Over the past decade as yoga has grown in popularity, a number of hybrid forms of practice have developed for specialized audiences. As the summer approaches and people gear up and get in shape for out­side activities, classes abound: “Yoga for Golfers,” “Yoga for Tennis,” “Yoga for Surfers,” “Yoga for Horsemanship,” “Yoga for_____.” Yoga fits naturally into any activity, promoting bet­ter performance through body awareness and targeted flexibility and strength. Weekend warriors are taking up yoga as more and more professional athletes like Donavan McNabb proclaim that the “off season (he) will be prac­ticing only yoga to get in tip top condition for next season.”

As Peggy Hall, yogi, avid surfer and creator of “Yoga for Surfers proclaims, “Like surfing, Yoga is about being completely in the moment. Connecting to the source of nature and trusting yourself to soar!” “Our breath and the ocean are so similar.” Says Erika faith, yoga teacher and professional surfer. “It is a feel­ing of complete freedom in the moment. Enjoying the waves, waiting patiently for the next set to come in, I am in a meditation. The waves flow and I ride their wake, sculpting myself to their shape, like I adjust my body to a posture.” Retreats and vacations touting yoga and surfing abound in exotic climes with celebrity teachers.

Golf and yoga have long found companionship. Annika Sorenstam does yoga 6 days a week and attributes the success of her grueling golf schedule to her dedicated practice. As Larry Olmstead of Golfer’s World notes, “What I’ve come to appre­ciate is that yoga can improve your golf game simply because the two have a lot in common…It focuses on stabilizing the lower body in most postures, like the golf swing. That’s why doing yoga on a regular basis is good for golf.” PGA golfer David Duval agrees, “I practice thirty minutes of yoga everyday, more if I can get to my class, for flexibility and strengthening core muscles.”

Yoga anyone? Tennis players are saying “yes”--- Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Serena & Venus Williams. The wives of tennis stars are yogis in their own right and run studios on the island of Majorca. Many professional tennis players prac­tice yoga to help improve their game. “Tennis is a mental sport as well as a physical one, and the meditation involved in yoga can help train the mind to relax and improve concentration during matches.” Says Maria Sharpova, “Imagine being able to channel all of your energy into your serve. Even the breath control associ­ated with yoga can benefit your game by helping you to relax and focus.” Pete Sampras started prac­ticing to deal with the “loss of (his) dear friend and coach,” but now he attributes his “continued high level of play” to his ongoing yoga regimen.

Jon Bridenbaugh, a Portland, Oregon-based professional Cyclist, took up yoga as part of his training as a bicyclist fitter. He attributes an improved sense of balance and endurance, and a subtle awareness of his cen­ter, to his weekly yoga classes. Bridenbaugh has also noticed a clear link between the tenets of yoga and bicycle positioning. “A bicyclist’s success and comfort level depend on how well he or she is fitted to his or her bicycle.” Bridenbaugh takes the alignment principles of yoga and applies them to how a bicyclist relates to his bicycle. He talks about the “flow of the pedals” and the way yoga helps “regulate breathing and build aerobic fitness.”

Although specialized yoga programs can provide camarade­rie and awareness of the specific impact of yoga to your sport, Yoga is YOGA. A well-structured yoga class provides a balanced and accessible daily regimen that is both enjoyable and beneficial for every endeavor. So, what are you doing on your off season?

Yo Dude, Yoga’s Up…
Catch the Wave!