Answers (4)
Yoga is all about balance, range of motion, body control and focus. These would all benefit basketball. And yoga provides well trained practitioners with relaxation and better visualization.
You could also consider Tai Chi and dance for basketball related cross training.
You could also consider Tai Chi and dance for basketball related cross training.
Are you training yourself, or are you coaching others? My answer will be similar, except your considerations would be only for yourself or for your team as a whole. Also, I'd consider the age range and their attitudes towards yoga. Some of my sports clients have been resistant to "yoga," but will do "corrective stretch." But, surprise, the corrective stretch I do is rooted in yoga....
In the short term, I'd look at where players are getting injured the most frequently, and I'd look at the mobility / flexibility around those joints.
Then, I'd move into a more holistic approach with the entire body and breath.
Other yogic opinions will differ; the instructor leading my 200-hour yoga program says, "It often doesn't matter where you start because it's all connected fascially and by the breath anyway...."
In the short term, I'd look at where players are getting injured the most frequently, and I'd look at the mobility / flexibility around those joints.
Then, I'd move into a more holistic approach with the entire body and breath.
Other yogic opinions will differ; the instructor leading my 200-hour yoga program says, "It often doesn't matter where you start because it's all connected fascially and by the breath anyway...."
"There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga"...... Kareem Abdul Jabber
This quote is from this piece if you want to read more:
http://www.bikramyoga.com/News/MensHealth-KareemJabber.php
The type of practice I would design for a roomful of basketball players would likely be different that that for a roomful of ballet dancers, or weight lifters, or people in rehab. But then the practices I would do within each group would be different each time, and for each person every time you come to the mat it is different.
I very much like Martin's answer. Certainly you can use yoga as a therapeutic modality, or as a tool for increased flexibility, or sports performance. And it is both helpful and perfectly fine to do so. But the more you do it and the more deeply you do it the more you find that at its heart it is about the journey of self discovery and self acceptance, and connection to others and to all that is.
This quote is from this piece if you want to read more:
http://www.bikramyoga.com/News/MensHealth-KareemJabber.php
The type of practice I would design for a roomful of basketball players would likely be different that that for a roomful of ballet dancers, or weight lifters, or people in rehab. But then the practices I would do within each group would be different each time, and for each person every time you come to the mat it is different.
I very much like Martin's answer. Certainly you can use yoga as a therapeutic modality, or as a tool for increased flexibility, or sports performance. And it is both helpful and perfectly fine to do so. But the more you do it and the more deeply you do it the more you find that at its heart it is about the journey of self discovery and self acceptance, and connection to others and to all that is.
Yoga can offer benefits to athletes of various types of sports. The strength and flexibility gained from the longevity of practicing yoga can help to extend an athletes ability to train and compete into older age. Basketball players require core work for balance and control when actively positioning the body in a vertical and lateral movement. Pilates can attribute to enhancing an athletes career as well. I truly believe that my dancing experience attributed to less injuries throughout my basketball career that extended all the way through college at the division 1 level. Best of luck to you!