YOGA FOR ATHLETES – Why You Might Not Want To Call It ‘Yoga’
Comments(0) I’ve been teaching the Runner’s Yoga Program to the BC Men’s Ski Team – a very attentive and focused group of guys who seemed to ‘get it’ very quickly.
One of the things we talked about was the fact that the term ‘yoga’ itself can sometimes get in the way of athletes – males especially – giving it a try. A shame really, because athletes can benefit from yoga more than almost anyone. (I talk more about this on the Runner’s Yoga home page and in the material that comes with the program itself.)
In my experience, the reason male athletes often shy away from yoga is because of their misconception that it’s just for limber women wearing fancy fitness outfits who want to sit around on mats and hum.
Now, without a doubt, you can find that aspect.
But not in my classes.
So, I suggested to the team that if they had an image of yoga that made them skeptical about what I was about to teach them, they might want to use a different label.
Just think of the Runner’s Yoga routine this way, I suggested: “It’s a flowing series of dynamic stretches, all coordinated with a powerful breathing technique.”
Their eyes widened and I could almost hear them thinking, “Well, that sounds like a good thing.”
I continued, “It’s going to warm up, stretch and strengthen every major muscle in your body, helping it work better as a unit.”
Hmmmm. I still had them.
“The most it will take you is 30 minutes, you can do it almost anywhere, and this (I indicated my yoga mat and body) is all the space and equipment you’ll need.”
These guys can go over 60 MPH on a pair of skinny sticks, so they understand minimalism.
“And if that’s not enough, the breathing technique will improve your respiratory capacity and help you focus in the Start Gate.”
An hour and a half later, we wrapped up our first session (they’re learning how to do it on their own with the Audio Recording), and from their comments it was clear they had bought in.
Which is why I love teaching yoga to athletes – all I have to do is explain what’s going on physiologically (and make it practical), and they motivate themselves to do it.
Now in this case, the team is lucky – they happen to have a coach, Jordan Williams, who is always looking for anything that will help his athletes and he often has me in to work with his teams. So I know he’s going to offer them encouragement to practice what they’ve learned.
And personally, I don’t care whether they call it ‘yoga’ or a ‘flowing setries of dynamic stretches’. Just as long as it helps.
) It’s all good, but there has been a lot of it. And even good stress (eustress) is stress.
