Yoga and Sports Medicine

Yoga is an emerging complementary medicine technique that has many benefits for those who practice. Today yoga is being use as a part of a sports medicine program for college and professional athletes. This study involved tracking four different groups of college athletes who were either assigned to a yoga practice group or a control group. Participants all regularly participated in athletic training programs, but only two of the four groups practiced yoga. Results identified that yoga led to a significant improve in flexibility measures based upon yoga postures that were taught over the course of a 10 week program. Additionally, the intensity and type of other training techniques have significant impacts on participants flexibility (heavy weight lifting) and also the natural flexibility of individuals who play different types of sports (baseball versus soccer). Yoga was also believed to improve concentration and muscle recovery for athletes.