11 Aug 2011, Posted by the sensually fluid yogini, Mitzi Connell in Blog, No Comments.
The om advantage: Six best yoga poses for athletes
Once regarded as an alternative activity for those who were more into meditation than “Monday Night Football,” yoga has long since left the fringe and joined the mainstream playing field. And for good reason. The mind-body focus of yoga can benefit athletes in every sport.
“I started practicing by watching FitTV way back in 2001,” said Chad Durbin, a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. “I enjoyed the calming aspects. I was in Triple-A Omaha and worrying about all the variables I couldn’t control. Yoga helped me focus and relax — and it’s good for my pitching.”
Durbin and other athletes give us a peek at their favorite practice and poses.
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Athlete: Chad Durbin, relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians Highlight reel: Durbin posted a 3.62 ERA in 194 appearances over three seasons with the Phillies. He’s now back with the Indians, for whom he played in 2003 and 2004. Yoga style: Ashtanga. “I’m not at all advanced or even intermediate,” Durbin said. “I’m very much a beginner.” Pose pick: Three-legged downward dog. “It strengthens the core and the muscles in my upper back that essentially slow down my arm when I throw,” Durbin said about this classic pose. It helps provide the strength, flexibility and range of motion to both accelerate and decelerate his arm during a pitch. Do it: Start on your hands and knees. Tuck your toes, lift your knees off the floor, extend your arms and lift your pelvis toward the ceiling, pressing your sit bones back and your heels down so your body forms an inverted V. Step with your feet together and raise your right leg toward the ceiling. Hold. Then lower your right leg and switch sides.
Athlete: Melanie McQuaid, professional triathlete Highlight reel: McQuaid is the queen of off-road triathlon and the 2003, 2005 and 2006 XTerra Professional World Champion. She just won the first International Triathlon Union (ITU) Cross Triathlon World Championship in Extremadura, Spain. Yoga style: Yin yoga, an ancient (and challenging) style that focuses on elongating the ligaments and connective tissues by having you hold poses for several minutes. “I like the longer holds because I don’t use yoga for strength, but for relaxing and loosening tightness,” McQuaid said. Pose pick: Triangle. “I like poses that relieve tension where I carry tightness,” said McQuaid, who enjoys how triangle pose releases tension through her hips and hamstrings (which get tight on cyclists and runners), as well as from her lower and upper back. Do it: Stand with your feet three feet apart, and turn your left foot in and your right foot out so they are parallel with the edge of the mat. Bring your arms up parallel with the ground. Extend your torso and lean over to the right so your right hand is touching your right foot and your left hand arm is straight in the air. Hold. Repeat on the opposite side. |
