Fitness was traditionally never a concern for golfers, but it is now. Every inch or yard a player can gain over an opponent could be the difference between making the cut or not. One of the most successful golfers of all time, Tiger Woods, was one of the first golfer’s to prove how much of an impact fitness and strength can have on your game. He was a beast of nature when in his prime. Players like Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have followed suit since but yoga is actually just as crucial for golfer’s as it improves a number of elements that will effect your swing, mental power, balance and strength which will lower your scores.
A company called ‘Yoga for Golfers’ was set up 15 years ago and can be found in many countries including USA, Canada, England, France and Spain. Worldwide Golf got in touch with Beatrice Martin, who is based in Biarritz, France as a ‘Yoga For Golf’ instructor to find out what benefits this practice has and how it can improve your game. 1/ What makes yoga so beneficial for golfers? Yoga improves a person’s golf game by optimising their physical and mental performances. It increases the amplitude of the torso rotation from 20 to 40% and prevents back pain and other specific golf related injuries. A regular Yoga for Golfers practice will allow you to have:
- More flexibility and strength => which translates on the course by more distance and accuracy.
- A better breathing technique => allowing to keep a calm mind and also to have a better tempo in the swing.
- Better balance => giving more control during the ascent and descent phases of the swing and a good weight transfer.
- Greater overall fitness => which will reduce the risk of injury and recovery time allowing golfers to play better, longer, with more confidence and enjoyment.
2/ How long has ‘Yoga for Golfers France’ been a company and who came up with the idea? Yoga for Golfers® was created more than 15 years ago by Katherine Roberts, whom is a leader and an innovator in the world of golf fitness. Her unique and highly effective approach blends yoga, science, and proprietary golf-specific, conditioning strategies into one powerful methodology. She is well recognised on the PGA and LPGA Tours. Today it is no longer a secret that many Tour pros practice yoga and meditation to improve their game. I certified as a yoga teacher at YogaWorks, New York, under Alan Finger’s supervisory in 2005. Later I focussed on a more therapeutic practice taking an Ayurveda specialisation in India. Then I continued my education with an advanced Yoga for Golfers training in Scottsdale, Arizona, alongside the famous Katherine Roberts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-arvnyFVtM Now ‘Yoga for Golfers France’ offers to accompany athletes, especially golfers, in their physical and mental preparation in France and Spain. I am offering personalised, one-on-one instruction, at their training location or while on Tour. I am based in Biarritz during the summer and Marbella during the winter, but travel worldwide if necessary. 4/ Have you worked with any professionals? If so, who? And what were their views of the session? I have worked a couple of young professional players called Leo Lespinasse and Ariane Provost. They both came to me at a time when they needed re-centering and to find a way to quiet their minds on the course.
Working on the 3 planes of movement, on and off the greens pic.twitter.com/ANdE3IQRdB
— Beatrice Martin (@Yogabeabiarritz) February 27, 2014
The sessions gave them the skills necessary to cope with their inner dialogue on the golf course and improve their focus. It also taught them outcome visualisation, which is essential to playing better. Yoga for Golfers, though, is beneficial for golfers of all abilities. 5/ Is yoga usually good for a golfer to do before or after playing? Both. If done before, it will:
- Increase blood flow to the muscles
- Increase the core body temperature
- Prepare the neuromuscular system, supporting better coordination
- Promote flexibility and strength
- Reduce the risks of injury
- Prepare the golfer mentally and boosts their confidence
– Enable golfers to play their best game, right from the first tee! If done after , it will:
- Help the body to recover faster
- Make the golfer accept the results.
6/ Famous footballers like Ryan Giggs used yoga as a way to extend his playing career, do you think this same ideology works in golf? Definitely! At the most basic level, golf and yoga are the same. Both use the intentional and dynamic movements of the body in three planes of motion; the frontal plane, the sagittal plane and the transverse plane. Focusing on the biomechanics of the body through the golf swing, we use yoga postures to improve balance and coordination to achieve a fluid and more controlled movement. Without forgetting the importance of proper breathing. This will not only extend the player’s career but will also enhance his daily life. 7/ How are your classes different than a normal yoga class? For me every player is unique this is why besides the workshops, I do only one on one sessions. The private class will enable you to receive a program tailored to your needs. In addition to the physical work you will learn how to manage stress and tension on the course, to maximise your pre-shot routine, to address all the shots with confidence and play with more excitement and relaxation. Each personal program will start with a physical assessment. Whether you’re a beginner, a junior, a regular golfer, or an elite player, my job is to work with you to help you reach your goals and to bring the player’s body and mind in harmony. 8/ Are there any other services you offer aside from yoga? Yes, I am also an Ayurveda therapist, therefore I am offering consultations and massages. I organise Yoga and golf retreats, as well as golf and wine tours in France and Spain. If you want to find out more about ‘Yoga For Golfers France’ or book yourself in for a session, you check out: http://www.yogaforgolfersfrance.com
