How Can Yoga Improve The Performance of Hockey players?
Yoga is becoming extremely popular in fitness circles for people of all ages. There was a time when professional sportsmen avoided incorporating yoga into their sports regimen. However, through modern scientific research, more and more athletes are adding yoga to their fitness program.
Similarly, hockey players are actively practicing yoga to improve their performance on the ground. Professional hockey players perform specific yoga techniques to target certain muscle groups. Not only does this improve endurance and recovery but also helps players achieve a better mind-muscle connection.
Keep reading this article to learn more about how yoga can improve the performance of hockey players.
Top 6 yoga poses to improve the performance of Hockey players
Yoga is very beneficial for physical health. Hockey players can incorporate yoga into their routines to boost their endurance and recovery. Poses like the frog and rabbit pose can improve mobility and boost blood circulation. Aside from physical benefits, yoga also positively impacts a player’s mental health.
With that said, let’s move forward to learn about top poses that improve the performance of hockey players.
1. Frog Pose
The Frog pose (Mandukasana) is a great exercise as it opens the hips and groin. To perform this step correctly follow the below steps:
· Form a tabletop position on your knees and hands.
· Make sure your hands under the shoulders and knees over the hips
· Widen the distance between knees to make a 90-degree angle
· Bring the forearms down to the floor and stretch forward
· Engage the core by drawing the navel in and up toward the spine
· Take deep breaths and hold this position
This pose is greatly therapeutic and helps promote muscle relaxation. It also improves digestion and treats constipation. Use a blanket or a soft cushion under your knees if you have knee pain. You can join hot yoga classes in Dubai to learn this pose from experts and improve your hockey performance.
2. Butterfly Pose
Hockey players actively practice the Butterfly pose (Baddha Konasana) to open their hips and strengthen their back muscles. To perform this pose correctly, follow the below steps:
· Sit on the floor in a cross-legged position
· Move your legs away and outwards
· Point your knees out, ensuring the soles of your feet are touching each other
· Gently pulse your knees up and down like a butterfly
· Take deep breaths and repeat as per requirement
You can practice this pose to protect your hips from overuse injuries from walking, running, or working out. The Butterfly pose targets the groin, inner thighs, and knees. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial for hockey players.
3. Reverse Table Pose
The Reverse Table pose (Ardha Purvottanasana) strengthens the upper body, arms, shoulders, thighs, and calves. To perform it correctly, follow the below steps:
· Begin by sitting on the floor with legs extended in front
· Rest your arms on your sides
· Place hands behind the hips and press palms on the floor
· Straighten the elbows and lift your hips up
· Similarly, lift your chest and gaze up toward the ceiling
· Hold this position and take deep breaths
This pose can help you stretch your body and strengthen your core. It also enables you to improve balance and posture. Players can perform this pose after a tiresome hockey game.
4. Child’s Pose
The Child’s pose (Balasana) is a forward bend pose. To perform it accurately, follow the below steps:
· Sit on your heels and bend forward
· Lower your forehead to the floor
· Straighten your arms and place your palms on the floor
· Gently press thighs and chest
· Hold this position and take deep breaths
This pose can greatly promote the relaxation of muscles and the nervous system. Hockey players who want to make it more challenging can try the lateral Child’s pose. If you have pain in the knees or ankles, always use a cushion or a soft material under the legs.
5. Rabbit Pose
The Rabbit pose is very beneficial for stimulating the immune and endocrine system. To perform it correctly, follow the below steps:
· From the child’s pose, hold your heels and pull the forehead towards the knees
· Hold tightly onto the heels and lift hips towards the ceiling
· Roll onto the crown of the head and push forward as close to the knees as possible
· Take deep breaths while holding this position
Hockey players can practice this pose to lengthen their spines after intense workout sessions in the field. Besides that, it also enables you to stretch your back, arms, shoulders, and forearms. If unsure, you can contact yoga experts to learn this pose accurately.
6. Pigeon Pose
The Pigeon pose (Rajakapotasana) is a forward bend yoga exercise that stretches the hips, groins, flexors, and back muscles. To perform it correctly, follow the below steps:
· Start on the hands and knees
· Bring the left knee forward to the floor
· Move your hips towards the front of the mat
· Perform a forward bend with your torso down over the left leg
· Take deep breaths and hold this position
· Repeat as necessary
Hockey players can practice this pose to stimulate internal organs and improve oxygen saturation in the bloodstream. It also helps athletes to increase flexibility and range of motion. You can enroll in yoga classes to learn this accurately from professionals and improve your hockey performance.
Improve your hockey game with Yoga!
Whether a beginner or a professional hockey athlete, yoga can help you step up your game. Certain poses are designed to target a group of muscles that improve endurance. With yoga, you can rest assuredly improve your hockey performance and relax your mind and body after a long game.