Yoga has become much more than a relaxation technique for a few people. Athletes of all types are learning the real benefits of yoga and how it can up their game.
Yoga for baseball players has become quite popular. The stretching helps to prepare muscles for the activities and movements involved with baseball, and the yoga poses and breathing techniques also help after a game to reduce muscle fatigue and relax from the workout.
Poses and Movements
- Corpse pose – you begin by lying on your back with legs extended and feet approximately shoulder width apart. Place your arms and hands along the sides of your body. Roll your shoulders into and toward the floor. Take several deep breaths, paying attention to your heartbeat and breathing rhythm.
- Articulating bridge pose – start on your back and bring your feet up as close to your buttocks as possible with your knees facing up. Take a deep breath, and as you exhale use your glute muscles to lift your hips slowly. Gradually raise your back one vertebra at a time until only your shoulders and feet touch the ground. As you breathe in again, lower your body slowly to the ground. Repeat this pose up to ten times.
- Window washers – this move helps to stretch and strengthen your abdominal muscles and your back. Lying on your back place your feet as close to your buttocks as you can with knees facing up and together. Breathe in deeply and as you exhale, allow both knees to fall towards the left side of your body as far as possible. Feel the stretch and hold for a moment, then breathe in again to bring the knees back to the up position. Exhale again and let the knees fall to the right, feeling the stretch. Repeat while alternating sides up to ten times.
- Spread out back extension – in the standing position place your feet a little more than shoulder width apart. Clasp your hands behind your back as you inhale. While exhaling push your elbows as close together as possible behind your back and press your hips forward. This stretches the shoulder muscles, chest, and back. Inhale again as you release your hands and bring them to the front. Clasp your elbows and while exhaling drop forward slowly towards the floor. Repeat this pose up to ten times.
Conditioning the body before and after a workout or athletic activity can greatly improve performance while reducing the chances of injury. The muscles play a very important role in any physical activity. For athletes, healthy, well-conditioned muscles can mean success or failure. For baseball players, the breathing techniques used in yoga can help distribute oxygen to muscles while also increasing blood circulation. The increased oxygen and blood flow help to warm up the body before the game. After the baseball game is over, yoga can be used to reduce tension and help the recovery process. Keeping your body as healthy as possible is essential for an athlete to be successful and avoid injuries. Always explore new ways to help your body become healthy and strong.
