Yoga Boosts Endurance and Sports Performance
Tune into the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and you’ll see a myriad of strong, healthy bodies. No surprise there, but what you may be surprised to learn is that some of those ultra-fit athletes you see running, diving, cycling also practice yoga.
Many people imagine that yoga classes are just for [women, thin people, fit people, fill in the blank here], but the truth is that yoga classes are for anyone who wants to breathe, stretch, and spend time with their body on the mat.
Athletes need this too. Yoga can help athletes improve their performance by targeting particular muscle groups.
For example, Stephen Curry will be on the Olympic basketball team in Rio, and he has used yoga to improve his game and become successful.
[Photo credit: Keith Allison] Curry experienced multiple ankle sprains and surgery to repair his ligaments before turning to yoga. His trainer discovered that he was working his ankles much more than necessary, so he developed a routine for Curry that would shift his energy up to his core and hips.
The pose that helped the most? Airplane. He used this pose and others to strengthen his core, hips, and glutes, thus reducing his reliance on his ankles. And the added bonus of a regular yoga practice is an increased awareness of his body in space. So when you are watching Curry on the basketball court in Rio, pay attention to his amazing moves, all thanks to yoga.
Jo Walker Yoga 