PSYCHOLOGY
Dr. Nadia Martinez-Pimentel
Dr. Nancy Wallace
BY TOM FERRARO
H
ot yoga was invented by
the former Olympic weight
lifting champion Bikram
Choudhury. This form of yoga has
become increasingly popular with
athletes and dancers looking to stay
fit. There are thousands of hot yoga
studios around the world. They had
one in Seoul Korea when I was there
two months ago on a book tour. It is
based upon 26 poses one does in a 90
minute class intervals, and the quality
of the teaching. Instructors are trained
to talk the entire 90 minutes and the
class takes place in 105 degree heat.
I defy you not to lose weight if you
“Hot yoga is the modern cross
training option for many serious
athletes because it works and it’s
an injury free (below) training.”form of
Tom Mcfeely
Tom Mcfeely
“Dr. Martinez-Pimentel
:Physician. runner and yoga
student’ Yoga has definite
benefits for athletes. As an
example I do the yoga practice to
help strengthen my quadriceps”.
I injured my knee and I know
that by making my thigh muscles
strong my knee is protected.”
the runners.
attend classes three times per week.
I recently interviewed some
physicians and athletic trainers to
understand the benefits of hot yoga
for the serious high school or college
athlete. Vera Richman, a marathon
runner and trainer of elite runners,
takes class regularly in Carle Place.
She explained that runners accrue
two major benefits from hot yoga:
First, heat and stretching help to lean
very tight and bulked up leg muscles
that serious long distance runners
often develop. In addition, core
strengthening from hot yoga class
improves posture and endurance for
“Vera Richman; runner and
trainer’ “I find that hot yoga
improves the runner’s posture,
core strength and endurance.”
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Vera Richman
Nadia Martinez-Pimentel is a
prominent Queens’s physician who
takes time out of her busy schedule
to attend hot yoga. She believes this
form of yoga helps to build leg and
back strength which is a real injury
preventive measure. She explains it
enhances balance and is very good for
not only athletes, but for the elderly
as well.
Dr. Nancy Wallace is another
regular at the hot yoga studio. The
very busy Queens-based physician
makes the trip out to Carle Place to
attend classes. She feels that yoga
helps improve focus, discipline and
concentration and can only serve to
help, not hinder, the athlete. Sixty
second poses build a focused mind
for sports, as well as life. She feels
that the many breathing exercises
build lung capacity which is crucial
“Dr. Nancy Wallace, physician
‘everyone comes to class for a
different reason. I like the feeling
of empowerment it leaves me with
by the end of class.’
to stamina in sports.
Finally, I interviewed Tom
McFeely, owner of the Carle Place
hot yoga studio. He’s worked with
bulky NFL players to petite gymnasts
and figure skaters. He said hot
yoga builds flexibility, balance, core
strength and stamina without the
risk of injury seen in so many fitness
regiments. Like Dr. Wallace, Tom
McFeely believes hot yoga helps
athletes connect his/her mind with
his/her body, adding that holding
poses for so long brings the athletes
awareness inside his own body
and connects him with it like never
before. For this reason, yoga is often
referred to as “moving meditation.”
I am now 65 years old and still
a very good golfer. I hit the ball a
million miles off the tee and when my
group gasps and asks me how I do it,
I always say, “Very simple- hot yoga.
Three times a week.” The safest, and
maybe the best, cross training option
for the modern athlete is what they
call hot yoga. Try it, you’ll like it!
FOR MORE INFO GOT TO
basesportsconditioning.org
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