Yoga leads to success. Whether that success is on the field, the stage or the court; in the classroom or the business room; in intrapersonal growth, interpersonal relationships or group situations; yoga enhances one's ability to succeed by strengthening and improving one's physical, mental and emotional health. This slide show focuses mostly on yoga's physical benefits for athletes and performers. From Division I athletes and teams, to professionals, yoga is incorporated into the training regimens of the elite because of its benefits of injury prevention and performance enhancement.

1. YOGA:
Fitness,
Strength,
Meditation,
Success
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF YOGA AND WHO DOES YOGA?
URBAN YOGA FOUNDATION

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Some Football Players You May
Know That Do Yoga
RAY LEWIS
Amani Toomer
Troy Polamalu
Victor Cruz

6. YOGA & BASKETBALL
ARTICLE 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

7. Basketball Players You May Know
that Do Yoga
Articles 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 Williams
Lebron James
Kevin Garnett

8. 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

9. YOGA & SOFTBALL/BASEBALL
Articles 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

10. YOGA FOR DANCERS
Why 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

11. YOGA & CHEERLEADING
Article 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. YOGA IN THE STUDIO AND ON THE RADIO
Article 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, PLL
Beyonce and Jay Z
Russell Simmons Kerry Washington