Indiana University Athletics
Men's Golf Seeing Benefits of Yoga
3/30/2016 3:33:00 PM | Men's Golf
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - The mood inside Vibe Yoga Studio is light when Indiana men's golf walks in.
The players start joking with one another about the temperature in the room as they lay out their mats, training blocks and blankets. It's a little too hot, they say, and they're worried about whether or not all the players will be able to make it through the session and begin giving head coach Mike Mayer a hard time for forgetting his yoga mat.
Samantha Eibling, the team's yoga instructor, lets the jokes trail off before turning down the lights and filling the room with calming music.
It's time to work.
"Alright," Eibling says, "take a few breaths and release."
What ensues is an hour of yoga training that Indiana men's golf has become accustomed to this season. It's the Hoosiers' second training session of the day, coming just before leaving for Goodyear, Arizona, where IU would go on to finish second at the Loyola Intercollegiate.
More than 36 million Americans have taken up yoga regularly in 2016, up almost 80 percent since 2012, according to newly released 2016 Yoga in America Study Conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance. Just over a quarter of those active participants are male, many of which are athletes.
College golf programs across the country have begun adding yoga into their training regime, and Indiana is no different. Head coach Mike Mayer was introduce to Eibling, a fan of golf herself, through Mayer's wife Kimberly, a yoga advocate herself.
"Golf is a very stressful sport, a very demanding sport," Mayer said. "To have this aspect where you control yourself and calm yourself all while getting stronger has been a win-win for us."
The Hoosiers, including Mayer and assistant coach Brian McCants, make their way to Vibe Yoga Studio on College Avenue for a pair of sessions each week and will continue throughout the year.
The morning training comes in the studio's hot room, a session designed to work the athletes' deeper muscle tissue. The afternoon yoga is done in a non-heated room and is designed with a focus on outer layers of the skin, Eibling said.
The hour long workout sessions are designed to increase the players' flexibility, physical strength and mental aptitude. The majority of the workout is up-tempo with players fluidly changing from one stretch to the next as Eibling walks around the room giving advice and helping players perfect their poses.
But it wasn't always like that, Eibling jokes. The initial crash course sessions were awkward and not nearly as complex as what the players can handle now.
"You see the progression because generally, they're healthy and strong, but they're tight because they're athletes," Eibling said. "Yoga is a great cross training, but it's also strength training at the same time. They'll be building smaller muscle groups and stamina and eventually be able to hold things longer."
The physical side of the training changes depending upon Indiana's weight training and playing schedules. It tends to get less physically grueling during busy times like the past couple of tournament weekends.
What doesn't change is the mental training, which Eibling said is about half the battle.
As the session goes on, Eibling teaches players the proper breathing techniques and ways to clear their heads in stressful situations like holding a side plank when a players' body isn't ready for it. She's constantly changing the lighting in the room and having the players recognize and adapt to their surroundings.
"People tend to think that it's not very difficult, but it's really tough," senior Max Kollin said. "It really strengthens your core. When you really put your mind to performing at your best and try to get to these uncomfortable positions, it really does you well."
Junior Andrew Havill said the mental preparation has been particularly helpful on the course where the players are oftentimes alone with their thoughts for hours.
"Mentally, you really never give up," he said. "When you're in an uncomfortable position, through yoga, I've learned you really can overcome it."
Mayer said the yoga training has been everything he wanted it to be between the physical and mental strides he's seen his players make. He also likes that he can participate in the yoga training alongside them rather than watching from afar like he typically does in the weight room.
More than anything else, Mayer said yoga will equate to lower scores on the course. He wouldn't waste his players' time if he didn't think the training would help.
"I think they've not only bought in, but they enjoy it," Mayer said. "I think they all see the benefits from it. As a coach, it's very rewarding to see them learn and grow from it."
As the session wraps up, the players rise to a standing position facing Eibling and place their palms together.
"Namste," they say with a slight bow. The traditional Indian phrase roughly translates into "I bow to you" and expresses gratitude.
