Yoga for Basketball

For the last two pre seasons, I've had the honor and priveledge to teach yoga for the University of Maryland Men's Basketball team. It's a special opportunity when I get to work with athletes and coaches I admire so much and cheer for!

The Terps Strength & Conditioning coach, Paul Ricci, has a unique approach and is a pleasure to work with. I love the fact that he takes the yoga classes with the team, tells me each week what areas to work and focus on, what they need stretched, and who's injured...

Some weeks their "yoga practice" was focused on challenging their strength and balance with warrior sequences...other weeks would be focused on breathing, flexibility and recovery. There's few other things as peaceful as seeing 15 strong guys sprawled out on a basketball court in Savasana with lavender scented bags covering their eyes, focusing on their breathing and stillness, with the buzz of the lights hissing in the background...

As a yoga teacher, I am always a student myself and often learn something from each and every one of my clients and classes. Each player on the team inspires me. I admire their athleticism, focus, and the willingness of the coaches and players to do what it takes. I think back to my college days and am in awe at how they do what they do.

I'm having a lot of fun watching and cheering them on! Like a worried mom I think "gosh I hope they're stretching, eating well and recovering" but one thing is for sure, whatever they are doing is working!

Namaste Terps!

p.s. Check 'em out doing some strength & conditioning...
http://www.youtube.com/user/MarylandBBStrength#p/u/3/QvxMPajbczE

Lead with your Heart

Happy Valentine's Day Warriors!

A perfect topic for today is Ahimsa (one of the Yamas or restraints in The Eights Limbs of Yoga). These Sanscrit words might sound intimidating or weird to you, but applying the principles to your sport can really improve your performance.

Ahimsa means non-harming. Have you ever pushed yourself the the point of injury? Maybe you've even felt the frustration of being sidelined for a competition, race, or even an entire season?

So how can we get stronger, faster and more powerful but stay injury and pain free? Its a fine line and only you can know when to push harder and when to hold back. How? By doing yoga, stretching, and by listening to the sensations of pain that your body is sending you. There is a time to push and a time to surrender. (scroll down for short recovery & flexibility sequence)

An injured warrior rarely wins a battle. Rule #1 is you mush protect first. Use all of your senses to really see, hear, feel and be present during your practice or competition. I find one of the biggest challenges working with competitive athletes and business people is this principle of Ahimsa...

LEAD WITH YOUR HEART. Be willing to love and protect yourself first and you'll be the best athlete, team mate, and person you can be. Get a massage! Do yoga REGULARLY. It's not an indulgence - It could very well be the difference between being good and being great!

In honor of Valentine's Day, we did lots of "heart opener" sequences in class this week (see picture - think chest and shoulder stretches, back bends, and poses that open up the front of the body body and lifts the posture). The timing couldn't have been more perfect with the crazy blizzards we had here in Bmore because heart opener poses also happen to be great pre and post shoveling stretches as well!

Most of what we do in daily life and in sports round our posture forward... Even sitting at our computer is a posture challenge! Try this simple 30 second "heart opener" - You don't even have to get up from your chair...

1) Reach behind your back and grab onto your opposite wrists, forearms or elbows

2) Lift your chest and heart up to the ceiling and draw your back and down away from your ears.

3) Close your eyes and take 5 - 10 long, slow breaths

4) Now relax your arms down by your sides and notice your posture and alignment: ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips (this is called 'Seated Mountain').

OK, I don't want to bore you too much with "good posture" tips on Valentine's Day but if we get hit with more snow, remember to take little shoveling breaks open your chest and extend your spine (see pic - "standing camel"). Once you come back inside, warm up and try this short flexibility sequences...

http://www.flexiblewarrior.com/images/FW_Flexibility_Sequence_p_sm.pdf

Now GO enjoy Valentine's Day with an open heart :)

The athlete within me honors the athlete within you. Namaste

Salute the Snow

Warriors! Its been a crazy winter here in Baltimore. We're on our second blizzard and I've spent many days cancelling clients and classes and way too many hours shoveling! The good news is, I now have the opportunity to make some headway on one of my New Year Intentions (i'm not a huge fan of Resolutions, but that's a topic for another day).

My Intention is to create a blog and share all things related to helping you be your best! Yes, lots of the content will be sports and Yoga related since Yoga for Athletes is my thing, but I also LOVE teaching Corporate Yoga and helping executives & employees perform at their peak too. Any many of my clients are mom's - Seriously, what job is more important the that?!

I set this Intention in January, and its now Feb 10th so I'm a little behing schedule. But better late than never. Sometimes these 'obstacles' (like back to back blizzards) are a blessing in disguise. So join me in Saluting the Snow...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaqHprXvMbs (this is a great short sequence to do before you hit the slopes or start shoveling!)

What New Years goal did you set that you haven't yet accomplished? What can you do today to move toward your goal? Let me know if I can help (and if you have any specific requests for video files since I mostly intend to Vlog :)

OK - off I go to shovel...