Yoga doesn’t have to just be for relaxation and centering yourself; it can be used for athletes recovering, too. New research suggests that yoga can be a great way to accelerate recovery, reduce injury risks, and enhance overall performance, no matter what sport you play. Keep reading to uncover seven ways yoga helps with athletic recovery.
1. Accelerated Recovery
Depending on the injury, recovery can take a long time. However, yoga may be able to help with that. Some of the stretches and poses can help shorten recovery time, which is perfect for runners, weightlifters, and team sports players. This is because yoga promotes anti-inflammatory responses and boosts circulation, so the muscles can have the chance to heal.
2. Enhanced Proprioception
Yoga is all about finding your center and being one with your body. This translates to sports when your body can sense tension and imbalance, possibly even preventing injuries that could sideline an athlete. Being mindful of your body and its limits sets you up for success, along with halved recovery times if you do happen to get hurt.
3. Increased Flexibility
Other than being centered and breathing, yoga focuses a lot of flexibility within each position. These dynamic exercises, such as the sun salutation and warrior, stretch muscles and fascia much better than static stretching. If you’re dedicated to the exercises, there can be significant results. Some have even seen a 20-25% increase in mobility, leaving athletes less sore for the next event.
4. Strengthened Stabilizing Muscles
Some of the positions in yoga can be quite challenging, forcing you to focus on balance and stability. This turns into increased strength in the muscles around your joints, promoting balance and body alignment. For higher impact sports like football or soccer, having that extra stability is crucial to staying healthy the whole season, and not falling into injury.
5. Improved Mental Resilience
It takes patience to find your center in yoga, and paired with deep breathing, anxiety and stress often fade away during a session. Focusing on calmness and emotional recovery can lead to a bunch of positive impacts, including mental toughness. No matter if you get an injury or have to struggle through a tough loss, this exercise provides the platform to center yourself and move forward in a less stressful way.
6. Better Sleep Quality
The best way to recover from an intensive workout or match is with sleep, but sometimes restful sleep can elude us. While getting off devices and staying away from caffeine before bed helps, another way to find slumber is through yoga. The stretches help with sleep quality and hormonal regulation, allowing your body to recover during your eight hours of rest. There’s nothing better than waking up with a burst of energy and no lingering pain.
7. Comprehensive Overtraining Management
Overtraining can be a real threat to athletes, especially those dedicated to their sport or playing at a higher level. Fortunately, athletes can combat overtraining with yoga. The exercise lowers oxidative stress markers and regulates the autonomic nervous system. Combining these stretches with your regular training is a great way to prevent injury and improve your performance.
Final Thoughts
Taking the time to include yoga in your athletic regimen can vastly improve your performance and recovery if injured. Yoga not only prevents injuries but also helps with reducing downtime, supporting mental and physical health, and enhancing performance. So, the next time you fall victim to an injury, consider adding a few yoga poses or exercises into your life.