Yoga may be an interesting addition to your training program if you’re looking for a creative and innovative way to increase strength and resistance while increasing range of motion, balance and coordination. Yoga is a great cross-training option for all athletes. Yoga can improve breathing technique, balance, flexibility, endurance, and core strength.
Yoga benefits for athletes
Regular yoga practice can improve your athletic skills and overall fitness.
Deepen your relaxation through deep, relaxed breathing
You are probably aware of the effects that breathing has on your performance, whether you’re a competitive athlete or just a casual runner. Deep, relaxed breathing is essential for improving performance and concentration. Yoga can help you to develop a good habit of breathing. Yoga practice integrates the mind-body connection. Athletes can benefit from this combination.
Increase core strength
Yoga poses focus on strengthening your core. Slow, focused movements will require a strong core and isometric contractions from many exercises will provide a new type of resistance training to machine-based workouts.
Flexibility and range of motion increased
Yoga routines include slow, steady flexibility exercises which are ideal for athletes. Regular yoga training can increase flexibility, range of motion, and relieve muscle tension. Improved range of motion can help you improve your performance, no matter if you’re a runner or golfer.
Balance Improvement
Yoga is an excellent way to integrate balance exercises in your training program. Although balance exercises are often neglected by athletes, they are one of the best ways to correct any body mechanic or muscle imbalances. You tend to do repetitive motions in most sports and weight training programs that target certain muscle groups. These imbalances can be corrected by yoga.
Cross-training
Yoga is an excellent way to cross-train. Cross-training is essential for athletes who are involved in the same sport or routine all year. Cross training can reduce injury, ease boredom, increase variety, and aid in recovery from intense strength or aerobic workouts. You can do yoga at any intensity, and there are many postures that will suit your athletic needs.
You can choose from many styles
Many styles of yoga can be found. Some are very active and dynamic and move from one position to the next. This results in an intense aerobic workout. Others are more slow-paced and hold poses for several minutes. These pose forms provide intense strength training and balance exercises.
This post was written by Darryl Johnson, Co-Owner of Apex performance. At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of one-on-one training, small group classes and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics, sports training and body goals!