in a neck brace for about four months and was released back to life. I immediately started my yoga practice back up. I used yoga to rehabilitate myself and towards the end of 2019, I was cleared by my doctor to get back to my normal life. I was scared to ride, I was scared to jump off of rocks into water, I was nervous of slipping in the shower. This was probably the most scared I’d ever been in my life, but by showing up everyday and trying, I was able to overcome all of those things. In the beginning it was overwhelming and very challenging, but I managed to see the whole experience from another perspective and was able to push forward.
In order to make the goal of being back to normal seem more attainable, I would set little goals that, once achieved, led to the bigger goal. When I would meditate, I would picture myself riding again and I kept telling myself that I’d be back. I still struggle with odd sensations in my left shoulder, occasionally my thoracic spine feels a bit crunchy, and often I get an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my life that makes me cry, but I’m back on my bike and stronger than I’ve ever been. Thank you, yoga!
As a self-proclaimed plant-based pedaler, what’s one of your go-to plant-based meals?
I really care about my health and the health of the planet, so I turned to a vegan diet a little over seven years ago. Just like with yoga, I noticed a lot of positive benefits and had to keep it going. I enjoy opening people’s eyes to the sadness that is the animal agriculture industry but do not like to be preachy or judgmental. This led me to start the #plantbasedpedaler tag. I want to raise awareness around the animal ag industries and promote a vegan diet by showing people you can be active while extending compassion to all the sentient beings we share this planet with. I feel like people respect and appreciate this approach more than the stereotypical, finger-pointing, judgmental vegan that just wants to tell you that you’re wrong for how you live your life.
As the self-proclaimed plant-based pedaler, my favorite go-to quick snack is oats. I use them in so many different ways. Sometimes I’ll simply have oatmeal with cinnamon and a bit of my favorite protein powder with some peanut butter. Sometimes I will blend oats, a banana, and my favorite protein powder and fry it with coconut oil in a pan to enjoy as pancakes. I smother them in PB and add maple syrup too. My other default oat option is to roast them with some pumpkin or sunflower seeds, cinnamon, maple syrup, and coconut oil to make a nice cereal mix.
How has your experience been being a part of the Alo Moves community?
My experience being a part of the Alo Moves community is great. I won’t lie though, I don’t engage with many people on there. Not that I wouldn’t. Maybe this is something I need to change. I mainly use it to hold myself accountable. I really enjoy being able to track my progress, see what I’ve practiced, and practice at my leisure. I do use it to check up on my mother and sisters though to make sure they’re treating themselves to some movement regularly.
You started a yoga-specific Instagram account to share your goal of doing yoga everyday in 2020. How did that go?
I started a yoga-specific Instagram page to post about my 366 days of yoga in 2020 and to explore other creative outlets. I’m using it to work on my photography and editing skills in addition to the practice. I wanted things to look a certain way too, which you can see has changed since its inception. I feel like I’ve learned a lot, so I’d say it’s going great.
What’s your intention for the new year?
My intention for 2021 is to create and inspire. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I want to create something that benefits the planet and humanity. I want to inspire people to give up plastics and other harmful products to the environment. I want to inspire people to take good care of themselves…diet, movement, and mental health. I want to inspire people to treat others (animals and humans) better. I want to inspire people to be more inclusive and less judgmental. I want to ride bikes more often. I will always strive to better myself so I can be the change I wish to see in this world.
Want to work more movement into your life? Access thousands of yoga, fitness, and meditation classes on Alo Moves today with a free 14-day trial.