An increasing number of top-level clubs and players use yoga as part of their training regime as a way to help players reach their maximum best.
The likes of Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland are often seen celebrating their goals symbolizing them practicing Yoga.
Once Salah revealed, he was a yoga man thus the reason for his celebration where he Clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.
Other players known for their yoga practice are the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic who class it as an essential part of their training and recovery routine.
Retired footballer Ryan Giggs has also revealed that while he was playing in the Premier League yoga was one of the main reasons, he was able to continue playing beyond the age of 40,
Recently several top European clubs employ specialist instructors, with classes often compulsory, not optional, for players.
Yoga is believed to increase flexibility, a person’s range of motion, so for footballers it is obvious that that will help them. It means the risk of injury is reduced, it can help lengthen a player’s stride, and it is great for core strength as well.
There are a lot of misconceptions about yoga such as that it is mostly for women, or that its people sitting around chanting and ohming.
There are lots of distinct types of yoga practices, all of which have different benefits so for footballers they are best advised to practice something like a deeper stretch in a slower paced class, like Yin or power yoga, where you are holding postures but not for too long.
Footballers are also advised to work a lot on balance, one-legged squats and tree postures, such as Salah, things like that.
Football being an imbalanced sport, you are kicking with one leg more than the other, pushing off and landing on one leg a lot and changing direction suddenly, so improving core strength and balance can be hugely beneficial.
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, for example, has spoken about using yoga and meditation to help keep him calm during games.
Spanish fullback Hector Bellerin has credited Yoga with helping him and his team mates sleep better after evening games.
Most footballers, such as Salah and Ronaldo, practice yoga on an almost daily basis at home, preferring privacy, while others attend classes at studios.
This being the era of marginal gains in football it is no surprise to see something like yoga becoming a bigger part of clubs and players’ routines.