Athletes Embracing Yoga Fitness Families.com

Athletes Embracing Yoga

You don’t have to be a Hollywood actress, a college-coed or flexible fitness fanatic to excel at yoga, just ask the dozens of athletes (professional and amateur) who have discovered the benefits of this ancient exercise option.

NFL football players, pro golfers and stars of the NBA are speaking out about why they have turned to yoga in order to enhance their performance on the field, the golf course and on the court. According to the pros, yoga is one of the best ways to cross-train for a variety of sports, including running, surfing, swimming and skiing, where the body has to react quickly.

Recently, a number of professional marathon runners participated in an online symposium discussing the benefits of yoga. The competitive runners credited yoga for helping them prevent injuries. They also noted that yoga exercises increase strength, endurance, and balance, which is why many serious athletes are now incorporating yoga into their training regimes.

Studies done on college and professional athletes show that participating in yoga techniques on a regular basis helps increase flexibility and eliminates soreness. The reason behind athletes finding success with yoga: balance. Yoga instructors say when an athlete trains at a high level he or she is likely going to suffer from imbalance. For example, a professional runner might experience tight hamstrings while a competitive cyclist might suffer from neck and back pain. Yoga techniques help alleviate this pain.

In addition, yoga experts say the psychological aspect of the exercises also aid athletes. For instance, many athletes employ yoga breathing techniques on game day. Athletes say they find proper breathing is helpful during intense play or with any type of sport that includes high levels of competition.