​Why athletes should practice yoga

Why athletes should practice yoga:

Did you know that yoga is one of the best exercises for athletes? Athletes should add yoga to their weekly cardio or weightlifting routine to keep their bodies healthy and increase their athletic ability. Practicing yoga during or in between seasons helps with flexibility and strength, fixing imbalances in the body, and preventing injuries. It also teaches the athlete breathing and concentration techniques to improve their performance. Because yoga is such a diverse and unique exercise, every athlete in any sport can benefit from its practice.

Yoga balances the body.

Every sport has its injury: runners get shin splints, baseball players hurt their shoulders, soccer players have knee problems. The list goes on and on, but why do certain athletes have these issues? The problem lies in sport specificity. Many athletes spend most of their time training specifically for one sport. They repetitively work the same muscles and joints, often on the same side of their body. This overworking of some muscles and underworking of others creates an imbalance in the athlete’s body, making him or her prone to injury. Unlike sport-specific training, yoga engages different muscles, which counteracts this imbalance, improving overall athleticism and reducing injury. Yoga works smaller muscle groups, which stabilize ligaments and joints, preventing future strains and tears. Practicing yoga in between sport-specific training sessions can help the athlete strengthen other muscles so one part of the body is not constantly being worn down.

Depending on the athlete’s sport, it is likely that either their right leg or left leg is stronger than the other. The same goes for arms. Maybe the athlete’s upper body is strong, but their lower body is weak, or the other way around. Wherever the imbalance may lie, practicing yoga can help. Yoga involves the entire body and works both sides of the body equally. It strengthens and stretches all parts of the body, helping to level out the athlete’s imbalances. When athletes’ bodies are balanced, their weaknesses are difficult to spot, and it is hard to face an athlete that is strong on both sides. Yoga is the perfect exercise for athletes to pick up because it will strengthen weak muscles, preparing the body for quality movement from any angle.

Though athletes are strong, it is common for their core to be weak. Having a strong core is one of the most important parts of playing a sport, though often core strength is overlooked in training. Practicing yoga can help the athlete focus on and strengthen their core. Yoga is based on balance, and the core is the body’s center of stability. Every flow helps to build a stable core, whether it is during the poses themselves or within the transition from pose to pose. Incorporating yoga into a weekly workout routine will help the athlete gain the core strength that they need to become stronger and more reliable on the court and field.

Yoga conditions the mind.

Yoga helps athletes train their mind to be calm and focused, so they can keep a steady mindset during the stress of the game. A good yoga flow is all about mindfulness. One of the most important parts of yoga is gaining control over your mind and connecting with your own thoughts. Yoga teaches its participants to let go of stress and find peace within themselves. This concept of control can be carried with the athlete into their sport. They can redirect and calm their mind on the field in the same way that they learn to in yoga. This newfound mindfulness will allow the athlete to stay calm and collected, even during stressful situations. A well-trained athlete needs a well-trained mind as well. Practicing yoga is practicing peace, and they say that practice makes perfect.

Similarly, yoga teaches athletes to control their breathing. During yoga, participants are encouraged to be conscious of their breath and to take deep breaths in and out. Not only does this awareness help to calm the individual, but it can lead to improved lung control. By learning proper breathing techniques in the yoga studio, athletes are training their bodies to breathe well outside the studio, too. Consistently practicing yoga allows for deep breathing to be a part of the athlete’s muscle memory, and they will be more likely to practice it during their sport. Better breathing is especially helpful in endurance sports such as running. Worn out athletes tend to take many short shallow breaths, which lead to even greater exhaustion. However, if the athlete can train their body to take deeper breaths, they will increase oxygen intake and have greater endurance during the race. When yoga is added to an athlete’s weekly routine, their athleticism, mindset, and performance improves, enhancing the results of their regular training.