Yoga is a perfect complement to the young athlete's workout routine. Yoga helps with breathing, flexibility, strength, confidence, energy, balance, concentration, endurance and injury prevention.
Yoga also helps young athletes learn how their bodies work. Proper yoga instruction teaches body mechanics and enhances body awareness. When players have good body awareness, they learn how to make the best choices for their bodies on and off the ice, the court, the field, etc.
The mind training and visualization in yoga is truly beneficial. Yoga teaches players how to harness their breathing and focus on the present. Being able to visualize that shot, or that save, or that stride, or that hit, for example, is key in improving one’s game.
In addition to the physical benefits of yoga, yoga also provides important psychological benefits. In today’s fast-paced world, young athletes often feel intense pressure to do well in their sport, in school and at home. They often don’t have time to relax and reap the benefits of their workouts. Yoga gives them the opportunity to slow down, regenerate and be present. Yoga is a gift they can give themselves and use throughout their entire lives.
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