Yoga

[Muse]

I'm thinking of taking up yoga to help my tennis game for a number of reasons. I've never been a very flexible person, and even though my game has never really suffered from this, it couldn't help to loosen up a bit. Also for the mental aspect, something that could put my mind at ease and relax me would be a real help during tense matches.

My question to you guys is this: Have any of you ever tried yoga for a long enough period to know whether or not it has benefitted you in any way? Examples of how it helped your tennis game would be very helpful.

 

[NoBadMojo]

i haven't but i know there are several different types of Yoga, so you may wish to research which type might be best for tennis...i can see where yoga would be a benefit for tennis if the right type. good tennis players probably arent gonna be good yoga practitioners however because the hammies are usually really knotted and quads more tight than flexy etc, but i think it is a worthwhile pursuit

 

[Marius_Hancu]

sure, do it.

I am combining it with Pilates at the end of conditionin sessions.

I feel it gives me esp more joint flexibility.

 

[wingit]

I have been in a yoga class twice a week for six years. There are different types of yoga, my class is Astanga and it is considerably more physical than the yoga you may have seen on t.v. . The basis of Astanga is physical movement and stretching to get your body hot, in most people this means sweaty. Benefits are: much improved flexibility, mental relaxation, awareness of how breathing helps control the mind and strength enhancement due to the demands of many of the poses. It is an important part of my life and I don't want to think how I would feel without it. I'm a 4.0+ on my good days and pleased to say there are some good days.

 

[joe sch]

I have been doing yoga for years and it has really helped my tennis !
You should be very careful to go slowly and not try to stretch too far too soon.
I increased the flexiblity in my muscle bound hips and shoulders but my hips took years to slowly increase and its still my most inflexible area. I stretched too much in the early phases and resulting in pulling my hip out of place which was a handicap in my tennis game for awhile. Just like tennis, yoga takes many years to advance in levels but is highly worth the work and patience.

 

[joe sch]

i haven't but i know there are several different types of Yoga, so you may wish to research which type might be best for tennis...i can see where yoga would be a benefit for tennis if the right type. good tennis players probably arent gonna be good yoga practitioners however because the hammies are usually really knotted and quads more tight than flexy etc, but i think it is a worthwhile pursuit

This is true of many of the players that have not stretched very well over the years but for some of the others like clisters, kornikova and federer, its pretty obvious how flexible they are and how much yoga has enabled them to really extend the way they play tennis.