Most people think of yoga as a peaceful, relaxing and calming method to build strength, flexibility and perfect posture, but have you ever thought that yoga might be the secret weapon to your golf game? The PGA reports that yoga is the “hot” thing in the fitness world right now and is found in almost any type of sports training program. The one sport in which players mostly use this incredible phenomenon is golf.
The golf swing coils in the back swing and uncoils in the down swing to produce impact at the golf ball to get to the finish of the golf swing. What you might not be aware of is that there are yoga positions that golfers could use to improve this “coil” action and become more flexible and strengthen the lower body before your round.
Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines stretching exercises with breathing that can relieve the mind of stress, anxiety and even lower your blood pressure. These are three things that you do not want to take out with you on the golf course or you will be starting out on the wrong foot. Within the past couple months, I have used yoga and breathing before golf and have found the game more enjoyable and relaxing. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and quiet your mind. This is essential before taking that first swing.
Next time before you hit the links, try this simple pose. Start out by lying flat on your back with your left leg straight and your right leg bent up (right foot planted on the ground) with your knee pointing towards the sky. Inhale … then exhale lifting your right glutes off the ground along with right side of your back (lifting toward the sky) then inhale while lowering your body to the floor. You should repeat this movement 10 times then switch over to the other side. This yoga position increases the golfers’ hip rotations and improves the way the golfer controls their swing.
More yoga positions for golfers can be found at yogaforgolfers.com.