Iyengar Yoga for Athletes

Yoga, the popular form of exercise is mostly associated with slow movements and controlled breathing. It seems ideal for people who exercise with an objective to remain mentally, physically and spiritually fit.


However, you will be surprised to know that Iyengar yoga practice is beneficial for athletes too. What’s more, when you choose the right class, regular practice can provide you with increased strength, flexibility and resilience; all of which are essential for athletes.

So, shrug your notions about yoga and join the right class to benefit your athletic body.

Yoga for Athletes 


Here’s how athletes can benefit from regular Iyengar yoga practice.
  • Preventing injuries: It is common knowledge that athletes are prone to injuries. They often hinder their growth, lower their confidence and obstruct them from playing important games and matches. As regular yoga practice increases flexibility and strengthens muscles, it prevents the body from frequent injuries.
  • Awareness of One’s body: It’s not a leg that pains or a hand that aches or a hip that’s stiff. They are a set of muscles or bones that are stressed and thus, the pain. Iyengar yoga makes athletes aware of their body, muscles and bones. They attain the skill to mobilize their body at their own will. What’s more, the teacher teaches poses and postures for home practice, which stretches and activates muscles before excessive training and workout.
  • Endurance: Iyengar yoga focuses on attaining body alignment in every asana, pose and posture. Athletes are trained to hold on to challenging poses and postures for long periods of time. This not only strengthens their muscles and increases flexibility, but also promotes physical endurance.
  • Recovery from Injury: Regular yoga practice not only prevents future injuries, but also helps athletes recover from injuries. Teachers in Iyengar yoga classes are required to possess an experience of minimum six years. These experienced instructors address the athlete’s unique pain or ailment with postures and poses tailored to their requirements.
  • Relaxation: Breathing and meditative techniques in yoga aid relaxation and help athletes to relax after an intensive game, training or workout session.
  • Focus: Focus is an essential trait of good sportspersons. Meditative and breathing techniques also aid focus, mental and spiritual stability in athletes.
  • Aligned Body: Iyengar yoga is synonymous with body alignment. So, regular practice helps sportspersons attain the right body alignment, which is crucial for them to enjoy the game and grow in it.
  • Removing Stiffness: Regular running in many sports, especially football compresses the lower back muscles, thus, resulting in spine and back issues. Regular yoga practice inhibits back pain and hip issues.
  • Protects Joints: Regular practice protects the body joints and slows down the stiffness in muscles, which come with age.
  • Corrections: Intensive training and regular workout sessions often takes a toll on the athlete’s body. Yoga instructors give individual attention to the particular alignment of the affected area, thus, providing strength to the athlete and preventing injuries.
So, the right class of Iyengar yoga can help athletes grow significantly and counter all hindrances easily.

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