Yoga for Athletes, Part Three

When the big game day arrives, yoga can be used to get athletes "in the zone." Integrating the physical and mental aspects of yoga into a brief workout prior to the game can set the stage for success.

I use this approach as a cross-county coach to prime my runners before a meet. We begin with 15 minutes of yoga stretching. I use poses that will elongate the muscles of the legs that they will be using in their run. I also incorporate a lot of balance poses in our pre-match session, to center their minds.

Then we relax for a few minutes of deep breathing. I have the students focus only on their breathing at first, clearing their minds of everything else. This helps eliminate, or at least minimalize, pre-race jitters. Then I have them visualize the upcoming race. I have them mentally "feel" themselves running swiftly and easily. I have them imagine themselves easily attaining the endurance necessary to keep up their pace for the entire course. And I have them visualize the sprint to the finish line, and crossing that line as winners.

This approach has greatly improved our team's performance. In the past month, we went from placing 5th, to placing 2nd in a field of 7 schools. And we're still reaching for the gold.

A brief yoga session is the ideal warm up before a match. Yoga prepares the muscles for the exertion they are about to make. It stimulates the blood flow, and helps oxygen move through the body. It stretches the limbs to prevent injury. And it can be practiced to energize, not tire, athletes in those moments before the match begins.

But even more importantly, a few minutes of pre-game yoga practice focuses the athlete's mental energies. It counters any anxiety they may feel, and puts them in a winning mindset. They enter the field having already won the game in their mind, and they are fully prepared to turn their vision into reality.

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