Cross-Training Sports with Yoga
I have always considered myself an athlete. I grew up swimming, playing golf, tennis, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, flag football, climbing, dancing, basically anything that got me moving. As I got older, I concentrated my time on basketball and soccer. I played basketball for the '89 AAU Maryland Flames National Team, and for my high school team at the Academy of the Holy Cross. I was a keeper for soccer for my high school, and for a select team called the Olney Sting. I was first interested in yoga as a way to restore the muscles after lifting for basketball. Now that I have a more in-depth understanding of yoga, I now understand that it's benefits go beyond being just a restorative practice. I have been able to combine my love for sports with my passion for yoga by researching and learning how the body is used in a specific sport and create a yoga practice that brings the body back into balance, and allows the body to move optimally for the given sport. This not only helps prevent injury, but also gives an athlete the edge that is needed to perform competitively. Also, I have come to realize the importance of the mind-body connection. As an athlete, you perform the same actions so many times to create muscle memory and fluidity in your movement. When an athlete is competing and making errors on actions they've performed repetitively, the only thing that's keeping them from their best is their own mind.Through learning how to use the breath to keep the mind calm, an athlete is able to gain focus and perform successfully.
Click Here to learn about the benefits of Thai Yoga Massage Therapy!