The Athlete's Guide to Yoga: An Integrated Approach to Strength, Flexibility, and Focus

by Sage Rountree

Yoga makes good athletes better. This time-honored discipline imparts flexibility, balance, and whole-body strength, creating improvements in an athlete's form, efficiency, and power. In addition, yoga's attention to concentration and breath awareness improves mental focus and mental endurance--hidden assets that become especially important at the end of a long training session or race. In The Athlete's Guide to Yoga , yoga instructor, endurance athlete, and coach Sage Rountree explains the benefits that yoga can bring to every training program. With hundreds of color photographs featuring more than 100 poses, this book treats common problem areas to make athletes stronger in their sport. Rountree helps athletes see progress from just 10 minutes of yoga each day. In an engaging and easy-to-follow style, The Athlete's Guide to Yoga
Rountree's applications for training and racing ease the introduction to yoga, making it practical and accessible for all athletes.

Genres: Health, Fitness, Reference, Nonfiction, Sports

251 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2007

About the author

Sage Rountree is an internationally recognized authority in yoga for athletes, an endurance sports coach specializing in athletic recovery, and the co-owner of several wellness businesses. Sage is the author of thirteen books, including The Athlete's Guide to Yoga, Racing Wisely, Everyday Yoga, and, Lifelong Yoga and Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, cowritten with Alexandra DeSiato. Her latest are The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook and The Art of Yoga Sequencing.

Sage moved from a career track in academia to one teaching yoga and training others to do the same, and to do it with clear standards and boundaries to the benefit of their students. She directs the Carrboro Yoga Company's advanced studies teacher trainings, which draw students from around the world. She also co-owns Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat. Sage served as a faculty member at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health for over a decade, and she has offered workshops and taught at festivals both internationally and around the United States.

Sage’s in-person trainings and online courses include lessons in sequencing yoga classes, developing workshops, managing the yoga classroom, and being a professional movement teacher—the subject of her most recent book. A pioneer in yoga for athletes, she has worked with athletes at every level, from youth and amateur athletes to NBA and NFL teams, players, and coaches. In addition to writing and cowriting ten books, her work has appeared in several publications, and she has been a regular contributor to Yoga Journal and Runner’s World.

Reviews

[Ann M. Noser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly helpful to me when I started practicing yoga. I still keep it on hand, in case I need to look something up.

The only reason I can continue to keep running (safely, without injury) is due to yoga.

Book benefits:
- useful appendix
- helpful pictures
- detailed descriptions
- great organization into related groups
- history of yoga is interesting

I highly recommend it. It's the only athletic book I've come back to repeatedly. All the others I share with like-minded individuals, but this one I selfishly keep for myself (because I need it). :)

[Harish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid introduction to yoga with a good overview of how to incorporate different types of practice into an athletic routine, with discussion of mesocycles, weekly programs, etc. I appreciate the emphasis Rountree places on making this book appeal to athletes-- she frequently discusses variations to poses for people with tight hips/hamstrings (most endurance athletes). While I'd considered wading into yoga to supplement my strength/training routine, I had no idea where to start; this book gives me the concrete knowledge to dive in confidently.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good book for those who are not looking for the more spiritual aspects of yoga, but rather the health benefits conferred.

[Stephanie Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and the author. I give this book to athlete's who tell me yoga is too "woo woo" for them. It's perfect for people who are not really into stretching and are interested in yoga, but seem intimidated or uninterested for some reason. The reason doesn't matter because Sage Rountree created this excellent book.

[Greg Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my training bible. I can tell the author has a strong yoga background as well lots of experience teaching athletes. After working with this book for a week or so my recovery time was cut in half--no joke. If you are training for anything--marathon, triathalon, basketball, etc.--get this book.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it is a basic attempt to capitalize on the popularity of yoga- it really is loaded with some great actions to take to improve body reaction to running and fitness activities.

Earlier books Staying Supple and Anderson,Stretching cover similar ground in a different way.

I did enjoy the DVD but finding a way to play it was fun.

[advaita studio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advaita yoga studio is one of the most reportable yoga studios in Chandigarh sector 38. you can get different sessions and therapies to enhance your spiritual, professional and personal life.Check our website: https://advaitayogastudios.com/

[Cameron Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first yoga book, it was a pleasure.

[Sixmaddeningthings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to run too when you need to look a stretch or posture up. Being a beginner, classes and online apps move too fast at times. This has been helpful resource to look up a stretch.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to run and I love doing yoga on my own at home. This book is perfect for me and I refer to it all the time.

[Stephanie]

I do yoga so I don't fall apart while running. I run to make alpine skiing enjoyable. Yoga probably makes skiing enjoyable, too. Hopefully this book will give me some ideas as to the role yoga can take in my downhill pursuits. After skimming it briefly this morning, I did notice that the author -- admittedly more of a runner and triathlete -- doesn't really distinguish much between downhill and x-country skiing; I feel this makes it incumbent on me to keep researching skiing technique to figure out what parts of yoga are particularly helpful for downhill skiing. The other thing that's been befuddling me for years are the standing balancing poses in yoga vs. balance in skiing. But that's for another post, probably on the blog. :)

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic guide to incorporating yoga into the training schedules of endurance athletes. Heavy emphasis on ENDURANCE. I don't think there was even one mention of a sport or activity that took place on a field, a sheet of ice, or in a ring. It was all running/cycling/swimming all the time.

A better name for this book would be a TRIATHLETE'S Guide to Yoga.

The best parts of the book were the yoga philosophy and mindset of the athlete - translating the yamas and niyamas into athletic pursuits, and the use of mantra when training.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has some great sequences in the back that can really help you with your home practice. I added yoga to my running about a year ago and it has been wonderful. Less injury, more strength and balance... it's great. I'm really liking my arms and shoulders too.

I am not one to life weights so I really enjoy this approach to strength and flexibility.

[Enric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide that's specific for endurance sporters and athletes in general targetting our very specific needs. While it is mentioned in the text that this book does not cover the more philosophical parts of yoga it certainly provide the base for further study should the reader feel so inclined.

The guide also comes with a DVD showing the asanas in motion.

[Kara]

Contains many of the same stretches I (attempt to) do at my Y's "Yoga for Athlete's" class. Bought this so I could get up half an hour later. Seems great, but still probably need the guidance of a professional to keep me from falling to the floor and/or permanently injuring myself.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very straightforward approach to incorporating yoga into a triathalon and running routine. The photos are funny too.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference book for endurance athletes interested in Yoga to enhance conditioning, improve flexibility or for variations in routine. Very well written and illustrated...