Yoga Poses for Athletes and Sportsmen

Athletes are used to exercising their bodies and muscles vigorously on a regular basis.



Yogic stretching and breathing exercises help maintain strength and flexibility. If regular stretching is neglected, strenuous activity strains the muscles, joints, and tendons and accumulates muscular tension in the body. This accumulated tension could result in some type of injury or permanent damage.

For maximum performance the body has to regularly go through its natural range of motion, in order to lubricate the joints and keep the muscles toned.



For example, lower back pains and injuries are almost directly related to tightness in the hip flexors, abductors, rotators, quadriceps, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles because of lack of stretching and mobilization. Neglecting these major muscle groups could lead to back sprains, herniated discs or sciatica. Hence, it is very important for athletes and others to stretch thoroughly.



Yoga systematically works with every major muscle group in the body.

What is Yoga for athletes and sportsmen?

Yoga can be practised by all athletes and consists of asanas, breathing exercises, cleansing kriyas and prescribed diet. All the poses and breathing exercises have advance options. Just as in life, you get out of each class what you put into it. So also, if you want a more challenging class you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself. You’ll have to sink deeper into each pose, hold it a little longer, open a little more, breathe a little deeper.

Athletes who practice Yoga regularly find that the benefits go beyond the effects of simple muscle stretching. Yogasanas help eliminate stiffness, improve coordination, and prevent injuries. Further, Yoga helps balance mental, emotional, and physical energy, thereby improving concentration and endurance. On the whole, Yoga helps active people release the accumulated emotional and physical tension that is stored in the body as a result of daily stress and strain.

Most students see results within a matter of weeks. Since classes consist of a set group of poses, students notice breakthroughs almost immediately. These Yoga sessions focus on the areas of the body that are the most used and thus the tightest and most injury prone for athletes, such as the hips, knees, lower back and shoulders. Above all, they improve balance, flexibility, power and stamina resulting in improved performance, injury reduction and faster recovery for athletes of all levels.