To start, the term “athlete” encompasses people at all competitive levels, including high school or college students, professional level athletes, as well as recreational athletes who compete in weekend races or local leagues.
Sport training naturally creates physical imbalances. Athletes become strong in some areas and weak in others. An athlete may find certain movements to be very easy and others to feel very tight, rigid, or difficult – and limited mobility can lead to severe injury.
Yoga for athletes pays special attention to the athletes’ needs. It is not not “athletic” or “powerful” yoga – it is a method of recovery used to balance out the physical demands, repetitive actions, and mental stress of the gym/court/field. It can be used to gain flexibility, increase range of motion, and calm the nervous system with a series of postures, stretches, and movements.
A yoga practice will also encourage a different level of body awareness. Athletes are used to pushing themselves physically, ignoring cues and signs of pain in the body. Yoga will encourage the athlete to listen to their body and note the difference between pain and discomfort. This will allow the athlete to prevent injury and possibly rehabilitate injury at a more appropriate pace.
The yoga practice can also offer a safe space for the athlete to remove their competitive nature and receive a much needed mental break from the pressures of the playing field.
Athletes in all stages of development benefit from the effects of the yoga, using it to progress to the next level of performance goals, both physically and mentally.