Top Ten Yoga Postures for Golf
Spring is in the air, daylight savings is in full swing, and Easter and Passover are history. And hopefully these April snow showers are over! That means that millions of people are eager to hit the links. If you are one of those eager golfers, incorporating yoga into your routine will help to keep you swinging happy and injury-free
Before we get into the what, let's start with the why. There are plenty of reasons why Yoga is Good for Golfers, including:
Practicing postures will increase range of motion of shoulders, hips, and spine to allow full rotation of back swing and follow-through.
Consistent practice will also increase range of motion of the hips, knees, ankles and feet which will allow greater ease with squatting so you can size up your shot on the putting green and pick up your ball with greater ease.
Many yoga postures are great for increasing the flexibility of hamstrings. Flexible hamstrings allow you to retrieve a ball with proper body mechanics, putting less strain on your back.
Some yoga postures can improve core strength which will help your long game as well as protect your back and shoulders from injuries.
Practicing yoga, in all its forms will improve mental focus and concentration and that can’t be bad for your game, right?
So now, here are my Top Ten Yoga Postures for Golf!
These are postures that can be generally helpful for most golfers, including many twists and stretches for the shoulders and hips. Unless otherwise indicated, hold each pose for 5 to 6 slow, steady breaths. Breath in and out through your nose. If you are new to yoga, it’s best learn these postures from a qualified yoga teacher.
1. Standing Side Bend/ Parsva Tadasana
I am not much of a golfer but my client, Steve sure was! Here he is demonstrating his pre-golf yoga routine. Inhale->Raise arms overhead (with a club or strap). Exhale-> Bend to right side. Keep left foot grounded. Inhale-> Return to center. Repeat 3 to 6 times to each side.
2. Downward Facing Dog/Adho Mukha Shvanasana
Concentrate on lengthening through the spine and shoulders. Bend the knees slightly if the back is rounded.
Down Dog Variation on a Wall
Use this variation if you feel too tight to do regular down dog, if you donʼt want to put weight through your hands or if you donʼt want to have your head down below your heart. Also, sometimes itʼs just a more convenient pose.
