Yoga For Golfers
Golfers are looking for more ways to improve their health, fitness level and golf swing
Yoga, as a component of physical and mental conditional, has taken the PGA Tour by storm as one of the golf world's hottest fitness tools. Tour pros have embraced yoga as a way to improve fitness both on and off the course.
An entire training program, tailoring yoga to the needs of golfers, was developed ten years ago by Scottsdale golf expert, Katherine Roberts. Yoga for Golfers applies the principles of yoga –flexibility, strength, core conditioning, balance and mental focus – to success on the golf course.
While yoga is a popular form of exercise for golfers and non-golfers alike, Yoga for Golfers promises benefits any golfer would dream of: greater distance and accuracy off the tee, better rhythm and tempo in the golf swing, improved concentration and visualization capabilities, reduced risk of injury and more effective club control and weight distribution.
The program selects yoga poses that are most suited for golfers' needs, such as enhancing flexibility and strength in muscle groups involved in the mechanics of the golf swing – primarily the spine, shoulders, hips and legs.
Yoga uses postures to bring an overactive mind to a level of calm and quietness, this is especially important for golf, a game involving both physical and mental challenges.
Yoga, as a fitness tool, is particularly compatible for increasing flexibility, strength and balance in the older player. As always consult your physician if you have health problems that may conflict with doing some of the exercises.
- Start with a minimum of five to ten stretches targeting the areas you believe to hold the greatest challenges
- Never go to pain. The "no pain – no gain" concept does not apply to stretching. At most, you should only experience a slight discomfort as the muscles stretch
- Make sure you maintain proper body alignment while stretching. It is imperative that your body is in the correct postural alignment in order to prevent any injury, as well as to ensure you receive the maximum benefit of the stretch
- Breathe deeply while stretching. Deep breathing through the nose maintains proper blood flow to the muscles and calms the nervous system.
Preparing for golf is an exhaustive task. You have to tighten your swing, practice your short game, get in the right frame of mind and get physically fit. Or you can practice yoga and accomplish all of the above.