Yoga practitioners have a reputation for being lithe, mostly female and perhaps a bit flighty. Not one of those adjectives could describe such admitted yogis as basketball superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or former football player Shannon Sharpe, among others. More and more athletes--professional or novice---are recognizing the benefits of a regular yoga practice.
Longevity of Yoga
This ancient practice is believed to have been around for thousands of years. If that’s the case, there’s a reason for that. The word yoga is Sanskrit (ancient East language) meaning to “yoke” or unite the mind, body and spirit. Perhaps the idea of burly, muscular men in an inverted pose trying to focus on their breathing seems out of sorts with the non-yogi but even doing yoga once, a person can begin to feel the benefits of this exercise.
Rehabilitation
Stretching out and warming up is crucial for any sport. Yoga focuses on not just stretching the muscles one expects to use in a sport but in using all the muscles of the body, even the ones we rarely make use of. It brings into awareness the ways our body can move: our range of motion, as well as the limitations that need more work. It also helps with being more conscious of breathing, extremely important in bringing more oxygen into the body. This aids in the rehabilitation of sport injuries such as strained muscles, twisted ankles, or pulled hamstrings.
Mental Concentration
In fast-paced sports like football, basketball or hockey, the athlete rarely has time to think about which particular muscles he or she is about to use. All they know is that they have to be ready to jump, twist, pivot, catch or throw at a moment’s notice. In yoga, the athlete slows down to pay attention to all of the muscles, the strength and weakness of each, the breath that fills the lungs, the mind in need of quiet. It’s a time to reflect on the hard work the body does in high-energy sports as well as day-to-day functions.
Flexibility & Alignment
Practicing yoga is not solely about meditating nor does it have to be a spiritual performance. It is a way to take care of the body, to concentrate on stretching over-worked limbs and sore muscles. Yoga asanas (poses) encourage gentle straightening of the spine, helping it become more flexible and aligned. The poses also incorporate a lot of the abdominal muscles to keep a straight back. The stronger stomach muscles we have, the less weight the back has to support, lessening the strain on our lower back.
Total-Body Workout
There are different branches and levels of yoga for everybody, even for kids. Whether you exercise every day, or are a weekend warrior, adding yoga to your routine can give you that edge in your performance. Yoga can help you become more appreciative of all your body can do and compel you to take great care of it. Before you know it, you’ll be starting your day with a few tiger poses and folding triangle twists before jumping into that ten-mile jog.
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