Training 101: Body Control

August 8, 2:07 PMLA Personal Training ExaminerOzzie Jacobs

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Total body awareness and control are the skills that separate the elite athlete from the amateur.  Cultivating these skills takes tremendous time and a strategic effort. Yoga can be used off the field to develop these skills.

Yoga arm balances like Vasisthasana (the side arm balance) require the athlete to harmoniously activate muscles of the upper body, lower body and core to hold the pose.

The upper back muscles deliver a tremendous effort to keep the chest open while the core must deliver a counter acting force to maintain a balanced and neural spine.  The muscles of the side body (obliques and outer thighs) engage to prevent the athlete’s body weight from sinking into the notably smaller platforms of the grounded hand and outer edge of the grounded foot.

The athlete must also resist the powerful urge of the shoulder blades to rise toward the ears. As this internal battle takes place the athlete makes a conscious effort to maintain a sense of peace and stability in the pose.

On the field the elite athlete has mastered this internal muscular struggle and reached a state of balance and harmony in his/her body and mind.  Enhance your body awareness and control by incorporating Yoga w/Ozzie: Vasisthasana into your routine!