More NFL Players are Turning to Yoga

Football players put their bodies through a lot during practice and games, which is one of the reasons the NFL has started taking player safety more seriously, and a reason why some players are retiring at early ages and discouraging their children from playing the sport. Despite all the dangers and health issues associated with football, online betting on the sport is at an all-time high, which is another reason the league has to figure out how they can help players remain safe in a very dangerous sport.

While some players try to figure out ways to make their careers longer without having to deal with long-term effects of the sport, others are turning to one of the most unlikely places one would expect athletes to turn to, Yoga.

Yoga has been around for a long time, and is one of the most recommended things to help reduce daily stress. Players like Kevin Boss have been practicing yoga for a while as a means to deal with the injuries and stress of the NFL.

According to Boss, he picked up yoga because his wife has been practicing for years, and recommended it to him. Boss said he doesn’t go to the classes, mostly because of his NFL schedule, but he still makes time to practice at home.

The tight end said the main reason he practices yoga is to help him with his back issues which were caused by football. Boss added that he believes the main reason more players aren’t practicing yoga is because of their egos.

A lot of NFL players believe yoga is for women, which is why they have a hard time wrapping their heads around the concept. Interestingly, if they were so worried about what other people will think of them if they practice yoga publicly, they can always practice at home like Boss and other players do.

For years, current and retired players like Ricky Williams, Eddie George, Troy Polamalu, and Amani Toomer have practiced yoga and have been publicly advocating that players use yoga to help heal the physical problems that they have.

These players started practicing yoga because they know the benefits that they get when they do it. Not only does yoga help you heal muscles, it also helps with your flexibility, balance, posture, and strength.

As an NFL player, these are things that can be useful in extending a player’s career and improve their game. Yoga also helps to improve focus, mental clarity, concentration, and calmness, which also help athletes become better players.

In fact, yoga is held in such high regard by teams like the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, that the team offers yoga classes to their players. One Giants player that can definitely benefit from yoga is Odell Beckham Jr. who seems to have trouble with the mental aspect of the game, and is easily baited by opponents that know how to get into his head.

If Beckham was practicing yoga, he would be able to handle and compartmentalize the trash talk and focus on doing his part to help the team win instead of getting called for penalties that hurt the team.