From pitch to mat: Why athletes are turning to yoga

As the new year kicks off at Warwick, athletes across the university are bracing themselves for two tough weeks of trials, team selections, and readjusting to the intensity of regular training. This part of the term is always the same: chaotic, competitive, and usually marked by injury and improper recovery. Yoga, in contrast, is calm and steady – and this year, more and more athletes are stepping off the pitch and onto the mat. Why? Because yoga isn’t just about relaxation – it’s becoming a serious training tool.

It’s not just about flexibility; good joint mobility improves agility and sprinting mechanics and even helps you change direction faster

The Benefits
Yoga may look gentle from the outside, but it has proven, performance-based benefits for athletes:

• Flexibility reduces the risk of injury. Stretching muscles in a controlled way increases their range of motion, especially when done consistently. Studies show yoga can lower the incidence of common muscle overuse injuries such as hamstring and groin strains.
• Mobility enhances movement. It’s not just about flexibility; good joint mobility improves agility, sprinting mechanics, and even helps you change direction faster.
• Core strength creates stability. Many yoga poses require controlled engagement of deep core muscles. Stronger stabilisers mean better balance and endurance – especially in contact or high-intensity sports.
• Recovery supports a faster turnaround. Yoga encourages parasympathetic nervous system activity (the body’s ’rest and repair’ mode). This can reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery between training sessions.
• Mental focus sharpens performance. The breathing and mindfulness elements in yoga help regulate stress hormones. Research has linked yoga to lower cortisol levels and improved concentration under pressure – ideal before a big match.

Even professional athletes like Ryan Giggs and Serena Williams have credited yoga with keeping them sharp and prolonging their careers. Netball players are also turning to yoga as a form of cross-training – a way to stay fit without adding another heavy session to the week.

A Warwick netball sports scholar told The Boar: “I found yoga really helped me clear my mind before and after a stressful game. It also helps my recovery post-game to relieve my muscles and recover quicker.”

Adding a yoga class to the mix is an easy win: it helps balance out the busy routine and gives your body a breather between sports trials — the inevitable Thursday hangovers!

Implementing Yoga into Your Schedule
With university life’s flexible timetable, there are plenty of ways to fit a yoga session into your day. Luckily, you don’t need to look far for a class. Warwick’s own Mary McIntee (@moveewithmary on Instagram), a third-year Biomedical Science student, runs yoga sessions designed around the student lifestyle. She teaches three to four classes a week on campus and in Leamington Spa at Brixton Yoga, with timetables that fit around lectures, societies, and sport commitments.

Her classes welcome beginners and are popular with athletes seeking a recovery boost. The best bit? Friday classes are half-price for students, making them an easy addition to any training routine without breaking the bank.

The first couple weeks of term is the perfect time to try something new. Adding a yoga class to the mix is an easy win: it helps balance out the busy routine and gives your body a breather between sports trials – the inevitable Thursday hangovers!

My Takeaway
Whether you’re aiming for top-team glory or just trying to survive the term, yoga might be the most valuable extra session to add to your week. From the pitch to the mat, yoga is becoming one of the smartest tools for students to recover, perform, and thrive at Warwick.