Yoga for Young Athletes

When you think of yoga, you probably think of girls in leggings striking poses and burning candles, right?

Well, while it’s true that a yoga session can look like that, it’s also true that yoga is good for everyone. This includes youngathletes. In fact, there is quite a lot they can gain from practicing this art.   

Incredible Endurance

To begin with, one thing that yoga can really help with is improving endurance.

Yoga requires participants to move and hold poses for an extended period of time.It also asks participants to shut out and let go of negative thoughts and to focus on their breathing. In this way, it can improve both physical endurance and mental endurance. These things are good for a young athlete’s overall health and wellbeing. Plus, they translate to increased focus and the ability to sustain intensity on the ice.

Super Strength

It turns out that lifting weights isn’t the only way to increase strength. Yoga, surprisingly, can also build strength quickly.

Even though it may not seem very intense, it effectively works every muscle and part of the body, often simultaneously. Muscle power and strength are built gradually and naturally, along with flexibility, with regular yoga practice.

Faster Recovery Time

One of the best things about yoga for athletes is that it can help to speed up recovery time. Regular practice helps to improve circulation, which can enable the muscles and other parts of the body to repair themselves more rapidly. Thus, strains and sprains become less severe and heal quicker for athletes who practice yoga.

In all of these ways, yoga can be very beneficial for hockey players. So, stop thinking it’s “just for girls.” Everyone, athletes especially, is encouraged to give yoga a try.

Yoga for Hockey

When you think of hockey, yoga probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Surprisingly, however, the practice has been found to be beneficial for hockey players of all ages and for a wide range of reasons.                                                          

If you’re looking for something new to try with your team, consider the benefits of yoga for hockey players.

Improve Flexibility

To start off with, one of the biggest benefits of yoga for athletes is the fact that yoga is great at improving overall flexibility.

The movements involved in yoga are designed to gently stretch the muscles, thereby increasing flexibility. And, with better flexibility, hockey plays can also enjoy improved range, faster skating, and more impact on the ice.

Increase Focus

You might think that the only benefits of yoga would be physical benefits. However, that is not the case. Yoga can actually have mental benefits as well, which can be useful for athletes.

For example, yoga teaches participants to focus on and be aware of their bodies, how they’re feeling, and their own breathing. Once they become more “in tune” with these things, they can have greater control and focus both when they’re practicing yoga and when they’re playing hockey.

Better Balance

You probably already know just how important a good sense of balance is for hockey players. Well, fortunately, yoga is highly effective at teaching better balance.

The standing postures involved in yoga strengthen lower-leg and feet muscles, while other postures strengthen the core, all of which lead to better posture and better balance.

For hockey players, this translates to better skating and easier performance of complex moves, like turns and pivots.

As you can see, yoga can be very beneficial for hockey players. It can help them to improve in mind, body, and spirit, all of which will translate onto the ice.

If you’d like to see these benefits develop in your team, then why not start practicing yoga? Just a few simple exercises a day can end up making a huge and hugely positive difference.