Yoga: Fitness,

Meditation,

SuccessWHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF YOGA AND WHO DOES YOGA?

URBAN YOGA FOUNDATION

YOGA & MUSCLE BUILDING

How does the human body build muscle?

• Resistance training

• Weight Training vs. Body Weight Training

What happens in resistance training?

• Micro Tears: we literally break down and

shred our muscle

• Healing: after a workout, during a 36 hour

rest/recovery period, the muscle heals the

micro tears---this is the building of muscle

• We don’t get stronger when we work

out, but when we allow our body to rest

(―GOING INSIDE‖ at the beginning and end

of class).

Yoga: increase muscle tone and definition

• Takes more skill, time & determination

• Using body weight to increase

strength, mobility, flexibility

• Functional strength training

YOGA & MUSCLE BUILDING CONT.Professional Athletes and Sports Teams use yoga because:

• Teambuilding: Yoga means to unite: coming together

• Functional Fitness: Lifting weight builds bulk: yoga enhances

strength, movement, flexibility and injury prevention

• Muscle Coordination: Uses and coordinates all major, small

and stabilizing muscle groups together (v. isolated

movements), therefore easy to translate and use on the

field/court/etc. where every action and movement occurs in

relation to entire body

• Eccentric Contraction/Lean Muscle Building:Yoga stretches

muscles as it contracts: elongating muscle, making it more

flexible and good for injury prevention and increasing and

maintain range of motion

(pitching, dance, soccer, cheerleading, all sports)

• Muscle Endurance: holding given poses increases endurance

• Increases balance

• Recovery & Repair of Muscles

• Increases Mental Clarity & Focus

• Coordinates Breathing with Action for more effective action

Citadel Football Team:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

WJ7tP2YQnhY

Yoga & Football

With the large amount of

money invested in college

and professional

athletics, would time and

money be spent on yoga if it

was not considered not only

effective, but necessary?

Some Football Players You May

Know That Do Yoga

RAY LEWIS

Amani Toomer

Troy Polamalu

Victor Cruz

YOGA & BASKETBALLARTICLE ON YOGA & BASKETBALL

• http://onebasketball.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/its-called-working-out-why-

every-basketball-player-should-practice-yoga/

Kevin Garnett on Yoga:

http://www.youtube.com/wa

tch?v=5PBF30Wese8

Basketball Players You May Know

that Do YogaArticles about Natalie W., Lebron J & Kevin G. & Yoga:

• http://www.wnba.com/features/fitness_natalie_williams.html

• http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2470/LeBron-James-Yoga-Is-Secret-to-Endurance.html

• http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/03/lebrons_extra_edge_cavaliers_s.html

Natalie WilliamsLebron James

Kevin Garnett

YOGA & SOCCER

Alex Morgan, Team USA, Yoga Session:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96uRBNeTkr0

Article on Yoga and Soccer

• http://lovemyyoga.com/power-yoga-for-soccer.html

Yoga for soccer players:

• Increases flexibility of their

hamstrings, quadriceps, and IT

bands

• Helps to strengthen and

stabilize the ankles

• Protects the knees

• Opens the hips

• Maintains full range of motion

of spine

YOGA & SOFTBALL/BASEBALLArticles about yoga and baseball

• http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/195

• http://www.menshealth.com/yoga/yoga-for/Workout_Yoga_for_Baseball.php

―Although each field position requires a different

athletic specialty—shortstops need to be agile

and acrobatic, first basemen need flexibility to

do the splits, pitchers need shoulders of

steel, catchers need balance and strong legs—

the muscles used in the staple motions of

batting and throwing encompass almost the

entire body.‖

Which is why yoga has been incorporated into

many workouts for professional and college

teams and players

YOGA FOR DANCERSWhy Should Dancers Do Yoga?

• All types of dance –break dancing, salsa, ballet, Hawaiian, African, hip hop, etc.—require:

• flexibility, balance, focus, focused energy, strength, good posture, good circulation, etc

All things provided by yoga!

Capoeira Yoga Fusion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMluCE

zG24E

Yoga Breakdancing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jif

w8dC5yTM

YOGA & CHEERLEADINGArticle and Yoga and Cheerleading:

• http://www.cheercoachmagazine.com/display_article.php?uniqueid=317

Video of Tampa Bay Cheer Squad doing Yoga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSRpKimIh3k

WHO ELSE DOES YOGA?

WWE Super Star Chris

Jericho says that he is pain-

free and in better shape

than he was 5 years ago

because of yoga.

Tennis Star Serena

Williams uses yoga to

keep at the top of

her game

Boxing Champion

Floyd Mayweather

Video:

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=5fI2vHk7e

MU

YOGA & THE NON-TRADITIONAL

Cirque du Soleil video

http://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=rdZO_

DGyo1w

Acroyoga/Partner Yoga

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=bMMlzQsQPk4

YOGA IN THE STUDIO AND ON THE RADIOArticle on why actors do yoga:

• http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9162/why-so-many-actors-do-

yoga.html

13 Celebrities that do yoga

• http://www.theultimateyogi.com/13-celebrities-who-practice-yoga-and-

why/

Troian Bellisario &

Shay Mitchell, PLLBeyonce and Jay Z

Russell Simmons Kerry Washington