Yoga: The Perfect Cross-Training Workout

Did you know that 2 of 3 athletes will be hurt? According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, nearly 70% of runners will be injured, athletes from other sports. 

Well, unfortunately you may have hurt yourself! During a workout, which is intense enough, our body is exposed to enormous forces, for example – during the course of the body of a runner £ 130 must absorb more than 600,000 pounds of the impact every mile! 

Keep in mind that most athletes tend to push themselves beyond their capabilities and current limitations, and how the injuries are just a matter of time. 

Any sport enthusiasts will get better. But how to get better work harder, harder and work means exposure to injury. Most injuries are common in the joints and muscles, but some may even end with a fatal heart attack. No doubt that our world has its competitive effect on us. We’re too competitive, and willing to take risks on how to get better in almost every aspect of our lives. 

For many years, athletes and their coaches looking for ways to keep athletes fit and injury free and, of course – in the best shape. An injury is a nightmare for any sports enthusiast. It can end the career of a professional athlete and for those of us who simply love the sport, injury can mean the loss of the ability we have worked for years. In the good scenario, it takes time to heal a wound, and time to fit again. In any case – we all want to stay fit and avoid injuries and become stronger and better than the athletes, but how? In the past, there was stretching. We all remember from childhood through college. However, it is not enough. There was something missing … 

In the last decade, a cure has been found. A 5000 years of healing that came to the Western world in the 60s. 

Yoga. 

At the beginning, yoga was something hippies. Hippies who were looking for internal growth and meditations have brought their knowledge of India. Only in the 90s, it is becoming a trend, and today 1 of 4 Americans practice yoga. 

In the 90s the trend to jump athletes and sportsmen / women. It was considered an “other” drive not to be confused with the sport. But as the trend to soaring, athletes and especially runners have started adding yoga exercises to their training. The reason is simple: yoga for runners has many advantages, and has helped riders and famous athletes to win competitions. It was the only workout that brought nothing but benefits. Soon, everyone started adding yoga to his workout and now …. major Well, now you have yoga classes in almost any health club or gym and even children can learn yoga at school. Olympic runners, athletes and coaches are yoga. Martial artists do yoga. The businessmen, busy moms, children, the elderly – do yoga. What began as a trend Hippies workout is now fitness everyone. 

What makes yoga so beneficial? 

Yoga has many styles, almost all include the same bases. It is actually composed of physical positions that coordinate breathing techniques with movement, stretching and postions. This form of workout is the ideal complement to other forms of exercise, especially running, cycling, strength training, and all sports from May that create imbalances in the body that postures systematically work all major muscle groups, including those that you use only, including the back, neck, joints and shoulders, deep abdominal, hip and buttocks muscles and even the knees, ankles, feet, wrists and hands. Everything is done in a slow and safe, taking into account the body physiology. By their nature, yoga poses and movement affects major muscle groups and miners to import the same time the strength, increase flexibility and bring nourishment to internal organs. The overall effect creates an increased range of motion and balance the body. Every athlete knows the importance of these benefits are. 

Whatever sport you choose to practice yoga can enhance and complement your abilities. Most sports build muscular strength and endurance, often in specific areas of the body while others remain weak and cowardly. Take for example the golf or tennis. Golfers and tennis players may be subject to one-sided or uneven muscle development. Some yoga poses can strengthen weak spots and reduce muscle tension. The standing poses improve balance and muscle flexibility. Yoga can help to curb any imbalance in muscular fitness and will both body and mind to function more effectively. If your body is flexible and supple, you’ll be less prone to sports injuries, simply because your joints are kept lubricated with a wider range of motion. Sports demand for mental alertness, focus and awareness and balance. Yoga poses strengthen your muscles, release tension and improve your physical concentration and balance. It makes your legs balanced, strong and relaxed and your mind calm and focused, ready for any challenge. Yoga breathing techniques help runners, swimmers and aerobic sports activists to breathe in a controlled manner relaxed during exercise and during sporting events and competition, better breathing, you can last longer with the pace high and low pulse, save more energy and achieve better results. 

Yoga to relieve stress is another advantage athletes enjoy. Imagine yourself before a major sporting event. If you are calm and relaxed or stressed? Are you target or are you destroyed? Yoga also provides your mind, not just your body. The effect on your mind aligns with the effect on the body!