Are you an athlete? Have you ever experienced injuries that set back your performance? Due to its increasing benefits, athletes are actively using yoga as part of their training to improve on-ground performance and reduce injuries. If you are also looking for ways to enhance your overall stamina, exploring yoga for athletes is a great option.
According to one study, if you do yoga twice a week for 10 consecutive weeks, you will experience 60% more flexibility and stability. Whether you are planning to try yoga for sports recovery or want to make your athletic yoga routine, this write-up will prove insightful for you.
Benefits of Yoga for Athletes
Over the years, athleticism has revolved around physical training or high-intensity workouts in gyms. That’s why, whenever there is a discussion on yoga for athletes, questions about its benefits in this field often arise.
Sage Rountree, who is the author of “The Athlete’s Guide to Recovery” and an endurance sports coach, also claims that “Yoga can help build strength and foster recovery.” Apart from this, you should also be aware of the major benefits of yoga for athletes.
Improves Posture
Proper posture is the core requirement of every athlete. Yoga for athletes is sequenced to mobilize the spine. With the forward-backward movement, an athletic yoga routine perfectly works on maintaining good posture. So, if you have bad posture, yoga should definitely be part of your fitness training.
Accelerates Core Strength
Most sports require strong core strength, which helps in on-field moments and dives. Yoga for athletes activates the front muscles of the body while providing ultimate strength. In addition, yoga helps in recovery by mobilizing muscles, glutes, hamstrings, and calves.
Act as a Recovery Tool
Athletes spend the majority of their time on the field. It is common to have an injury during practice or a game. Those who decide to go for surgery take longer to recover from injured muscles or bones. However, practicing yoga can speed up recovery and provide fast relief from stiffness and soreness in muscles.
Improve Quality of Sleep
Quality sleep is essential to stay active on and off the field. This is particularly true for yoga in sports recovery, as muscles recover faster at night. If you follow an athletic yoga routine even 3–4 times a week, it can improve your sleep quality. Yoga can make you fall asleep faster and eliminate anxiety during your sleeping schedule.
An Ultimate Stamina Booster
Every athlete’s ultimate goal is to have high stamina during the game. In order to achieve this, most athletes focus on mental clarity. However, yoga benefits athletes mentally as well as physically. All the breathwork during yoga increases lung capacity and transfers more oxygen to your hard-worked muscles, which results in high stamina.
The Best Yoga Poses for Athletes
Are you wondering about the best yoga poses that will suit your daily routine? No matter what your body requirements are, these poses of yoga for athletes will prove to be a game-changer for you.
Triangle Pose
Triangle pose, also known as Utthita Trikonasana, is proven to improve flexibility along the sides of the body. By doing this, you can add more flexibility to your inner thighs, lower back, and hamstrings.
Here’s how to do this: Stand with your legs wide. Make sure your right foot is in the line of your heel. Now lift your arm to your shoulder’s height. Inhale and exhale deep breaths while gazing at the sky.
Side Lunge Pose
It is also known as Sandasana, which helps in the recovery of strained muscles. The Side Lunge Pose is an essential part of yoga for sports recovery. It improves abductor mobility and builds abdominal strength.
Here’s how to do this: Start this yoga for athletes by standing with your legs wide out. Now, bend into your right knee while keeping your left leg straight. Keep your hands at the hip and hold it for 5 breaths, then switch the side.
Half-Moon Pose
Half Moon Pose, AKA Ardha Chandrasana, tests your body balance and core strength. This pose of yoga for athletes is best for strengthening the glutes, hamstrings, and calves.
Here’s how to do this: Get in the triangle pose, and then lower your left hand to your hip. Now walk with the fingertips of your hand a few inches in front of your right toes. Lift your left leg off the ground while balancing your right leg. Hold this position for 5 breaths, and then switch the side.
Final Words
Yoga is the perfect way to maintain your athletic body and give 100% on the field. In modern times, where stepping onto the field is no less than entering a battlefield, yoga for athletes can provide protection from life-threatening injuries. No matter your goal for adding yoga to your fitness training routine, it is essential to practice it with proper care.
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References
- Rosenfeld, Lee, et al. “Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, vol. 21, no. 4, 2017, pp. 401-406. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26865768/.
- “Yoga for Athletes: Benefits, Poses, and Tips.” Yoga Practice, https://yogapractice.com/yoga/yoga-for-athletes/. Accessed 24 July 2024.
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