Yoga Drop-In Class

Jacq Wallace Yoga Sapien

We host drop-in yoga classes on Tuesdays from 09:45am – 11:00am run by Jacq Wallace of Yoga Sapien. The charge is £12 per class. More information on Jacq can be found on her website at https://www.yogasapien.co.uk/yoga

Jacq outlines the benefits of yoga for Squash players:

“How and why is yoga beneficial to squash players?

Practicing yoga regularly can help improve your sports skills and overall fitness, giving you that complementary edge when it comes to your performance.

And before you ask, it’s important to realise that you don’t have to be flexible to practise yoga.  You can start from wherever you are, and yoga will find you!

I’ve been teaching Yoga on Tuesday mornings at the Squash Club (9:45am – 11am) for just over 5 years now, and the men and women who come regularly are reaping the benefits.

Here’s a few reasons for you to consider giving yoga a go:

INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY

As we age, our bodies naturally stiffen and dehydrate – by adulthood our tissues have lost around 15% of their moisture content, leaving you more vulnerable to injury. Stretching slows this process by creating tissue lubricants and improves the body’s structure.

Therefore, your power improves from greater range of movement as you strike through the ball, your reach expands, your movement to recover quickens.

GREATER STRENGTH AND STAMINA

To increase your overall power and stamina, accessing and strengthening your non-dominant muscles can be invaluable. Additionally, playing squash uses one side of the body more than the other, which can lead to imbalances and possibly long-term chronic injury. Yoga can help by not only raising your awareness of weaker areas but also improving their strength in a more balanced way.

INCREASE CORE STRENGTH

The slow, focused movements during a yoga practice help to condition the abdominal region and build core strength.

STABILITY & BALANCE

Playing squash challenges your balance all the time and your ability to change directions quickly. Many yoga poses challenge your stability, which in turn greatly improves your coordination and control over how your body moves.

DEEP RELAXED BREATHING & A FOCUSSED MIND

You are probably more than aware of the impact your breathing can have on your sports performance.  Yoga practice integrates the mind-body connection (the word ‘yoga’ means union) and learning to develop and control deeper, more relaxed breathing is the foundation of improving concentration and reducing any performance anxiety if need be.

INJURY PREVENTION

The constant lunging that you do in squash and the dynamic movements all add up. Being strong in those positions off the court enables you to be strong in those positions on the court.”