Sporting in the recent decades has become tremendously competitive and challenging. The phenomenon of sharpening ones sporting skill along with speed, strength and stamina is posing a challenge to sportsmen. The sportsmen are thus instigated to avail the best possible training modalities to make their presence felt and harness their skill set. However all sports are a complex interaction of the mind & body; and only physical training will not suffice. Along with the body, the mind has to be trained so that they are not at odds with each other. A relaxed yet alert mind will make the right move at the right time.
A regular Yoga program promises an athlete of structural fitness alongside a conscious alert mind. Structural fitness will help achieve an injury free sporting career while a calm mind will help in a successful career. Therefore a delicate amalgamation of the mind and body is the key to excel. A well designed sport specific Yoga program adopted as a part of the regular training schedule will do the trick.
Yoga is defined as the union of the mind and body; a way to discipline and achieve flexibility of both the mind and body; making Yoga a must for attaining a world class sporting career. Yoga forms the finest tool for integration of higher brain functions which add an edge to the performance. Better brain function allows better perception in turn better response. Excellence in sports is all about making the right move at the right time. An integrated and coherent brain functioning translates into making precise decisions adding a feather in the cap of an athlete.
The flexibility of the mind and body attained through the practise of Yoga paves way for processing the information whenever necessary and keeping the mind calm otherwise. It establishes a strong mind-body connection and prevents the mind from being preoccupied with unnecessary information. The information is processed instantly.
Pranayama (deep breathing exercises) improve circulation, cardiovascular strength and stamina besides calming the mind. Practice of Yoga trains the mind to remain relaxed yet attentive, flexible yet stable, focused yet watchful in all directions which will help the athletes play in their comfort zone with sharpened senses.
A series of Asanas contribute to correct posture, aligning the body and training the right set of muscles specific to the sport thus making athletes functionally efficient as intended. Asanas are meant to attain stability by adopting a comfortable posture. The ills caused due to over training or improper training may be corrected with Asanas. Adopting the correct sequence of performing asanas can alleviate physical, mental and emotional well being in athletes.
The sun salutations are a perfect blend of flexion and extension exercises integrated with breathing which imbibe in athletes the energy and efficacy of the sun, improve metabolic and glandular functions and are a great stress reliever. During inhalation the prana strengthens every cell while during exhalation the impurities are expelled outside.
Meditation is an excellent contemplative process to ponder over ones strength, weaknesses and needs which ultimately decide success or failure. Meditation creates self-awareness.
Sports are highly demanding. Yoga counteracts the intensive training stress by relaxing the body and increasing strength. Physical preparedness along with a relaxed state of mind peaks the performance of athletes.
