Yoga for athletics 

Yoga is a millennial physical and mental practice that has spread all over the world thanks to its benefits and because it guarantees a balance between body and mind.

It has gained popularity in the West over the decades, and in recent years. Yoga has experienced a rise as it responds to various issues of our time, including restless lifestyles or stress.

For many people, this is not only a way to exercise, but also a way of life that gives them inner peace and promises to observe healthy habits and proper nutrition.

It attracts, and that’s why more and more people practice it .

This is due to the fact that it manages to integrate the breath with the movement so that the brain and the body become two independent entities and become one.

With the help of yoga you can connect with yourself, something that is difficult today.

Anyone can learn and practice this discipline which is also suitable for many athletics.

As it improves physical condition, maximizes control over breathing and rest, increases flexibility as well as.

It also enhances mental attitude that is conducive to the state of flow and increases the performance of sports.

Athletes who practice it learn about the interaction between their mind and body, improve mental clarity and concentration, and are more prepared for the challenges they face.

Yoga in the West: On the Path to Modern Yoga

Symbolically, “yoga” means to unite, and the purpose of this discipline is to unite the individual soul

With the universal soul. It originated in India thousands of years ago (approximately 3000 BC), but modern one did not begin until a century ago,

when it was introduced by British soldiers and personnel and numerous teachers living in the Asian country.

The source was in the West. Those who came to the West in this way started various schools which are famous today.

Includes pranayam (breathing), savasana (relaxation), dyana (meditation), Kriyas (cleansing), Madras (channel power indicator), kirtan (singing) and mantra (phrases) throughout history Different types of

Yoga have emerged, as it has been practiced according to different cultures.

We can find Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese, Tibetan yogis and  through the discoveries made by yogis, various traditional yoga systems have emerged (Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga, etc.).

In the West, “Hatha Yoga” is the most popular, and although usually because of this it is taught as a physical exercise.

Asana (posture), this practice involves a holistic experiment that involves breathing as well .

Today, Western culture has influenced new forms of modern yoga, such as power yoga , which originated in the United States in the 1990s.

Thus, to emphasize the physical aspect, the religious component was left behind.

Yoga exercises for athletics

For a year, it has become part of gyms and sports centers in many areas .

Its benefits on both health and sports performance.

It has  been practiced  by fast-paced athletics, both elites and those who train to improve their overall health or physical condition.

It requires you to challenge your body physically and mentally which has been a main part of practicing it for athletics.

Many athletics have been accustomed to different concepts of training for years.

This new holistic approach can reveal weaknesses and imbalances that have never been encountered before, and unite the physical and mental element that 

so important in sports competition or training.

More and more athletics are exploring different ways in which itcan be used to improve mental and physical performance and consequently sports performance.

Increased mental concentration, improved flexibility and balance,

By preventing injuries or completing technical skills, many players, including basketball players, have already benefited from this ancient discipline.

LeBron James , tennis player Maria Sharapova or footballer Ryan Giggs 

The latter retired as a professional athlete at the age of 40, played 23 seasons in the Premier League and played 963 games with Manchester United yoga  has been a big secret.

Reasons why an athlete should practice yoga
But for what reasons do athletics want to include yoga in a training program?

What are the benefits of yoga that help improve sports outcomes?

Considering the information provided by various investigations in this regard, yoga improves athletic performance for the following reasons.

1. More flexibility

When talking about it, the first thing that comes to mind is its asanas.

Asanas help us increase our ability to move muscles and joints to their full extent which helps to increase flexibility.

There are many studies that have shown their usefulness in increasing flexibility.

For example, a study from the University Center Doncaster (UK)

They found that weekly yoga sessions for 6 weeks were enough to improve this basic quality of fitness and flexibility.

Sarah Ramson, a yoga instructor for Manchester United and Manchester City, explains:

“Being flexible and having good patterns of movement helps accumulate strength, speed of movement and maximum recovery.”

All the aspects that improve the performance of the players.

2. Reduce stress
Not surprisingly, with the pace of life in today’s society, many people suffer from stress,

which can lead to mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, fatigue or hostility. Which seriously affects the level of activity of the athletics,

TYhe relevant cognitive processes and the performance of the sport.

In addition, the highly hazardous characteristics of the athletics’ environment in a competition in sport can lead to frequent reactions in an athlete’s life due to stress

A study jointly conducted a study by scientists from Thomas Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia and the Yoga Research Society showed that daily yoga practice lowers the hormone cortisol released in response to stress .

According to research from Ohio State University in the United States, a 20-minute session a day is enough to notice a significant reduction in stress levels.

3. Increase strength

Following a routine with various asanas on a regular basis increases muscle tone and strength.

Poses are performed over a long period of time, which causes isometric contraction of the muscles, which leads to strength gains.

A study published in the International Journal of Physical Education ,

Sports and Health showed that yoga postures strengthen the arms, shoulders, legs, waist, hips and abdomen .

The same study concluded that yoga increases the strength of the muscles used in various sports such as swimming, cycling or running.

These benefits improve physical stability and prevent injuries.

As it works to strengthen the muscle fibers that support and surround the muscles most commonly used in sports.

This means that a more balanced and better functioning aggregate force is created.

This was all from this article i hope you will practice yoga

would definitely practice it if you are athletic after reading this article.

To know benefits of yoga (backed by science) : click here 

To practice yoga properly you should look out for yoga mat or yoga chair