The ancient practices of yoga have much in common with golf, which is also a very old pastime. In fact, learning to properly hit a golf ball is remarkably like the process of learning yoga postures; and the mental and emotional awareness which is required to play golf consistently well is the central theme in a well-constructed yoga practice. The exercises are physical in nature, and (properly performed) will create a body that is flexible, structurally aligned, balanced, and well toned. They create elastic strength, not bulk.

Depending on a person's needs, the exercises can be physically demanding or quite relaxing: a yoga workout can dramatically increase strength and flexibility at the same time, and release tightness and tension from stiff muscles. Everything is done with controlled breathing: when combined with the precision of performing the postures correctly the mind is fully engaged. The result is that a yoga workout is a mental discipline, training the mind to be more attentive to details in ever increasing subtlety.

Anyone who seriously takes up golf soon realizes that attention to subtle details is necessary for steady improvement. Yoga practices also work with emotional issues (just like golf) and breath awareness gives a player the tools to manage his or her emotions on the golf course. The breath is intimately connected to a person's emotional state: by developing some sensitivity to the breath one can manage the impact of anxiety, anger, excitement and even fatigue, and perform free of their distracting influences. A body that is aligned and in balance is not likely to be injured, even with an ambitious practice schedule. Still injuries can happen in a variety of ways so the yoga traditions have developed "restorative" postures to hasten healing and restore balance.

Tony Criscuolo

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