Fit for Play
Namaste
Why yoga is for golfers
(and 4 poses to get started)
by DAVE POND
F
OF SOUND BODY AND MIND
For the uninitiated, ancient yoga is an allinclusive practice that dates back to the fifth
or sixth century BC. It has eight different
focuses that involve the mind, body and
spirit in a journey toward enlightenment.
“Today, yoga’s been modernized, and
the goal is more one of ultimate fitness and
integration of mind, body and spirit while
maintaining an active lifestyle,” deLorimier
said. “Meditation and visualization come
together to guide toward better performance.”
deLorimier came to golf later in life but,
as a longtime yoga practitioner, began to
see the benefits of yoga both on her swing
and in her mental approach to the game.
So, she traveled to Arizona to pursue YFG
certification under Katherine Roberts, a
heralded innovator, teacher and trainer in
the world of golf fitness.
“At the most basic level, golf and yoga
are the same—the intentional and dynamic
movement of the body in three planes of
motion: the frontal plane (side to side),
36
the sagittal plane (flexion and extension
front to back), and the transverse plane
(rotation),” said Roberts, a former co-host
of Golf Channel’s televised competition The
Big Break. “YFG’s proprietary methodology
instructs and trains golfers on the biomechanics of the body specifically as it relates
to each plane of motion through each stage
of the golf swing—from the address to the
finish position, from the first tee to the
18th green.”
AN ATTRACTIVE AMENITY
As of today, deLorimier is one of just two
YFG-certified instructors in Virginia, along
with Joanne Lappin Parker, who teaches at
VSGA member club Cavalier Golf & Yacht
Club in Virginia Beach. But, with all of yo-
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | J U LY /A U G U ST 2 0 1 6
ga’s benefits, deLorimier said there’s no reason other courses can’t follow suit.
“Golf fitness programs are becoming more
popular than ever,” deLorimier said. “By including yoga and other golf-focused fitness
classes, your course will become more appealing to golfers, simply because you’re providing
them with every opportunity to improve their
game, and their physical well-being, too.
“Plus, it’s a great way to differentiate your
course from others that aren’t offering such
amenities.”
Since your home course might not offer
Yoga for Golfers classes, here are four yoga
poses deLorimier recommends. Each pose is
simple enough for beginners, but can be modified to challenge higher-level participants.
Namaste.
vsga.org
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARTHUR MOUNT
or the most part, golfers prefer
to avoid anything with the word
“tree” in it.
However, traditional yoga poses
like Tree (along with myriad others), can
help golfers of all levels improve mental
focus, increase flexibility and even keep you
playing longer, said Connie deLorimier, a
Yoga for Golfers (YFG) Level II trainer who
leads a number of classes at Alexandria’s
Pinecrest Golf Course, a VSGA member club.
“Yoga for golfers uses specific poses
and movements to condition the body for
performing the golf swing,” deLorimier said.
“It builds strength and endurance as you hold
the poses, and improves flexibility, balance
and posture with proper alignment.
“Yoga increases your ability to clear your
mind and mentally focus and—when the
round is over—provides you with the ability
to recover quickly.”