YOGA for ATHLETES®Kimberly Fowler, the Founder of YAS, developed YOGA for ATHLETES® to demonstrate how yoga improves balance, flexibility, power and stamina which can result in improved performance, injury reduction and faster recovery for athletes of all levels.
YOGA for ATHLETES® is a complete 60 minute workout that strengthens and stretches every area of the body, blending the most effective postures in a concise sequence. While participating in sports, imbalances occur in the body which can lead to strain on the joints. This routine, when practiced regularly, corrects the imbalances that active sports create in the body.
One of the distinguishing features between yoga and stretching is the constant focus on the breath. This development of breath awareness gives one greater body control which is necessary in the participation of sports. Scanning the different areas mentally reinforces the relationship between mind and body which increases our awareness and ability to quickly react to potential issues. This quicker reaction reduces the risk of injury. Awareness also increases coordination which can improve performance.
Kimberly Fowler is the original creator of the popular Yoga Hybrid YAS classes.
Athletes of all levels are welcome!
|
 |
FACTS, ANSWERS AND QUESTIONSWhy did you create YOGA for ATHLETES®?I used to go to classes and the teacher would be wrapping her foot around her head, describing the pose in Sanskrit, while the class just sat around and watched. I didn’t relate – as an athlete I wasn’t going to have that flexible a body. I wanted to practice yoga, not just watch it. I wanted to keep my body strong and injury free.
I also used to go to classes that were 90 minutes. They often stretched into two-hour classes in which the instructor would spend too much time talking about how to live my life. My time is precious and I asked myself – How can I make this better? How can I get everything I need in an hour? How can I modernize the practice of yoga? How can I have fun while doing it?
And out of this experience I developed YOGA for ATHLETES, a one-hour class geared toward the muscle groups that tend to be the tightest and most frequently strained by athletes. These poses are specifically designed for the strong, athletic body. The class is designed for beginners as well as more advanced students with the option of a more challenging component to each pose. YOGA for ATHLETES will strengthen your body and increase flexibility in tight muscles.
As an athlete, why should I practice yoga?Athletes are accustomed to using their bodies and muscles vigorously on a regular basis. The stretching and breathing exercises in yoga help people maintain strength and flexibility. When regular stretching is neglected, strenuous activity strains the muscles, joints, and tendons and accumulates muscular tension in the body. This accumulated tension often results in some type of injury or permanent damage.
For optimal performance the body needs to regularly go through its natural range of motion to lubricate joints and keep muscles toned. For example, most lower back pain and injuries are directly related to tightness in the hip flexors, abductors, rotators, quadriceps, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles due to the lack of stretching and mobilization. Neglect of these major muscle groups can lead to back sprain, herniated discs or sciatica. It is very important to athletes and others to stretch thoroughly. YOGA for ATHLETES® systematically works with every major muscle group in the body.
Athletes who practice yoga discover that the benefits go beyond the effects of simple muscle stretching. Yoga poses help eliminate stiffness, improve coordination, and prevent injuries. Moreover, yoga helps balance mental, emotional, and physical energy, thereby improving concentration and endurance. Overall, yoga helps active people release the accumulated emotional and physical tension that is stored in the body as a result of daily stress and strain.
What if I’m not an athlete? Can I still take the class?YOGA for ATHLETES®, while geared for athletes, is appropriate for anyone wanting to practice yoga without the rhetoric that may accompany more traditional yoga classes. YOGA for ATHLETES is also open to beginners and yet still contains a more advanced component to each pose for more experienced students.
Why is YOGA for ATHLETES® only one hour and other classes are 75 or 90 minutes?We cut to the chase in our YOGA for ATHLETES classes. There are no speeches, there is no chanting, it is just one full hour of movement. YOGA for ATHLETES is about you, the student, not about the instructor showing off how advanced their practice is. Your body will feel worked out after a YOGA for ATHLETES class. You won’t leave feeling unsatisfied.
Should I go to a more advanced class after I have been going to YOGA for ATHLETES® for a while?YOGA for ATHLETES is designed to be all you need. Each pose has an advance option. As in life, you get out of each class what you put into it. If you want a more challenging class you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself, to sink deeper into each pose, hold it a little longer, open a little more, breathe a little deeper.
Is YOGA for ATHLETES® spiritual?YOGA for ATHLETES is not overtly spiritual. We believe that spirituality is within. Nothing a yoga teacher says or does is going to change that. Our instructors don’t tell you how to live your life and won’t fill your class with preaching. We focus on the physical aspects of yoga.
How many times a week should I take YOGA for ATHLETES®?If you want to see results quickly, it is recommended that you practice at least three times per week in conjunction with your other activities.
How quickly will I see results?Most students see results in a matter of weeks. Because the class is a set group of poses you will notice breakthroughs almost immediately. YOGA for ATHLETES® focuses on the areas of the body that are the most used and thus the tightest and most injury prone for athletes, such as the hips, knees, lower back and shoulders. YOGA for ATHLETES will improve balance, flexibility, power and stamina resulting in improved performance, injury reduction and faster recovery for athletes of all levels. |
|
|
