The Best Yoga Exercises For Athletes

Yoga exercises benefit all kinds of people including sports personnel. One would think that they require more strenuous types of exercises to build muscles and gain energy and strength.

There are many yoga exercises that can help athletes gain strength, develop flexibility, build core strength, improve concentration and range of motion. This will all have a positive effect on the overall performance and help you relieve muscles tensions and become a better athlete.

Yoga Exercises for Athletes

Forward Fold

The forward fold pose is done for developing stronger knees and legs and also for stretching your calf muscles, hamstrings and hips. For doing this, stand straight with your feet kept hip width apart.

Now bend your body from waist down as you inhale. Move your body down, allowing your head and upper body to hang loosely. You may bend your knees a little to touch your toes and hold the position for a minute.

Mountain Pose

Mountain pose is the base for all standing yoga exercises. Stand firmly on the ground as you breathe in through the nose. Stand still for as much time as you can.

Doing this on a daily basis will increase concentration and help you develop well toned abdominal muscles.

Warrior Pose

The warrior pose starts with a mountain pose which is just standing straight with your legs firm on to the ground and as you breathe through your nose.  Now move your feet about 4 feet apart. Turn your right foot a little outwards and your left foot inwards, keeping your heels well aligned.

Start exhaling and slowly rotate your torso towards the right and at the same time keeping your right knee bent above your right ankle. Warrior pose helps in increasing balance and strengthens your back and lower part of your body. It also improves concentration, endurance levels and gives a stretch to your chest, shoulder, neck and lung muscles.

Garland Pose

Stand with your feet kept shoulder width apart. Keep your spine straight and bend your knees to a squatting position. If you do not have enough balance, you may try to hold on to a chair or a wall until you can balance without support.

Inhale deeply through the nose and hold for 5 seconds. Now you may straighten your legs. The garland pose is best for opening the groin as well as the hips and gives strength to the lower body.

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Downward Facing Dog Pose

This pose is best for working on your hamstrings, feet, calf muscles and shoulders. It will help relieve tired and taut muscles in these areas and also develop core strength, legs and arms. Start the exercise by holding the weight of your body with your arms and knees. Keep your hands shoulder width apart and knees hip width apart.

Now raise your knees so that your legs will be straightened in the procedure. Now walk your hands forward a couple of inches. Stretch your legs so that your inner thighs are pressed together and your abdominal muscles are tightened as well. This position can be held for about 3 to 4 minutes while you breathe through your nose. Return back to the normal position.