"All I can say is try it," Mayer said. "We have, and it's very rewarding."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - The mood inside Vibe Yoga Studio is light when Indiana men's golf walks in.
The players start joking with one another about the temperature in the room as they lay out their mats, training blocks and blankets. It's a little too hot, they say, and they're worried about whether or not all the players will be able to make it through the session and begin giving head coach Mike Mayer a hard time for forgetting his yoga mat.
Samantha Eibling, the team's yoga instructor, lets the jokes trail off before turning down the lights and filling the room with calming music.
It's time to work.
"Alright," Eibling says, "take a few breaths and release."
What ensues is an hour of yoga training that Indiana men's golf has become accustomed to this season. It's the Hoosiers' second training session of the day, coming just before leaving for Goodyear, Arizona, where IU would go on to finish second at the Loyola Intercollegiate.
More than 36 million Americans have taken up yoga regularly in 2016, up almost 80 percent since 2012, according to newly released 2016 Yoga in America Study Conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance. Just over a quarter of those active participants are male, many of which are athletes.
College golf programs across the country have begun adding yoga into their training regime, and Indiana is no different. Head coach Mike Mayer was introduce to Eibling, a fan of golf herself, through Mayer's wife Kimberly, a yoga advocate herself.
"Golf is a very stressful sport, a very demanding sport," Mayer said. "To have this aspect where you control yourself and calm yourself all while getting stronger has been a win-win for us."
The Hoosiers, including Mayer and assistant coach Brian McCants, make their way to Vibe Yoga Studio on College Avenue for a pair of sessions each week and will continue throughout the year.
The morning training comes in the studio's hot room, a session designed to work the athletes' deeper muscle tissue. The afternoon yoga is done in a non-heated room and is designed with a focus on outer layers of the skin, Eibling said.
The hour long workout sessions are designed to increase the players' flexibility, physical strength and mental aptitude. The majority of the workout is up-tempo with players fluidly changing from one stretch to the next as Eibling walks around the room giving advice and helping players perfect their poses.
But it wasn't always like that, Eibling jokes. The initial crash course sessions were awkward and not nearly as complex as what the players can handle now.
"You see the progression because generally, they're healthy and strong, but they're tight because they're athletes," Eibling said. "Yoga is a great cross training, but it's also strength training at the same time. They'll be building smaller muscle groups and stamina and eventually be able to hold things longer."
The physical side of the training changes depending upon Indiana's weight training and playing schedules. It tends to get less physically grueling during busy times like the past couple of tournament weekends.
What doesn't change is the mental training, which Eibling said is about half the battle.
As the session goes on, Eibling teaches players the proper breathing techniques and ways to clear their heads in stressful situations like holding a side plank when a players' body isn't ready for it. She's constantly changing the lighting in the room and having the players recognize and adapt to their surroundings.
"People tend to think that it's not very difficult, but it's really tough," senior Max Kollin said. "It really strengthens your core. When you really put your mind to performing at your best and try to get to these uncomfortable positions, it really does you well."
Junior Andrew Havill said the mental preparation has been particularly helpful on the course where the players are oftentimes alone with their thoughts for hours.
"Mentally, you really never give up," he said. "When you're in an uncomfortable position, through yoga, I've learned you really can overcome it."
Mayer said the yoga training has been everything he wanted it to be between the physical and mental strides he's seen his players make. He also likes that he can participate in the yoga training alongside them rather than watching from afar like he typically does in the weight room.
More than anything else, Mayer said yoga will equate to lower scores on the course. He wouldn't waste his players' time if he didn't think the training would help.
"I think they've not only bought in, but they enjoy it," Mayer said. "I think they all see the benefits from it. As a coach, it's very rewarding to see them learn and grow from it."
As the session wraps up, the players rise to a standing position facing Eibling and place their palms together.
"Namste," they say with a slight bow. The traditional Indian phrase roughly translates into "I bow to you" and expresses gratitude.
"All I can say is try it," Mayer said. "We have, and it's very rewarding."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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