Gerry Lopez, a legendary big wave surfer, discovered yoga in 1968, believing it could improve his surfing. His practice helped him find balance and relaxation, especially during intense underwater experiences. Lopez became a significant figure in advocating for the benefits of yoga for athletes, emphasizing its role in developing a meditative mindset crucial for performance. Over decades, research eventually supported the notion that yoga reduces injury recovery time and stress, leading to its broader acceptance in sports training across various leagues, including NFL, MLB, and NBA.
"I thought, if you could move like that on a surfboard, you could be a really good surfer," says Lopez.
"After getting into yoga, I was able to relax when getting tumbled underwater and not being able to breath," recalls Lopez.
"The meditative part of yoga was pretty much the exact same state of mind that you needed to relax in those situations and surf successfully."
Despite Lopez's proselytization, it took several more decades for yoga to become even marginally common in athletic training regimens.
Collection
[
|
...
]