Yoga for NBA Players

As a basketball player, I was curious to learn how basketball meshes with yoga. It was really interesting to read about the role it is beginning to play in the NBA. I could relate a lot to several of the things the players were saying.

For one, with all the sprinting and jumping in basketball, your glutes and IT bands get really tight. I remember I had a hard time with several of the stretches because I was so tight there. Once you can loosen those areas up, you have a larger range of motion and a lower chance of injury. Also, basketball players always wear shoes with lots of ankle support and usually tape their ankles (I know I did). Yoga can help build up better balance muscles and strengthen the muscles around your ankles so you will be less likely to roll one.

One of the things the yoga instructor said was that NBA players were reluctant to do yoga because they thought it was too girly or spiritual. In order to help them get the physical benefits they needed, he made an adjusted kind of yoga that had hip hop music and even used basketballs instead of yoga blocks. I thought it was fun how he was flexible enough to break away from tradition in order to benefit other people.  

It seems to be really catching on. This famous yoga coach who has been working with NBA players, Katich, has worked with about 25 percent of NBA's current players. Talk about a dream job! Players are beginning to see the impact of taking care of their bodies in this way in order to prevent injuries and help themselves stay healthy in the league for a long time. Flexibility is a key part to longevity.

This was definitely one of my favorite articles I've read because I have felt all of the benefits they were describing. It is true that basketball workouts seem to build explosive tight muscle but most teams never focus on stretching to help lengthen these muscles and gain flexibility. I was a gymnast as a child and used to be extremely flexible. After all of my years playing basketball, I have lost so much flexibility but I'm slowly starting to get some of it back! Thanks Yoga :)

http://www.ihoops.com/training-room/player-psychology/NBA-Players-Finding-Benefits-in-Yoga.htm