5/5/20230 Comments By now you’ve probably read or heard many times that yoga can help skaters with issues they have to tackle: performance anxiety Plus, there are other “fitness” based areas that yoga can help skaters improve–balance, strength, flexibility, proprioceptive awareness, etc. Yoga is not enough to fix all our problems, but it can help us see them in a new light and learn to stand steady and undisturbed while facing them. It can help us turn a journey based on comparison into a journey of self-actualization. In the past few decades, Western society has turned yoga into just another fitness trend, overcome with commercialization and commodification. The roots of yoga go back thousands of years, though, and have a much deeper purpose and meaning than trying to skim off body fat or achieve a “look” promoted by the beauty standards of the moment. Yoga began as a spiritual practice and a way to become closer to one’s true inner purpose. To fulfill this path requires consistent, dedicated practice. There are lots of sacred teachings regarding yoga going back thousands of years. The most commonly referenced text today is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which begins with this definition of yoga. yogas citta vritti nirodhah Patanjali also outlines an 8-fold path to achieving this fulfillment, often called a path to self-realization. The 8-limbs are as follows:
When applied to the skating journey, the 8 limbs can turn a path obsessed See the image below for an skating journey application of the 8 limbs. You can alsovisit this earlier post for a slightly more in-depth explanation. Practicing the 8 limbs teaches us to redirect our focus from the outcome to the process. The "goal" listed here is the experience--those moments where it all comes together and the skater finds the zone. Really, though, the goal is just to experience the process in the most fulfilling way possible. Th If yoga is more about the mental journey to a blissful experience–for a skater, this could be performing while in the zone, for example–then where does Asana fit into the picture? To get started, do a quick warm-up of 3-5 sun salutations or a couple of minutes of jumping jacks, then start with this list ofasanasI’ve compiled- top yoga poses for figure skaters. Virasana (Hero’s Pose) and Supta Virasana (Reclined Hero’s) This is called a gateway posture by many yoga teachers, as it works internal rotation of the thighs. In jumps, the landing leg is internally rotated while the free leg is very slightly externally rotated. Much of the traditional “stretching” for skating is all about external rotation. Virasana combats that. Plus, the reclined version is great to work the chronically overworked quads and hip flexors of skaters. To practice: 1) Begin in a kneeling position with the knees together and the feet just to the outside of the hips. If you feel pain, either sit higher, or don’t hold the posture as long. For the reclined version:
Tadasana (Mountain/Palm Tree Pose) and Utthita Tadasana (Extended Palm Tree Pose) Tadasana is the foundational standing posture used to inform all standing postures. It offers us a chance to really break down how we stand and pay attention to our alignment, as well as practice breath awareness. We come back to standing in Tadasana after other standing postures and short sequences to take time to pause and check in with our breath and notice the effects of each asana on the body. Much of the practice involves cultivating awareness and observation with curiosity, rather than judgment. To practice:
For Extended Palm Tree:
Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose) But, wait. You thought the first precept of yoga was non-violence? Why are we practicing a pose called warrior? Warrior I is not an actual translation– Vir (as we saw in our first pose above) means “hero” and bhadra means “friend”, and together as virabhadra is sometimes translated to English as “auspicious hero”. The mythology behind the name is quite interesting and beyond the nature of this post, but sufficeth to say that the story is often seen as a metaphor for killing the ego and getting rid of fear and doubt, so we can reach our full potential and purpose. To practice:
Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose) Vasisthasana is a must do for skaters. Very few poses can be applied as many times to skating as this one. Literally, every time you are gliding on an edge, you apply vasisthasana. It works on stabilizing and strengthening the hips, which is a key component of skating. To practice:
Purvottanasana (Upward Plank Pose) Purvottasana is a great pose to strengthen the posterior chain, an often neglected yet crucial series of muscles for skating success. A strong posterior chain is key for propulsion (i.e. stroking and liftoff), air position, and landing jumps, and it’s key for preventing injuries related to the overuse of the front of the body (i.e. quads and hip flexors). A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and this pose works the entire back body, with a special focus on the muscles around the spine and the glutes. To practice:
To practice:
