Yoga in Sport
In the early days of yoga in the West, the perception to most people was that it was all about heavy breathing in floating Kaftans, gazing and candles and chanting “Om” and that it was a discipline reserved for women only who just wanted to relax. Now that yoga is a widely practised form of exercise and has been championed by famous names such as Madonna and Sting, the perception has shifted, although we still have a way to go before we see equal numbers of men and women in classes and to shake off the “for flexible hippies only” badge.
Certain forms of yoga are now used by sports men and women of all types to enhance their sports performance and prevent injury, or to help in recovering from injury or illness. Indeed, those who have a regular yoga practice find that their injury recovery time is much faster. Many athletes use yoga to keep their joints flexible, muscles and bones strong and to correct imbalances brought on by the very sports they perform. When they retire, they often find that they take their yoga with them to prevent them from losing tone or getting stiff.
As well as muscle and joint performance, practitioners also find their concentration and focus is much improved as well as their coping mechanisms for the stress involved in competitive sports. Here are a few examples of famous sporting names who have benefited from yoga:
* Ryan Giggs, the Manchester United football star puts down his longevity in the sport to his regular yoga routines with his personal teacher. “Yoga tests parts of your body that you just don’t use in football. The first time I did it, about five years ago, I was completely knackered. I went home from the training ground and slept for three hours in the afternoon.” He’s now got over that first experience and incorporates yoga into his daily training regime.
* David James, the West Ham and England goal keeper is also a regular student of yoga: “I came to yoga as part of my rehabilitation process but quickly saw the benefit of an ongoing practice”. David I now have regular sessions to keep my muscles flexible, my body aligned and my mind free from stress.”
* Australian rugby giants, the Titans, turned to Iyengar yoga (which focuses on proper alignment and sequencing in postures) some time ago and players, though sceptical at first, now welcome this new part of their regime. As well as becoming fitter and more body aware, it has also helped them to develop a stronger sense of team identity, bonding the players into an even more cohesive unit.
* World famous cricketer, Justin Langer, took personal tuition from BKS Iyengar to enhance his own personal practice. His coach, Jonathan Rose said: “From improving reflex actions, avoiding dehydration, using his feet while on the field, to basic postures that he could practice while playing a match, Iyengar taught Langer on how to avoid excessive strain and prevent his recurring back problems.”
Ordinary sports men and women are now following suit all over the world and include yoga as part of their daily or weekly training routine.
