#WomenWillWin – Jenny Evans
Is your training regime getting a little boring? Maybe you should try adding something new to it? Or, are you simply in need of a new challenge? The answer to all the questions is simply… try yoga!
A well-rounded yoga routine includes dynamic flexibility, core stabilization, muscular endurance, proper breathing and balance work. All of these vital elements can be a great way to build core strength, add a new dimension to your training and maintain your general health and wellbeing.
The benefits of yoga for basketball players include directly improving the range of motion at your joints – therefore helping you stay on the court longer. It also places an emphasis on breathing and relaxation, which can help boost your mental energy, focus and concentration!
Some other benefits include:
- Injury Reduction – Yoga is designed to put your put your body in specific positions and postures that lengths the tight muscles and strength the underused muscles.
- Balance – Balance builds symmetry allowing players to have equal abilities to use the right and left sides of the body.
- Core Strength – When muscles in these areas turn on properly and reflexively, they can decrease the pressure placed on the lower back and help transfer power from the lower body to the upper body like in a jumpshot.
- Mental Focus – 3-time NBA MVP and frequent yoga participant, Lebron James explains that “Yoga isn’t just about the body, it’s also about the mind and it’s a technique that has really helped me”.
- Recovery and Restoration – Yoga is a great method for injury recovery, and on a more daily basis, yoga helps with post-workout recovery time.
Now you know that yoga is awesome, here are a five quick poses to get you started.
Warrior II Pose – Provides time to focus, breathe, and work on balance, while strengthening the arms and stretching out the shoulders and leg muscles.
Exalted Warrior Pose – Lengthens the side of the torso and strengthens your lats.
Triangle Pose – Build lower leg and core strength, as you lengthen your hamstrings and stretch your chest.
Dancer Pose – Build lower leg and hip strength in the standing leg, as you stretch the hip flexors, quads, and ankle of the lifted leg. Plus, build focus for free throws.
Plank – A core strengthening pose, but also builds strength and stretches the wrists.
Pigeon – Assists in recovery, and strengthen the lower back.
So take just 10 minutes a day to do a few yoga poses and breath – your body will thank you for it!
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