Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Center: “There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga. My friends and teammates think I made a deal with the devil. But it was yoga that made my training complete.”

Jordan Farmar/Guard/Lakers: 

“We’re playing a lot of games back-to-back and have many practices, so being able to take care of your body is the number one thing. Stretching and keeping your body loose, fluid and ready to play will help to prevent injuries and to perform at your maximum capabilities. Combining those two help lead to a successful career.”

Lamar Odom/Forward/Lakers:  “This is the time of year where we become a little bit more intense and pick up the focus and do our meditation and look to be the best.”  ESPN

Wally Sczcerbiak/Shooting Guard/Minnesota Timberwolves:  “Last year I really got into yoga before the season just to get loose and stretch and to keep my body free from lactic acid. It really helped me stay away from injuries, and I felt good the whole year. I think it has really helped my career.”  Excerpted from: “Real Men Do Yoga” written by John Capouya

Tanner Eriksen/Pitcher/Arizona Diamondbacks: “In baseball, the longer the muscle, the more powerful. For pitching, you want to be long and loose like a rubber band. That’s what gives you good arm extension and when your longer, you’re getting more leverage.” Excerpted from: “Real Men Do Yoga” written by John Capouya

LeBron James/Miami Heat: “Yoga was one of the secrets to his endurance over the long NBA season and to my defensive versatility.” The Miami Herald

Baron Baptiste/Yogi Master to Pro Athletes: “Yoga really can help athletes not only perform better but connect to their bodies, to give them a deeper meaning of what it is to be an athlete and to help their sport becoe another form of yoga. Instead of living in a win-lose world, this actually lets the sport itself become a yoga practice, turning your tennis into your Zen-ness.” YogaJournal

Tim Thomas/Goalie/Boston Bruins: “I also did some yoga, which sounds kind of funny. I actually didn’t know how much it was going to help, but it helps balance out your body. They try to find weaknesses in your body and work on them so they catch up with the rest of your body.  Your body is more balanced overall in terms of both flexibility and strength. A lot of the techniques have to do with balance. Not that I think my balance was bad, but it certainly is better now.” yogadork.com

Annie Akers/Pro Volleyball Player: “It took one class and I noticed a significant difference in my shoulders.”  Life.gaiam.com

Carter Lord/Football: “I used to be  in a lot of pain—back pain and general tightness from years of hard charging, no stretching and football. I had a lot of hits and even though I started doing chiropractic, nothing helped me much until I started doing yoga. I am now mostly pain free.” Life.gaiam.com

Diane Weiss/Triathlete: “I think injury prevention and core strengthening are the obvious benefits of yoga. But after practicing and teaching yoga for almost 7 years, now I most appreciate the mental edge yoga has given me. It’s taught me to truly ‘go to my edge.’ Whether I’m trying to extend fully in dancer’s pose or trying to push the last 200 meters of the running leg at collegiate nationals.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Kevin Garnett/NBA: “I’ve been doing yoga since 1995, and I practice my breathing and focusing exercises before every game.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Dudley LaPorte/Tight End: “The quality of the stretch…the level of mental concentration that is gained. These same skills that I used in yoga, breathing and being calm are the same things that I will apply to the football field during big time plays and situations.”  Kukhahnyoga.com

J.L. Lewis/Pro Golfer: “Flexibility is the most important thing for a golfer. The yoga stretches made my swing longer-there’s no question about it. The added range of motion enabled me to get a better turn and power through the ball.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Sean Larkin/Racquetball: Many times I had thought that ‘that’s’’ for girls or girly men; not for real athletes. I had a lot to learn. Very quickly I became astutely aware that this was not just a stretching routine, THIS IS A FULL BLOWN WORKOUT-fit for athletes training at the highest level.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Justin Gimelstob/ATP Tennis Player: “Yoga saved my career. I was facing back surgery, and tried yoga instead. Now my back isi n great shape, plus the yoga is an unbelievable workout. I’m a total convert.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Deyl Kearin/Triathelete: “I love to challenge myself. It greatly increased my flexibility.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Eddie George/Heisman Trophy Winner/NFL Running Back: “Yoga has made my entire body more flexible. I’m stronger in my upper body, and I’m living proof that yoga prevents injuries.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Blake McFarland/Pitcher: “I believe it has helped my game tremendously. It gives me strength in muscles I have never used before. I seem way more fluid on the mound. Yoga showed me how to utilize the mind.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Carols Alonso/3^rd Baseman: “My flexibility increased a tremendous amount. I think it was able to keep me healthy throughout the whole season. Yoga helps you have quiet time in your day where you can relax and focus.” Kukhahnyoga.com

Brian Gregory/Catcher/Cal State: “I’m more focused than I have ever been. Working on breathing techniques was a huge part of me becoming more focused. It takes you to a quiet, self-controlled.    Kukhahnyoga.com 

To see yoga poses that will help you improve your body and game, visit:

http://www.yogapaws.com/yoga-blogs-yoga-paws/bid/49085/Why-LeBron-Shaq-and-Other-Pro-Athletes-Practice-Yoga

http://life.gaiam.com/article/yoga-cross-training