Coach Davies and Yoga

Coach, Kato posted a while back that you have a yoga program for your athletes. I am a BEGINNER at this, but I would like to know the specific routine you have them do. Also, what is your theory/philosophy/reason for this, other than flexibility work? I come everyday to the forum, and I have TRULY appreciated your time and shared wisdom. I have been incorporating your workouts into my everyday life, and after only the second workout, I can feel a difference in my fitness level on a day-to-day basis. It’s addictive! THANKS!

Hey another great topic Jeremy. I utilize stretch’s common found in yoga. Flexibility is horrible overlooked. Typically male athletes ignore it and it often costs there career dearly. Amazing, how many athletes I get who can barely touch there toes and they just cant understand why they are unable to come in and out of there cuts or many other sport functions. As it pertains to yoga, I use it to highten concentrations for my athletes. I would suggest you review Pavels writing on flexibility training as well. Hey lets talk some more. In faith, Coach Davies

Coach, it doesn’t look like this thread was as popular. I think you’re right…flexibility is one of the LAST things people concern themselves with. When you say that you use yoga to heighten concentration, are you telling your athletes to pay attention to their breath, their body’s sensations, or something else entirely?

well you are right, looks like we’ve got some private forum setup. Hey thats all right. You are right on all accounts. Stretching is one of the keys in athletic development and to unlock your potential you need to work on this.
Let me know what I can do to help. If no-one else joins in thats all right - as long as I help you. In faith, Coach Davies

Put me in coach!

I am very interested in this topic, but didn’t have any real input…

Coach, what are some stretches or stretching techniques you like? I prefer dynamic/ballistic stretches before workouts and static/PNF after.

Yeah I’m in on this one too…great topic Jeremy. I really believe now taht strecthing is a huge part of Athletic performance. I belive that is why some of my lifts are suffering, because I have horrible flexibility. I know Dave Tate reccomends pavel’s work also, but he does say that its not very easy to understand and his programs are a bit confusing. Does anyone have experience with Kurz’s book?

Please include me as well on this VERY overlooked topic.

I had the opportunity to attend the Testosterone/Biotest seminar in Orlando in January. Coach King was there, and said the same thing - stretching/flexibility is the most overlooked issue in strength training.

The fun part was the second day of the conference. We all moved into a large ballroom, and Coach King led us through 50-minutes stretching session. He was doing stretches, leg splits, etc. that would have made any gymnast proud (e.g., that thing where you’re sitting on the floor, legs split in opposite directions, and he’s got his chest on the floor as well!).

Anyway, from the sound of it you would have thought you were in the middle of a porno orgy scence, what with all the groaning and puffing going on. Some very 'buff' guys in there only had a "waving" relationship to their toes.

One big ‘yes’ on a stretching discussion!
T.E.

just wanted to say that I too am interested in hearing Coach Davies thoughts on flexibility. It is an aspect of training that I have ignored for too long and I know it is hurting my progress. BTW, I just ordered Pavel’s relax into stretching book.

Count me in on this as well. Coach, what stretches would you recommend for cold weather endurance training? Up here in MT I sometimes have to run in sub-zero winter temps and although I love the exhilaration I fear muscle pulls. I am naturally quite flexible despite being “blocky”, so this has probably saved me some wear and tear over the years. I usually stretch for about twenty five minutes prior to running, utilizing all the basic sports stretches with some martial arts stretches thrown in. By the way, nothing beats running through knee deep snow in heavy boots for a fully functional ass kicking. Thanks for the time.

hetyey225, Beautiful point about starting age!..The average starting age of NHL
pros is between 3-5…Most Canadiens and northern Europeans learn to skate before
they can walk!..(no kidding.)…I played street hockey at age 4 but didn’t learn to skate
until age 8, and didn’t play ice hockey untill age 10…That’s why I never made it to the
“SHOW.”…Thanks for your prompt, intelligent reply…(Joey Z.)

I usually do some light stretching before a workout with a bit more thorough stretch after the workout. I had read somewhere that too much stretching was bad and would weaken the muscle, joints & conective tissue… I know it sounds pretty lame… how often and what types of stretching should I be doing?

Bump. Why? Because I wanna, that’s why. Coach, any thoughts on my previous question (cold weather training)?

Coach, thanks for your reply. It seems to me like yoga is a FUNCTIONAL way to stretch, so that’s why I’m interested in it. In addition, it seems that yoga also helps to develop concentration (as you mentioned), so I figure why not work on both things at once. I guess if I had a specific question, it would be: do you have a specific series of movements that you recommend? Again, do you just have them concentrate on breathing or the body’s sensations, and is your reason for having them do so based on simple practice of “focus”, or are you trying to actually get your athletes to know what their body “feels” like?

Arent yoga, pilates and that stuff all abunch of fluff for soccer moms and homos? You can t all the benifite from other things without losing your nuts. ANyone with me?

well looks like we’ve got a number of readers after-all. Unfortunately many North American s consider flexibility training “fluffy” but it directly relates to power and explosion. Also most of those who take stretching lightly are too soft to really work themselves. All athletes need to involved themselves into a total stretching program. I utilize a series of yoga stretches (which it looks like I better post somewhere) and would also suggest Pavels book in everyone’s library. If improving performance/reducing back pain/assisting in muscular co-ordination isnt enough then I do know. And having Testosterone doesnt mean you are inflexible, inflexible just means you likely will be unable to use your muscle to its fullist. I hope I can convince you all to stretch more. In faith, Coach Davies

Demo Dick, cold weather training ROCKS. My four legged shepard/wolf mix LOVES the cold and snow…so she drags my raggedy ass out for a run whenever she spots the first flake. One thing I do a lot of prior to cold weather running is crossovers…that hip twisting sideways motion where you bring right across left then left across right…moving sideways. It really limbers up the hips nicely. I also feel that if your warmed up prior to going outside…your just fine. As far as stretching, I think most T-men dont realize that it can be just as brutal as weight training. I have puked before from forced stretches in my MA classes. Secondly, yoga teaches you (just as the MA do) that just because you get flexibility doesnt mean you can use it. It is a twofold issue…first getting the flexibility, then building the strength to use it. Yoga teaches both. To give an example, it is like a beginner MA who can lift his leg all the way up to his head, but cannot kick that high. It is because he doesnt have the strength to use that flexibility effectivly. There is the other end of the spectrum where you have a tremendously strong individual…who cannot use that strength effectivly at all due to a lack of flexibility. You need both to maximize your effective real world power.

Coach, Which of Pavel’s two stretching books do you recommend starting with, “Beyond Stretching” or “Relax Into Stretch?”

Count me in. Too tired now to ask questions. Me talk later. See you now bye bye.

Yoga has been practiced for hundreds and hundreds of years, but when it gets homogenised and brand-named for the Fitness Centre experience, people get distracted from its real usefulness. Get a decent book on it, and you can avoid the testicular shrinkage involved with group exercise classes by practicing it at home. You have nothing to lose but your preconcieved notions.