The 8 limbs of yoga are a powerful framework to help transform the skating journey into one of self-actualization, rather than comparison and competition. For most skaters, the easiest way to get started in the 8 limbs is with the third limb - asana, or the physical postures of yoga. These poses are a great way to do that. Read next week’s post to learn a few more. 0 Comments | Author // the skating yogiMy name is Sarah Neal. I have been immersed in the world of figure skating for over four decades. I have seen firsthand the abuse that happens at the higher levels of our sport and experienced how that trickles down into unhealthy training practices and habits at the grassroots. I have seen this play out in the operations of the very institutions that control our sport.Whether for a professionor hobby, pursuing skating should be a joyful, rewarding process,an opportunity for athletic and personal growth, and a place to build lasting friendships.Following the framework of Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga and my unique application of the 8 limbs to the skating journey, I help skating folks of all ages learn to train smarter, skate better, and enjoy the process.The Skating Yogi offers space and support to help you, through yoga, release harmful conditioned beliefs and habits to let a new path unfold, leading you to true connection and contentment. Ditch the comparisons and begin to connect with your true self and to a new kind of skating journey. ArchivesOctober 2023 CategoriesAllAthlete Well BeingAthlete Well-BeingDeep ConnectionsEmbodied Movement And Meditation PracticesLife After CompetitionMindful Living RSS Feed |
FAQs
Does yoga help figure skaters? ›
Indeed, the physical practice of yoga can be very helpful for figure skating success. Asana (yoga postures) helps build strength, flexibility, awareness, and balance, and through their coordination with the breath, it improves our stress response and helps recalibrate the nervous system.
How should figure skaters train off ice? ›- PENDULUM.
- LATERAL LUNGES.
- SWISS BALL KNEE CURLS.
- HAMSTRING CURLS.
- BALL TRANSFERS.
- ONE LEG DEADLIFT.
- ADDUCTOR SIDE PLANK.
- Arm swings.
- Progressive leg swings and kicks.
- Squats, gradually getting deeper.
- Trunk rotation as for the static stretching, but performed rapidly.
- Jumps on two legs, then one.
- Footwork drills.
- Spirals, spins or splits.
Because female athletes tend to have lower percentages of body fat (due to their constant training), the size of the breasts tend to be smaller, which can cause many women to feel self-conscious.
How many hours a day do figure skaters train? ›In competitions, skaters must perform a certain set of movements. They need to perfect all the required moves for their routines. Skaters train for three to six hours every day.
What a figure skater eats in a day? ›Breakfast: Smoothie, egg wrap, yogurt, and corn flakes. Snacks: Yogurt, dark chocolate almonds, fruit, or Special K bars. Lunch: Meat sandwich, yogurt, fruit. Dinner: Rice, pasta, or bread with fish, red meat, or chicken, plus a vegetable and sometimes soup.
Is Pilates good for figure skaters? ›Pilates offers proprioceptive awareness that allows for skaters to make quick adjustments in mid-air, improve their balance, and learn to apply their core strength to each movement, which is more than enough reason for all ice queens and kings to sign up at their local studios.
Why do ice skaters pull their arms in? ›If you're initially rotating with your arms outstretched, then when you draw your arms inward, your moment of inertia decreases. This means that your angular velocity must increase, and you spin faster.
How do you eat like a figure skater? ›For a strength and power sport like figure skating, focus on getting the correct amount of protein and the carbs will likely follow: try to keep it in the 4:1 ratio of carbs to protein. While fat is an important part of an athlete's diet, eating low-fat recovery foods will help you absorb carbohy- drates quickly.
What do figure skaters do at the gym? ›Exercise | Reps |
---|---|
Squats | 20 |
Plyometric push-ups (using a bench or chair) | 20 |
Prone plank | 30-45 seconds |
Jumping jacks | 20 |
Can I figure skate if I'm not flexible? ›
You don't need to be flexible to start figure skating! While being flexible can help you, it's not going to keep you from learning how to ice skate. Don't let not being flexible keep you from learninf how to figure skate!
How to do the butterfly stretch? ›To do a butterfly stretch:
On a yoga mat, lie on your back with your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor. Bring the soles of your feet together and allow your knees to fall comfortably out to your sides and towards the floor. Focus on breathing slowly as you hold this position. Return to the starting position.
Yoga brings with it many physical and psychological benefits that not only give you the tightly toned body you've dreamt of, but also improve your mental health and overall wellbeing in ways that can completely transform your life.
Does dance help with figure skating? ›Dance is an essential component of figure skating, as it helps skaters develop the artistic expression and movement needed to perform at a high level. One of the key benefits of dance training for figure skaters is improved body awareness and control.