The Importance of Yoga and Its Numerous Benefits
Practicing yoga can be a great way for someone to increase their strength and overall health. It can be especially beneficial to student-athletes wanting to prevent injuries and develop better flexibility.
“There are countless benefits to a regular yoga practice, including: Increased strength, flexibility, balance, mental well-being, injury prevention, and weight management, just to name a few,” certified yoga instructor Janet Berry explained.
Berry has used yoga as an outlet for stress and has enjoyed teaching yoga classes at all levels. She believes that yoga can be for anybody and everybody. The person practicing it just has to keep an open heart and mind.
Yoga’s Benefits
Any amount of yoga can benefit aspiring athletes. With a small amount of research, both coaches and athletes can easily find poses that may enhance performance in the water. Incorporating those poses into warmup drills or cool-down activities can improve a swimmer’s flexibility. It can also reduce tightness in their body.
If student-athletes are new to the practice of yoga, it is important for them to seek advice from a certified instructor. Many classes, including those that Berry teaches, will focus on a flowing style such as vinyasa.
“I find this style to be most enjoyable as it allows the athlete to connect the movement to their breath, which can help them focus and quiet their mind,” Berry said, regarding her vinyasa flow classes.
The constant movement also can provide for a great workout as it increases strength and flexibility.
“It has been my experience that once an individual begins to truly embrace the benefits of a yoga practice, it will become a regular part of their life,” Berry said.
Along with the physical benefits it provides, yoga can also benefit a person’s mental and emotional health. Multiple scientific studies have proven yoga reduces stress, anxiety and depression. During this quarantine period of COVID-19 it can be easy for athletes to lose motivation and focus.
The breathing techniques learned through yoga, as well as the development of a meditation practice, can calm the nervous system and aid student-athletes in coping with feelings. This can result in improved energy and interest in activities such as swimming.
A Coach’s Perspective
In regards to the 2020-21 winter swim season, many high school and college aged athletes are eager to re-enter the water. The energy and work ethic these swimmers show can go a long way both in and out of the pool.
“There is definitely an edge when athletes are flexible. Building that flexibility and core strength is important because that activity is diminishing in a lot of school classrooms and athletes are arriving at scholastic levels of competition without it, which certainly limits their potential,” high school swim coach Luke Modrak stated.
Modrak coaches the high school swim team at Trinity Area School District in Washington, Pennsylvania. Last year, he incorporated yoga into his swim practices by having an instructor come into the school and go through several poses with the Trinity student-athletes.
Going into the 2020-21 swim season, Modrak plans to rely on dryland-based exercises in order to keep his athletes working to their full potential. His team operates out of Pennsylvania – where swimming is considered a winter sport. Because of this, there is the potential that his athletes could not have access to a pool.
“I’m viewing this year as an exercise of essentials. We can really focus on doing the small stuff very well. There will be some modifications of lanes and we’ll probably forgo some test sets to keep distancing appropriate. We’ll be ramping up the dryland and yoga to supplement,” Modrak explained.
Relying on yoga and other dryland exercises can be a good way to keep athletes in focus. Especially if they are forced to stay out of the water.
It is certainly going to be an interesting year for young swimmers. But, if coaches and athletes alike embrace dryland techniques such as yoga, there is the potential for a positive season.
Nice article. Very interesting to see how
Yoga can benefit a swimmer or any
Athlete!
A positive season is important but what Reilly talks about here is an important for a positive life [even after swimming season].
Very interesting and timely article!
Thanks!