Yoga is a growing phenomenon and more pro athletes are doing it every year. The competition is pretty tough these days in the World of Sports, so athletes are trying to find ways like yoga to advance their fitness and mentality to improve their game. Yoga is like a little secret training activity that some professional athletes have used to gain a competitive edge over their opponents.
Yoga for Pro AthletesCourtesy of Lululemon
Tim Thomas
Boston Bruins goalie, and MVP of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tim Thomas is probably the best example of how yoga has transformed an average player into a Superstar. Tim was a below average goalie that never played in the NHL during his 20s, but after discovering yoga, his game improved so much that the Bruins brought him into the NHL in 2005 when he was 32 years old. By 2008, he was an all-star, and in 2011, he won the Stanley Cup, and Tim definitely credits a lot of his success to yoga.
Tim Thomas Turns StarCourtesy of The NHL
Popularity Push
For decades, yoga has slowly become more and more popular in America. Yoga comes from India and it was always laughed at by other countries. But slowly as more and more athletes use yoga for cross-training and showing massive improvements, it is becoming very common with all types of athletes. Now, entire sports teams practice yoga in their training programs.
Football Teams practicing yogaCourtesy of bangordailynews.com
Yoga for You?
If you want to become a professional athlete one day, you should start doing yoga. Yoga gives you things that you won't find in any other fitness program:
- flexibility and strength in muscles you never knew you had
- mental patience and focus
- lowers anxiety (gets rid of those pesky butterflies when you're nervous)
- boost of self esteem and confidence
- preventing or rehabilitating injury
Tony Parrish RehabCourtesy of Sports Illustrated
Have Your Say!
What do you think about Yoga? Make sure to comment down below to let us know!
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