Yoga For Athletes.

Why Yoga?

Performance. Yoga complements athletes in their respective sports. Some of the most obvious physical benefits are improved mobility, functional flexibility, and balance. Hip mobility combined with functional flexibility helps athletes to move more smoothly through a full range of motion. Even though yoga may not be the number one tool to train strength, it complements the athletes’ training in terms of building a deeper core strength, which is crucial for a better and safer performance.

Breathing. A major focus in yoga is on the breath. Each movement is linked to one breath. When we breathe deeply, we have the capacity to calm down our nervous system and use our energy more efficiently. We become aware of what’s going on in the body and tap into the body’s innate intelligence, moving at ease without wasting energy. As a result, we start to feel calmer and train our ‘mental muscle’, which is of utmost importance especially for a professional athlete.

Injury Prevention. The physical and mental benefits mentioned above help to prevent an athlete from getting injured. Yoga helps to become more aware of what’s going on in the body and notice tight or injury-prone areas of the body that need more attention. There are sequences like the Sun Salutation that are perfect as a warm-up for any other training. In our experience with the Lausanne Hockey Club, yoga is great to assist professional athletes with recovery, the day after competition.