Traditionally, football players are expected to do drills such as running, jumping, play various track and field sports, or football itself to stay fit. While these exercises to help them stay physically fit, they don’t focus quite as much on the peace of mind aspect.
Considering the dynamics that are there in the field of football, a calm and composed mind is something that football players can actually use. There are many who’ve understood this and have sided along with yoga and meditation, to not just have a physically fit body, but a stronger and more peaceful mind.
Soccer Players Who Do Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and Meditation have helped many athletes. These footballers do yoga and meditation to stay physically and mentally fit, calm and healthy.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is definitely one of the most successful and loved footballers in the history of world football. He is the recipient of five Ballon d’Or awards and five European Golden Shoes. As a player from FC Barcelona, he’s won La Liga titles, UEFA Champions League Titles, and Copa del Rey titles.
However, such success doesn’t come free. Often quoted as “The Little Magician”, the Argentinian footballer has been practicing yoga to stay fit, maintain a calm head, and stay away from physical strains such as hamstrings, quads, and shoulder pain.
After heavy workouts throughout the day, Lionel Messi finishes his day with a power yoga routine that helps him rejuvenate his mind and provides harmony for a peaceful feeling. The power yoga program is designed by Rodney Yee, the American professional yoga instructor which helps him rejuvenate his mind.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese football player, who plays for the Italian football club Juventus. He is also regarded as one of the greatest football players in the history of the game.
He is the recipient of five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes. He has won UEFA Champion League Titles and UEFA European Championship. Moreover, he could be regarded as one of the most disciplined players in world football with immense determination and will.
Thus, its no surprise he also practices yoga and meditation and believes that they can help cope with physical strains resulting from long sessions playing football.
3. Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs is a former football star and currently a football coach from Wales. He played mainly from Manchester United. Representing Wales National Team, he’s played in numerous international games, mainly the Olympics and is the recipient of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He one of the most successful footballers in the history of the English Premier League.
Ryan Giggs doesn’t just practice yoga and meditation but is also very vocal about the art. He has his own fitness channel on Youtube, where he trains his viewers on various yoga and fitness techniques.
4. David Silva
David Silva is a Spanish footballer, who plays for Manchester City. He is nicknamed ‘Merlin’ because of his football passing and retaining abilities in the field. He is considered one of the best midfielders in Europe. As a part of the highly successful Spanish National Team, he’s won FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup.
David Silva has also been practicing his share of yoga and meditation, all thanks to Ryan Giggs, who introduced him to the art, and up to a great extent, trained him how to practice it.
David Silva said,
“With so many games you have to play non-stop and anything you can find which helps you prepare for these games is good.
I have taken up yoga with the same teacher as Ryan. It’s been another way of helping me stretch out after games. It’s helped me get back in shape.”
5. John Terry
John Terry is regarded as one of the most talented and successful central-defender in the history of football. He has captained and played football for the England national team.
During his grand footballing career, he has won 5 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups and a Champions League title along with being included in the FIFA World Team of the year 5 times in more than 700 appearances for Chelsea. A true caption, leader and legend, he is Chelsea FC’s one of the most decorated players.
However, when a professional footballer enters the twilight years of their playing career, more care has to go into keeping the body at peak physical condition, it is no different for John Terry as well. After leaving Chelsea and joining Aston Villa he has shared some snaps of him practicing his yoga moves.
6. David Beckham
David Beckham is a retired English footballer, who played for various football clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris SG and so on. He is the first player ever to win league titles in four countries, the USA, France, England, and Spain. He is an inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame.
Furthermore, he is regarded as one of the greatest sports celebrities ever. David Beckham has been practicing yoga and meditation for quite some time now. He claims that they have helped with dealing with his aches and pain in a better, more effective way.
7. Roy Keane
Roy Keane is the former professional football player and the current coach from Ireland. One of the most Irish footballers, he has played for Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Cobh Ramblers. Known for his powerful on-field leadership and dominance, he has played for the Republic of Ireland in FIFA World Cup.
Roy Keane has been injured quite a few times during his career, and he believes that it was yoga and meditation that helped him cope-up with the impact and remain fit thereafter.
8. Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is a Welsh footballer who plays as a Forward/Winger at Real Madrid. He is a highly successful football player, who has won a La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League 4 times.
The renowned football star is known for his high pace and acceleration on the pitch along with his other football techniques. In fact, he is a top athlete and still one of the fastest footballers on the planet.
The talent is unmistakable, many of his followers are surprised to see how high he can stretch his hamstring muscles to give a great goal. But the Welshman’s wretched injury record has really held him back from being a huge success in Spain.
Thus, there should be no question that he needs a top level of fitness to maintain his success. He started practicing yoga to get more flexibility and balance in his fitness when kicking the ball.
9. Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte is the former football player and coach from Italy. He played for clubs like Lecce and Juventus and also coached the football teams like Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and the Italian National team.
He is regarded as a highly successful and decorated mid-fielder and a decorated coach of his generation. He’s won UEFA Champions League Titles, Seria A and participated in FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro Cup, representing Juventus and Italy. Also, he had managed to win the Premier League and FA Cup in his short span of two years as the head of Chelsea.
He has been practicing yoga and meditation for a long time now. Known for his sideline presence, he believes that the techniques help him relax and stay calm, especially during football sessions.
10. Per Mertesacker
Per Mertesacker is a German footballer who played as a central defender for Arsenal FC. The World Cup winner’s medal weighed heavily on Per Mertesacker this season. He describes that the comedown from Brazil in 2014 was “a kind of trauma”.
Yet he has found a way to deal with it, to recover mental focus and physical freshness just in time, all credit to yoga. He puts down to his weekly hour-long yoga sessions for the recovery of his fitness and performances.
The player revealed that yoga is one of his methods of relaxation, which helps him a lot physically and mentally. He also practices it for the recovery of his physical state, which is to strengthen his body.
Mertesacker said,
“Every week, I can’t miss it,” Mertesacker explained. “When you are superstitious – which most footballers are – you need to have your habits every week.
The benefits are physical and mental, to strengthen my body, to stretch my body, and mentally to relax and calm down.
I tried to prepare even more – more yoga, more treatment, to come to a level where I can compete again. It took half a year.”
11. Fabian Delph
Perhaps, Fabian Delph may not be as decorated played the former ones in this list. Nevertheless, he is a promising young footballer who is smart, athletic and dynamic who certainly has a bright future awaiting.
He is an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder or a left-back for Manchester City and the English national team. At his time at the club, Delph emerged as a key player for City’s coach along with a shock pick in his final 23-man England squad.
Fabian Delph has said,
“Two lifestyle choices were integral to his form, is the decision to start meditating and stop eating red meat helped him kick-start his career. It’s worked. I only had a couple of niggles (physical problems) all season which is fantastic.
In terms of meditation, for me it is just breathing techniques, learning to be still, to control your thought processes, it calms you down. Gael Clichy, who was at the club (City), does a lot of meditation. He recommended it to me because I was such an all-action guy. It has calmed me down.”
In Conclusion
Yoga and Meditation haven’t just helped these footballers deal with physical strain and injuries, but overcome mental stress as well. Probably that is why most of them don’t just practice the art, but also get others inspired to do so. Yoga and Meditation have definitely changed the lives of many, and it’s all for good.
Source: Guavapass
