Learn What Professional Athletes Already Know About Yoga For Cross- Training And How You Can Perfect Your Performance In All Sports

Interested in playing a better game of football, or improving your golf swing? It's human nature at its competitive best that drives athletes of all abilities to remain in search of that "magic something" that will give them the edge to perform at a greater level - to somehow realize and maintain a personal goal of peak performance. Therefore, ask the best-of-the-best of any professional athlete, sports scientist, physician, coach or personal trainer on how to improve one's performance and endurance in the sport of their choice, and the experts overwhelmingly agree that cross-training is the answer - and Progressive Power Yoga is cross-training's tour de force.

ACHIEVE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE
Did someone say, "down-set-hike," or "downward dog?" In fact, cross-training is as important (if not more) as natural ability, diet and practice, when it comes to mastering a sport and staying ahead of the game. Many leading sports scientists studying its attributes concur that cross-training with Progressive Power Yoga allows an individual to achieve optimal performance in his or her sport because peak performance in any physical activity requires overall strength and stamina that is not attainable by the repetition of one sport or exercise routine. Now ask the experts what the "magic something" is for cross-training and you may be surprised to find out it's a form of power yoga; as this ancient exercise vastly improves performance in all sports and activities demanding high levels of cardiovascular fitness when performed at power, or progressive power levels.

SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS
The significant benefits of yoga are so definitive that its practice has become a main staple in the grueling workout regimes of professional teams like the New York Knicks, Florida Marlins and Portland Trailblazers to name a few. "I'm living proof that cross-training, specifically to Progressive Power Yoga, is of vital importance in cross-training for performance, as well as injury prevention and injury cure," states noted Yoga Expert Mark Blanchard. Blanchard played semi-pro baseball and college football in New York, before suffering through several major knees operations and shoulder injuries. Urged by his orthopedic surgeon to attend a yoga class to rehab his body, he was utterly hooked from the first downward dog at Norman Allan's studio in Manhattan and quickly realized what yoga does for cross training and injury healing. Blanchard has trained many athletes including Steve Smith, NBA all-star of the San Antonio Spurs. Cincinnati Bengals Wide-Receiver TJ Houshmanzadeh, Two-Time PGA Player of the Year Fred Couples, and many other members of the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball.

GET "THE EDGE"
Blanchard teaches his students that Progressive Power Yoga in all respects gives one "the edge" thanks to its hallmark cache of increasing muscle strength, boosting aerobic fitness, enhancing flexibility, improving performance and assisting in weight control.

"Anytime you assume a bent-over position to play your sport, lung expansion and diaphragmatic breathing are impinged, but the deep "ujjayi" nose breathing practiced during Progressive Power Yoga classes increases power and breath strength throughout your heart and lungs even in bent-over positions," notes Mark Blanchard. "The stronger lungs and heart that you build up in yoga, help circulate oxygenated air more effectively throughout your whole body for more efficient breathing, reaction-time and added coordination-yoga helps you get into the zone instantly."

Progressive Power Yoga Cross-Training Benefits:
Noticeable and greater strength to all muscle groups throughout the body.
Improved leanness, maintained weight control, and consistent calorie burn.
Superior cardiovascular improvement providing more oxygen to muscles.
Fewer injuries decreasing muscle trauma to an overused area by cross-training others.
An improved mental alertness and toughness providing better concentration to sport of choice.
Increased workout intensity improving the muscle's ability to better process lactic acid.

ACCELERATES MUSCLE RECOVERY PROCESS
According to Blanchard this form of yoga also speeds up the muscle recovery process after especially hard training or competition by helping stretch and soothe aching muscles and building stronger joint connections, which helps prevent sports injuries in the first place. "Yoga evens out muscle imbalances by training the body on both sides equally, and strengthening the lower back and abdominals-the root of many sports-related injuries," says Blanchard. "Heavy use of your dominant swinging arm in golf or your racquet arm in racquet sports, for example, often causes imbalances and overuse strain. Yoga makes both sides equal. Also, a stronger middle can send a golf ball flying farther, increase the miles per hour of any tennis serve, or even strengthen your leg muscles to help you land better (and more safely) in gymnastics or ski maneuvers. We practice relaxation and concentration techniques that help golfers tap into their winning tempo during golf swings, " says Blanchard. "Yoga teaches mental focus tricks that help you stay more calm to score in any sport, and we practice guided imagery to help sink baskets or drop the perfect putt."