Yoga and Your Training: Tips for Athletes

This past weekend I taught my Yoga for Athletes Workshop at Back Bay Yoga. I was incredibly inspired by all the runners, cyclists, boxers and boot campers that came to class. The word is out, Yoga is how we can become better athletes and everyone arrived ready to learn and practice.

So how does yoga make you a better athlete? Yoga allows our sport to be sustainable so we can keep getting to that starting line over and over again. As Bill Rogers states, “To be a consistent winner means preparing not just for one day, one month or even one year, but for a lifetime.” Yoga is that preparation. It makes us stronger. It makes us more flexible. It makes us more aware of our bodies imbalances. It brings mental toughness to our sport.

Ready, set, do yoga! What’s holding you back from integrating yoga into your training plan? Afraid to start? Here’s some tips to get you started:

How to Approach Your Yoga:

• Let go of the Ego: You’re not in competition so don’t treat it like one. Don’t worry what your fellow yogi is doing. Keep your eyes on your on mat (maybe even close your eyes while you practice) and be patient with yourself.
• Ahimsa: Do not harm. If you have pain stop. Your body is going through a lot with miles, strength training, etc. so don’t put yourself at risk for injury by over doing it. The last thing you want is to get a “yoga injury” that sidelines you from your sport.
• Satya: Be honest with yourself. Know how you’re showing up on your mat. Be aware of your experience level and how your body is feeling. What are you in real need of for practice based on your training–strength, flexibility, focus or all?
• Use Props! Props have a bad reputation for only being for those who can’t do yoga or those who are “bad” at yoga (no one is bad at yoga!). Props are how you can go deeper into poses. If you see me practice, I’m always using blocks for poses and find it to be a great way to deepen my practice.

Class Options:

• Yoga for Runners, Sundays 12:45pm to 1:45pm at JP Centre Yoga, 670 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, $10 (drop-in or pre-register)
• STARTING IN MAY> Yoga for Athletes, Mondays/Wednesdays 11am to Noon at Back Bay Yoga, 364 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, $10 (drop-in or pre-register)
• Sequences that can be done at home via my blog, click here
• Other classes I teach, click here