ATHLETE YOGA
Anchorage, AK
Athletes who practice yoga
Sept. 13, 2000 Sydney Olympics
BRANDI CHASTAIN
"Many of the U.S. players have been doing daily yoga sessions to videotapes that Brandi Chastain brought to Australia at the request of Kate Sobrero. During the last 20-minutes sessions, the U.S. players work on stretching, relaxation and breathing techniques."
San Franciso 49ers Tony Parrish broke his left ankle and fibula in a game against the Bears last November and used yoga to help him regain trust in the injured leg. |
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Parrish uses high-heat yoga to build his midsection. (Here he's moving into Triangle Pose.) He's persuaded teammates to join the growing ranks of NFL players who practice yoga.
"I've been doing yoga since 1995, and I practice my breathing and focusing exercises before every game."
---Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Star
"In sports you need balance, strength, and flexibility, and yoga helps so much in each of those areas. It's definitely been a huge part of my success."
---Sean Burke, NHL All-Star goaltender
Yoga has made my entire body more flexible. I'm stronger in my upper body, and I'm living proof that yoga prevents injuries."
---Eddie George, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL running back
Basketball
- Los Angeles Lakers (#1, #2, #3, #4)
- Portland Trail Blazers (#1, #2)
- Miami Heat (some members) (#1)
- Shaquille O'Neal (#1, #2)
- Grant Hill (#1)
- Kevin Garnett (#1)
- David Robinson (#1, #2, #3, #4)
- Karl Malone (some yoga stretches) (#1)
- Austin Croshere (#1)
- Kwame Brown (Phoenix) (#1)
- Matt Geiger (#1)
- Lisa Leslie (#1, #2)
- Natalie Williams - Indiana Fever (Broadcasters relate interview during May 31, 2003 game before halftime.)
- Olympia Scott-Richardson (#1)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabar (#1, #2, #3)
- Robert Parish (#1)
- Maurice Lucas (#1)
- Virginia Cavaliers (#1)
- Kaspars Kambala (UNLV) (#1)
- Brian Jackson (Oregon State) (#1)
Football
- MIanmi Dolphins (#1, #2, #3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (#1, #2)
- New York Giants (#1 #2, #3, #4)
- Eddie George (#1, #2, #3)
- Shannon Sharpe (#1)
- Jon Kitna (Seattle) (#1)
- Tony Banks (Washington) (#1)
- Ted Johnson (New England) (#1, #2, #3)
- Brandon Mitchell (New England) (#1)
- Tracy Scroggins (Detroit) (#1)
- Tim Biakabutuka (Carolina) (#1, #2, #3)
- Tim Dwight (San Diego) (#1)
- Ricky Watters (Seattle) (#1, #2)
- Michael Strahan (NY Giants) (#1)
- Dan Marino (#1)
Baseball
- Chicago Cubs (#1, #2 #3)
- Barry Bonds (#1)
- Reggie Sanders (Arizona) (#1, #2)
- Barry Zito (Oakland) (#1)
- Matt Harrington (pro prospect) (#1)
- Carlos Delgado (Toronto) (#1)
Tennis
- Pete Sampras
- Patrick Rafter (#1, #2)
- Mark Philippoussis (#1, #2)
- Andy Roddick (#1)
- Greg Rusedski (#1)
- Todd Martin (#1)
- Jerome Golmard (#1, #2)
- Alex O'Brien (#1, #2)
- Justin Gimelstob (#1, #2)
- Max Mirnyi (#1)
- Jeff Tarango (#1)
- Leander Paes (#1, #2)
- Venus Williams (#1)
- Serena Williams (#1, #2)
- Lindsay Davenport (#1)
- Martina Hingis (#1)
- Amelie Mauresmo (#1)
- Sonya Jayaseelan (#1)
- John McEnroe (#1, #2, #3)
- Patrick McEnroe (#1)
- Cedric Pioline (#1)
- Guillermo Vilas (#1)
- Yannick Noah (#1)
Golf
- Hollis Stacey (#1)
- Jill McGill (#1)
- Sally Dee (#1)
- Jesper Parnevik (#1, #2, #3, #4)
- Eduardo Romero (European Tour) (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5)
- Swedish Golf Team (#1)
- Pierre Fulke (#1)
- Grant Waite (#1)
- Andrew Magee (#1)
- Gary McCord (#1)
- Gary Player (#1, #2)
- David Graham (#1)
- Ty Tryon (#1)
Track & Field/Running
- Dan O'Brien (Decathlon) (#1, #2)
- Carl Lewis (#1, #2)
- Cathy Freeman (#1, #2)
- Silvio Guerra (Marathon) (#1)
- Gabe Jennings (#1, #2)
- Parry O'Brien (Shot Put) (#1)
Hockey
Soccer
- US Women's National Team (#1, #2)
- Carolina Courage (#1)
- Colorado Rapids (#1, #2)
- John Scales (#1)
- Frankie Hejduk (US Team) (#1)
- Charry Ann Korgel (Atlanta) (#1)
Swimming
- Jenny Thompson (#1, #2)
- Haley Cope (#1)
- Ian Thorpe (#1)
- Elka Graham (#1, #2 (Click on more stats))
- Allison Sheppard (#1)
- Misty Hyman (#1)
- Gabrielle Rose (Stanford) (#1)
Triathlon
- Julie Moss (#1)
- Paula Newby-Fraser (Recommends yoga) (#1)
- Colleen Cannon (Yoga & Meditation at her sports camps) (#1)
Cycling
Skiing/Snowboarding
- Thomas Brandi (#1)
- Jean-Pierre Vidal ( #1)
- Sarah Schlepper (#1, #2)
- Emily Cook (Freestyle) (#1)
- Lisa Kosglow (#1)
- Megan Pischke (Snowboarding) (#1)
- Barrett Christy (Snowboarding) (#1)
Boxing
Volleyball
Personal Trainers
- Pat Riley (#1)
- Joseph Grassadonia (On Fitness Magazine) (#1)
- Jon O'Haire (US Men's Soccer Coach recommends it for goalkeepers) (#1)
- Jerry Lynch (Sports Psychologist) (#1)
- Stephen Cox (Squash Teaching Pro) (#1)
- Michael Pinckney, MD (#1)
