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flexibility to the muscles of the body involved in
the mechanics of the golf swing – primarily the
spine, shoulders and legs.
THE PHYSICAL GAME
It is no wonder that many golfers suffer from
back and shoulder strain. As I learned at the
driving range this past weekend, the repetitive
movement of rotating the upper and lower body in
both directions requires a great deal of
flexibility. The number one injury seen in
professional and amateur golfers occurs in the lower
back. When the lower back is injured, anticipation
of pain often results in hesitation and tension in
the swing.
The golf swing can strain the
joints and muscles in even the most fit and
efficient golfer. For many flexibility or fluidity
may be more difficult to achieve than strength and
stability. A regular yoga practice will provide a
balance of both strength and flexibility to enhance
your swing. Baron Baptiste (a yoga instructor known
for his work with the Philadelphia Eagles and author
of “Journey Into Power”) says to consider a “lone
tree whipping in the winds of a hurricane. A
brittle, stiff tree will crack and fall, with a
fluid, flexible tree will bend and lean, ultimately
withstanding the fiercest of storms.”
THE MENTAL GAME
Yoga can also help your mental game. In his
book, Training a Tiger: A Father’s Guide to
Raising a Winner in Golf and Life (Harper
Collins, 1998), Earl Woods, father of golf great
Tiger Woods, reminds his son, “If you don’t clutter
your conscious mind with endless pointers and tips,
you make it easier for your subconscious instincts
to guide you.”
The mind, like the body, needs
to be trained and disciplined to achieve consistent
peak performance. There is no better way to
accomplish this than with the practice of yoga. In
Sanskrit, the word dharana is concentration – to
think of the same thing repeatedly. It is also
sometimes used as a synonym for meditation.
Actually, all people practice dharana intermittently
throughout the day. Anytime you concentrate
on one thing for a period of time you are practicing
dharana. The breath naturally slows down at
these times. This slowing and even stoppage of the
breath is a sign of deep concentration. This
one pointed concentration is essential to the golf
game. As you master concentration or dharana, the
flow of concentration becomes smooth and
uninterrupted.
Balancing poses are also a
great way to emphasize concentration. If you have
experienced sliding forward or backward in the golf
swing you understand the importance of good
balance. The more you can quiet the mind, move
inward, and focus on one single point, the ability
to balance becomes easier. Similarly in golf, the
ability to focus on one task and quiet the mind
enhances the fluidity and repetitiveness of the
stroke.
TIPS TO REMEMBER
- Begin slowly targeting the
areas that you believe to hold the greatest
challenges.
- “No pain – no gain” does
not apply to yoga. Relax and breathe deeply
into the postures.
- Maintain proper body
alignment to avoid injury.
- Practice yoga poses
before, during and after your game. Continuous
practice of the poses on the golf course will
keep your swing fluid and offset muscle soreness
after the round.
Your body will take time to
experience greater flexibility, strength and
balance. And your mind will even take longer to
still. With consistent effort you will increase
your driving distance, improve posture and balance
during your swing, and enhance overall performance. 
Please click here for additional information
or if you would like to contact the
author of this article, Bonnie Ben-David. Thank you!
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hand, has been a skeptic. That is until recently.
He has been doing several “yoga stretches” for lower
back pain for about 3 months. He often admits the
pain is diminishing. However, two weeks ago, he
played golf for the first time since beginning his
yoga routine. He was amazed. Each club distance
increased by 15%. He couldn’t believe it, but the
proof was in every full swing.
