Why Yoga Isn’t Useful for Most Performance Athletes

More people are getting into yoga, and that?might?be a good thing. For most people it likely works wonders for mobility and flexibility, helping to keep us fit and healthy?especially when done in conjunction with other types of exercise. But, is yoga for everyone? Does if offer the same benefits to you as it does I?

Chances are that it doesn’t. Mobility is a tricky subject. Yoga requires a focus on technique and posture for it to work, otherwise it may lead to injury. And of course, many of us don’t start out with the flexibility that is asked of us?even when tackling?some of the easiest positions. If that’s the case, as Breaking Muscle points out, yoga may not be the right answer:

Yoga should give an individual more ownership of their body, not a lesson in how to cheat their way into positions they can?t sustain. Those who handle yoga poses well have the requisite tissue flexibility, joint mobility, stability, and motor control to do so and so reap the full benefits. For athletes without the flexibility it fundamentally requires, the benefits of a yoga prescription can be limited.

Here?s the thing. Great yoga practice only occurs when a task and environment facilitates a position or movement where breathing is challenged, but not difficult. A challenging task is a task pitched just beyond our level of skill that causes us to rise and meet it. A difficult task is a task that far outlies our skill set. If we complete a difficult task, it doesn?t enhance our skills – it just forces us to compensate around our deficiencies.

First we need to know how mobile we are, to find out if we can perform the techniques in a way that challenges us, but that is not too difficult. To find out more, head over to Breaking Muscle and read the full article.