GETTING INTO YOGA

The best time to start yoga is during the off-season, and it’s the ideal activity for recovery days. Despite being a challenging workout, it does not take much to recover from an hour or so of yoga and, in fact, because it improves circulation and provides a deep stretch, yoga could enhance recovery from on and off-the-pitch training.

Yoga is a very accessible form of training as there are lots of yoga teachers and yoga studios around. Choose a class designed for beginners and avoid jumping into the deep end too soon. If possible, speak to the yoga teacher beforehand and explain that you are a yoga newbie and that you play rugby, so they can recommend adaptations and adjustments to accommodate your specific needs.

If you want to get the most from yoga for rugby, consider hiring a yoga trainer and working on a one-to-one or small group basis. You’ll get a lot more from your practices and make faster progress. Maybe invite a yoga teacher to team training so all the players can try it for themselves.

Alternatively, you might prefer to practice alone and in the comfort of your home. There are lots of yoga DVDs available, and YouTube has several yoga workouts designed specifically for rugby players, such as this one: