Olympic swimmers, including American gold medalist Natalie Coughlin, attest to the many benefits of yoga. The following are the performance improvements provided by yoga:
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Flexibility
One of the most common reasons swimmers practice yoga is to improve their flexibility. The strokes and the leg kicks take their heavy toll on the shoulder and the lower limb. With yoga, the range of motion of joints can be increased, easing the burden the movements cause on these body parts. Yoga can also lengthen muscle tissues and release muscular tension, giving them greater integrity and strength.
Body awareness
Swimming requires a high level of body awareness, with every movement pattern, from the maintenance of the body line to the entry of the fingers in the water during strokes, being critical in swimming speed. Yoga helps athletes develop technical proficiency in this aspect.
Recovery
Swimming is one of the most taxing sports; an hour or two of hard practice can result in tightness and stiffness of muscles or aches in joints. Yoga, particularly restorative yoga, can allow the body to recover more quickly than usual.
Mental strength
This sport is as mentally challenging as it is physically. Psychological stability may mean gaining or losing seconds in the pool; and in a race, every second counts. By practicing yoga regularly, one gains the ability to regulate his or her emotions, reduce anxiety, and relax mentally.
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Bob Mims, CPA promotes the importance of staying healthy, and believes that one way of doing so is by regularly swimming. Follow this Twitter page for more discussions on sports training.
