JOGA


What is JOGA?

JOGA is a movement system made up of the benefits of yoga combined with the Bio-mechanics of Sport, created specifically for an athletes body, and an athletes mindset. It is the only type of “yoga” an athlete should be doing, and a dominating force in the fitness industry. JOGA enhances athletic performance, improves concentration, decreases recovery time and ultimately, transforms an athletes game. JOGA gives athletes an edge over their competition. This edge is earned.

How is it different? JOGA vs. Yoga

Introducing traditional yoga poses designed for a very flexible, “bendy body” does not align what an athlete’s kinetic environment needs to be. The postures in JOGA involve a combination of dynamic and static stretching as opposed to traditional long holds. The movements within the postures are designed to improve athletic ability and agility as well as coordination and breath pattern. The movements are intended to build muscle memory and balance joint stability/mobility with an increased range of motion, which are indispensable to injury prevention. JOGA is the system that truly benefits an athlete in preparation and recovery for their sport.

Three Componants

1. POSTURES
• Postures are designed to incorporate power and flexibility while challenging balance and core strength.
• Specific anatomical cues are used to find symmetry in the body so it operates with higher efficiency and lower effort
• Postures and sequences address anatomical imbalances to reduce the chance of unconditioned muscles becoming fragile and compensating muscles getting tighter.
• Precise postures are included to build joint stability and improve joint mobility.

2. BREATHING
• These techniques are used to coordinate breath with movement as well as increase range of motion and unison of mind and body.
• Stretched breath control is used to maximize lung capacity and channel oxygen into the blood flow more efficiently while simultaneously releasing carbon dioxide and monoxide from the muscle fibers. This encourages injury prevention and enhances performance.
• Specialized breathing exercises are included to balance the left and right side of the brain (balancing sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems) and to elicit a calm state of mind.

3. RELAXATION
• Restorative yoga postures are used to encourage muscles, connective tissue and joints to release, which ultimately increases range of motion and longevity.
• Specific relaxation tools are used to encourage the mind to remain calm and nonreactive while the body is being challenged physically.
• Particular breathing techniques and phrases are practiced to calm the mind and ease any anxiety/pressure that comes with being an elite athlete.

Our Classes

1. JOGA “Fire Starter”
2. JOGA “The Danger Zone”
3. JOGA “Weakest Links”
4. JOGA REGEN “The Silent Victories”

Programming

Whether you are a beginner, advanced or injured, the cueing system I use will allow each athlete success and understanding their maximum potential in their own body limitations. Manage common sports injuries; regain stabilization, strength & conditioning and most importantly, integrate core activation and the importance of breath mechanics. JOGA instruction can be broken down and used on its own as a Dynamic Warm –Up or as Active Recovery.

JOGA Programming stems from the 4 Different JOGA Programs and is tailored to suit the specific sport and the athletes.

JOGA “FIRE STARTER”

The first segment, the Fire Starter, is meant to build heat in the body by utilizing breath and movement. It isolates the smaller muscle groups around the joints and engages the deep core muscles. This segment builds more power, range of motion, and more focused attention and coordination of the mind and the body by focusing on the breath, the smaller muscle groups and the core.

JOGA “THE DANGER ZONE”

The second segment, the Danger Zone, focuses on physical strength and endurance while maintaining a sense of calm in the mind. The postures in this segment challenge the body physically as they are quite demanding in terms of upper body and core strength. Techniques are used throughout this segment to keep the mind non-reactive while the body is in a place of physical exertion. The idea is to take the practice of this mind control from the mat to the competition of sport.

JOGA “WEAKEST LINKS”

The third segment, the Weakest Links, is inspired by the quote, “An organization is as strong as its weakest link.” This principle is transferable to the human body. Our body is only as strong as our weakest link and commonly this includes both our core and balance, which are interdependent of each other. This segment focuses on how to access core strength and use this core strength to find balance.

JOGA REGEN “THE SILENT VICTORIES”

The fourth segment is called the Silent Victories. This segment includes the benchmark postures, which are used to measure increased flexibility and range of motion. They are silent victories because often we place more importance on, and celebrate, gains in muscle tone or weight loss rather than gains associated with stretching connective tissue and deep fascia. It is in this fourth segment that the results of the entire Joga program (in terms of finding that balance of strength and flexibility) become apparent.

The best results are achieved by setting up a series of ongoing training, over a minimum of 4 to 8 sessions.