Yoga and sprint training

[Guest guest]

Would Ashtanga Yoga be a good addition to a sprint training

program? My short answer would be yes - and the long answer - maybe.

If you use the yoga as a part of the total sprint program and not as a

means of achieving " yoga " type flexibility, then it should have many

positive influences on sprinting. Good sprinting requires that one not

be tensed all over but relaxed in those areas not directly used at that

instant. I believe the Ashtanga Yoga could help with the ability to

relax those muscles not being used. When Yoga is used for performance

enhancement of other sports, one must keep in mind it's purpose is not

to make one a good Yogi but a better athlete in the chosen sport.

Highly competitve personalities tend to be the same during Yoga

practice, ie, competitive; and that's not the point and may lead to

injury. The biggest benefit I see for other athletes is what I would

call " injury proofing " and/or healing. Like any repetitive sport,

sprinting tends to strengthen and shorten muscles unevenly, sometimes

resulting in altered stride mechanics over time. The yoga may help

with the unevenness of developmental shortening and help maintain a

proper range of motion. The breathing used during Ashtanga Yoga may

also be of benefit; properly done, it's a powerful yet relaxed breath -

exactly what is needed during a sprint. Now I'm not saying to try to

sprint using Yoga breathing but that the practice may have a carry over

effect in some regards. I might suggest that you obtain the book " Power

Yoga " by Beryl Bender Birch. Be aware that her chosen sport is Yoga

and she may tend to have a different focus than you do.

Ashtanga Yoga normal practice takes about an hour and a half. What

I use is " Yoga Short Forms " with Swenson (tape) - it contains 15,

30, and 45 minute routines. This does not contain as many advanced

movements and seems more suitable for athletes whose primary focus is

not Yoga.

Athletes all tend to work their strengths and not their

weaknesses; if your athlete is " tight " - Ashtanga should have great

benefit; if the athlete is already very flexible (and evenly flexible

at that), then yoga may not help as much. The true difference may be

the strength aspect of Ashtanga; it's a hard thing to describe the

difference between the strength of Ashtanga and the strength of

weightlifting but it is different and of a higly useable type. I've

had very limited results from static stretching of any type, more often

injury than progress. Ashtanga seems to work differently in several

ways. Try it in the off season first, then during season; or work into

it gently if you're in season.

Rice

Crooksville, Ohio