Understanding The Body to Maximize Golf Performance (with TrackMan)

Becoming a supple leopard!!!

Great meeting with the lovely Gavin Armstrong PGA professional based at Trevose Golf Club Constantine Bay, Cornwall .

It is always nice to meet with like minded health fanatics like myself.
As a yoga instructor I have always been taught to be aware of body alignment and postures, to grow in to the position and to consider each movement in relation to the joints, hips and torso alignment.

However this meeting has set me down the road less traveled!
Originally with a professional cricket back ground Gavin Armstrong is no stranger to the concept of improved athletic performance, Now gracing the golfing scene his view of the golf swing is rather refreshing.

Surrounded by high tech equipment I watch as he takes a swing, 'This equipment' (The TrackMan Radar) he explains 'measures everything you need to know about your swing' The TrackMan accurately records ball speed, attack angle, club path, face angle etc. It also captures the golf swing with a built in HD video camera or with the use of external cameras'. Gavin's goal is to increase his swing speed to 140 mph and compete in the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship, having reached 130 mph his goal is not far off!

 

                                                                        TrackMan

'So'.... I ask inquisitively 'where would you like me to fit in to this'

Gavin regularly attends my yoga for golfers classes, which concentrates not only on correct body alignment, flexibility and strength, but also includes space and body awareness, emotional and mental focus and control, stress release, nutrition and natural ways to heal the mind and body and spirit.

He then explains to me the concept of dysfunctional movement in the body, a concept I hadn't really considered in full before....'take a look at this book' (Becoming a Supple Leopard by Dr Kelly Starrett) and he hands me what seems like a weight training aid. 'Lets see if we can combine a few skills'........ noticing my expression, he laughs and says .....'you've got a lot of homework to do!'

'Don't worry' I confidently state 'ill carry it with me everywhere... I'll even use it to do dead lifts in my spare time'

Some light bed time reading!!!!

Follow my blog as we address holistic health, wellbeing, strength, fitness, golf tuition, yoga ... and generally think outside the box when considering golf performance! See how our journey unfolds.

Get Refocused Go Back To The Start Again

The past few weeks I've been debilitated by the fog in my head, dithering about with know real direction. I have been getting very frustrated.......... I realised I needed some guidance

So I referred to a post I wrote a few weeks ago about clearing the mind.

"1. Write it down!...........A letter (that you'll never send).......a list........a story. Empty the confusion, the negativity the stress from your head."

Teaching Yoga can be very fulfilling but it can also be very frustrating and often quite draining. When you turn a passion in to a career sometimes the pure joy withers away.

Photo taken at 'The Point' at Polzeath Cornwall

Taking my own advise I wrote down a comprehensive list of all the reasons why I love Yoga........

1. To actively understand and feel responses in the body
2. Control of muscle movement and precision
3. Discipline
4. The use of different asanas (poses) to obtain particular results (flexibility, strength, balance, toning of the organs, stimulation of the digestive system, circulatory system and respiratory system)
5. To be at one with self , removing distraction and crippling thoughts, helps one to stop and live in the moment (grounding)
6. Calms the body at times of anxiety, frustrations, teaches recognition of emotional responses, and creates the ability to stop mid emotion assess and recover.
7. Breath control, learning to release tension and improve sleep, aid to control thought processes
8. Induces a state of inner peace and controlled reaction
9. Is non competitive and teaches to reduce competitiveness with ones self. Non judgmental, induces compassion for others
10. Can be practised any where
11. To unlock all the secrets of the body and invoke pure energy in to manifestation.

This had a profound effect because I remember now why I was so passionate about teaching.  Yoga is taught and experienced differently by each individual, there is no right or wrong way (as long as it is safe for the body and not detrimental to health and wellbeing)

All approaches that heal and protect the body (strength conditioning, physio etc...) have a valid place in fitness and sports, yoga can offer another option to your arsenal and can be used to complement all orthodox practices.
Yoga teaches skills that can help the individual disconnect themselves from the stress, anxiety and disappointment, to go home and use the skills yoga has taught them to let go of the frustration the competition and to find the pure joy and excitement of their desired profession.  To reconnect with their families and learn to be non judgmental and release stress in a productive safe way.  To know themselves, their dreams and goals in the purest of forms by taking time everyday to do something non competitive and restorative.  To know themselves better. To have something for themselves with out the pressures of doctors, physio's, management, media, the public, their sponsors. To be calm, to let go, to embrace some thing very special. Yoga helps people understand themselves on a personal level to be at peace with themselves. Helping recovery from depression, to induce solid changes and positive encouragement. To dig deep down on the rainiest of days and still make the sun shine...... or at least find a brolly.

This is why I started the practice.  Remembering the beginning of your dream, the passion and the joy it gives you and others is the most effective way to highlight your achievements so far and give you the propulsion to keep pushing forward.... 

When ever you are lost ALWAYS go back to the start again!

The Greatest Speech Ever Made