If you have already tried yoga, then you have probably already experienced the incredible benefits for both body and mind.
If you’re new to yoga, and wondering about how yoga might assist your existing sports training, then you may be surprised to know just how helpful yoga can be, and why so many professional athletes are rolling out their mats! It’s hard to think of a sport or activity that wouldn’t benefit from a little yoga… and professionals from across all fields of sport will agree. However, you don’t need to be Ronaldo to see the benefit yoga can have on your sporting skills.
How we practice yoga in the west today, puts a lot of emphasis on the physical discipline of asana (postures), but it is worth pointing out that in classical yoga, fitness was not the goal – the priorities were more about mental clarity, self-realisation and a steadiness for mind and body.
However, as the popularity of asana-forward yoga practice increases, there is definitely a broad spectrum of yoga styles that offer differing levels of intensity and physical fitness benefits. Some will be more dynamic on the body, others more floor-based, or offering longer held positions. And some tap more into the mental resilience, meditation and breath work that is both integral to yoga, and very beneficial to your sports training.
More than your ‘cool down’
When it comes to the physical benefits of asana practice, it’s easy to see why it so beautifully complements other sports and wellbeing regimens. It pairs with other sporting disciplines to create a holistic movement plan that can help you achieve your sporting and physical goals in a way that feels balanced and sustainable. Helping you live your life to its fullest, and keep doing the things you love for as long as possible.
No matter what your favourite sporting activity is – from weightlifting and walking, to cycling or CrossFit, a little yoga can go a long way in bringing about benefits such as:
- Strength
- Stamina
- Recovery
- Injury prevention
- Retaining and improving flexibility and mobility
- Inner strength and resilience
- Breath control
- Calm and focus under pressure
You can apply these benefits to any sport you choose, and also, any facet of your day-to-day life, especially as getting your body moving can be so essential to support your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Popular sports amongst the Yoga on the Edge family include:
Padel & Pickleball
Two very popular sports at the moment, both fast-paced and court-based. Like tennis, there is an asymmetrical focus – meaning you aren’t using the whole of your body evenly – obviously the arm which you use to hold the racquet takes a lot of the pressure. Yoga can stretch out tight muscles in the shoulders after the repetitive action through the arms and bring about balance to the body.
Running
In our beautiful countryside, there are some incredible (and challenging) routes to run or walk. There are some amazing cardiovascular benefits to be found in running, and but in some cases it can take its toll on joints and flexibility. Yoga can assist with joint decompression and stretch out tight and tired hamstrings, quads and calves. Just don’t neglect your upper body! Add some asana that works the upper body and core for strength and stability.
Climbing
Climbing and yoga pair together wonderfully, as climbing involves a lot of pull movements and dynamic yoga asana contains a lot of pushing movements – plank, downward dog, handstand etc. Yoga can greatly benefit hip mobility and flexibility which can help when reaching those higher holds.
Football
Many professional footballers extoll the virtues of yoga – there’s a long list of premier league players, the Lionesses, and football legends such as Messi have all harnessed the benefits for mind and body, with players such as Ryan Giggs saying that yoga was very helpful in prolonging his career with Manchester United.
MMA & BJJ
Mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu might not immediately seem like obvious counterparts to the contemplative practice of yoga, but as you explore the patterns of body movement, you start to see the connections appear between all types of movement. Yoga can really help with longevity in high impact sports such as BJJ, as many practitioners may find yoga helps to relieve some of the recurring injuries and aches that crop up.
So whether you’re practicing your golf swing, or into downhill BMX-ing, there will be a yoga practice to benefit you. If you’re curious about different styles of yoga, and how they might feel in the body, then read more on that here.
If you’re ready to see how yoga can add to your regimen, explore our timetable of knowledgeable teachers and varied range of classes, workshops and retreats.
